Animals

Ashley Phillips, a Dorper farmer in Tarkastad in the Eastern Cape, spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about genetics, production systems, nutrition, breeding efficiency and the economics of sheep farming.

Attention to detail and work ethic have earned Gerrit Maritz the title of AgriCulture Gauteng’s Young Farmer of the Year 2025. He runs a poultry operation producing 4,5 million broilers per year in Magaliesberg, Gauteng. He shared his lessons on keeping margins favourable with Lindi Botha.

This is the first presentation of a study in two parts, revealing the background behind a successful pigeon-racing enterprise that raked in millions of rands.

Fardi Simmentalers near Wesselsbron focuses on breeding fertile, adaptable cattle that perform under real-world conditions. By prioritising functionality, strong maternal lines and balanced milk and meat production, the stud aims to deliver Simmentaler genetics that improve profitability for commercial beef producers.

Within the poultry market in South Africa, the individual consumer demand for duck meat and eggs has yet to compete with its feathered competition. However, up-and-coming producers are now finding their feet to satisfy niche markets nationwide wanting free-range ducks. Amoré Mannsberger spoke to Henning Naudé about how innovative practices helped her build her duck farm from the ground up, and how she manages to overcome a lack of commercial hormone-free feed.

Fairbridge Agri, a mixed farming operation on the slopes of the Southern Drakensberg in the Eastern Cape, has used Charolais bulls for terminal crosses since the stud’s inception in 1979. Owner Delwyn Roberts explains their approach.

Nestled in the arid expanse of the Northern Cape, the ATKA Dorper Stud, owned and run by Dr Corrie Avenant, is producing world-class Dorpers that are in high demand.

Mpumalanga poultry farmer Lebogang Mashego spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel, and shared practical insights on planning, building systems that work, breed choice, feed management, and markets to build a profitable and sustainable egg business.

What began as a way to give his sons some breathing room has grown into one of South Africa’s top-performing Bonsmara studs. Boeram Venter shares how a focus on cattle genetics and a hands-off approach to succession has helped secure the future of Venter Boerdery.

Few beef breeds match the proven track record of the Bonsmara in South Africa. David Cock of Tempevale Bonsmaras and Gawie Nel of Gawie Nel Bonsmaras give practical guidance for producing fertile, adaptable Bonsmaras for commercial and stud markets.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a future concept in livestock breeding. Benefits are already being seen in the speed and accuracy of selection programmes, bringing improvements in longevity, efficiency, and welfare.

Albert Kemp has turned a childhood fascination with fish into a sophisticated, year-round aquaculture enterprise on a smallholding owned by himself and his wife Alicia in Baardskeerdersbos near Gansbaai.

The Drakensberger cattle breed has been part of the South African landscape for ages. So-called black indigenous cattle existed in South Africa as early as the 15th and 16th centuries and formed the foundation of the current Drakensberger beef cattle breed.

Zimbabwe’s goat industry is steadily growing, moving towards a structured, traceable, breed-standard-driven system. Farmer, Sifiso Ndlovu Agbetorwoka discusses the industry’s progress, South African training programmes, and how her farm is helping to shape commercial goat production in Zimbabwe.

The Romagnola cattle breed has the inherent quality to increase beef production in South Africa markedly, according to Marnus Lessing, owner of the JML Romagnola stud near Lindley in the Free State, who succeeded in pushing up weaner weights considerably through crossbreeding Romagnolas with Brahmans.

A one-size-fits-all diet for pigs can lead to overfeeding or underfeeding, producing varying results, and lost production. Instead, JD Mostert, independent swine nutritionist, advocates for a stronger focus on digestible amino acids to get the most from feed rations.

Zimbabwean farmer Mark Hook has revived dormant Boran and Nkone cattle societies, growing registered herds from a handful to thousands. He spoke to Farmer’s Weekly about his role in reshaping the country’s cattle industry.

Ascites is one of the most economically damaging conditions in broiler production. It often becomes visible late in the production cycle but starts much earlier, and once clinical signs appear, there is no treatment, thus producers must remain vigilant.

Disease outbreaks, high maintenance costs and a fluctuating market remain constant risks for piggeries. As a result, farmers may experience losses and production delays. Jan Streicher, manager of the Riversdale Piggery, spoke to Henning Naudé about maintaining profitability through strict biosecurity measures and an efficient feed programme that capitalises on a waste product.

Giel Swiegers’s Boer goats aren’t the farm’s main income, but by grazing once-unused slopes, they play a vital role in keeping his farm, Witrivier, resilient and productive.