Animals

The Boran has built a reputation in South Africa as a low-input breed with strong parasite resistance, strong maternal traits, and adaptability across diverse production systems. Annalea van Niekerk, stud manager at Green Valley Boran, spoke to Henning Naudé about the breeding and management philosophy shaping the stud in its formative years.

Rising feed costs, recurring droughts and tighter margins are prompting South African beef producers to rethink profitability under African conditions. Increasingly, the Boran breed is challenging the long-held belief that bigger cattle and higher inputs automatically deliver better returns. Fertility, adaptability, and efficiency are emerging as stronger indicators of long-term profitability.

When Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa received Ankole cattle from his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame, the herd was moved from Rwanda’s high-rainfall highlands to Zimbabwe’s drier Midlands province, where conditions are much harsher.

Driven by strong demand for distinctive genetics, limited supply, and the ability to perform under extensive African conditions, Ankole cattle are establishing a foothold in South Africa’s livestock sector as a specialised, high-value breed. Auction data points to steady growth, while diversified farming systems continue to expand the breed’s economic relevance.

Banella Ankole Stud at Yonderhill near Stellenbosch tells the story of photographer-turned-cattleman Daniël Naudé, who helped introduce and grow the rare Ankole breed in South Africa, blending conservation, cultural heritage, and premium livestock production.

South Africa’s Ankole stud industry has grown from fewer than 25 registered breeders a decade ago to more than 80 today, with the national fullblood herd totalling just over 2 000 animals. Dr Sareta Schutte of the Kilima Horned Heritage Programme spoke to Henning Naudé about building a genetics-driven stud from scratch and acquiring second-wave Ugandan bloodlines for the future of her herd.

With more than 80% of South Africa’s beef cattle calves destined for feedlots, farmers need fast-growing animals that perform well. The Charolais produces top weaners with strong growth and feed conversion, says Dami Stemmett, president of the Charolais Cattle Breeders’ Society of South Africa.

The future is bright for the Ankole cattle breed in South Africa as it is bound to become a contender of note in the beef production arena in future, Anton de Swardt, president of the South African Ankole Breeders’ Society, told Annelie Coleman.

The Nguni cattle breed has shown remarkable resilience to foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) during the current outbreak in South Africa, which Dr Oswald Jannasch, president of the Nguni Cattle Breeders’ Society, attributes to thousands of years of selection for disease and pest resistance in Africa.

In South Africa, most beef calves are finished in feedlots, making carcass weight a major factor in the price received per animal. Carcasses that are too heavy or too light do not meet specifications and are penalised.

Grant Naudé, president of Merino South Africa, spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about the Merino breed’s adaptability, dual-purpose strengths and vital role in sustaining South Africa’s wool and meat industries.

South Africa’s livestock industry continues to face one of its most severe challenges in decades. Since early 2025, foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has spread across all nine provinces, despite the outbreak being declared a national state of disaster in February 2026.

At Babylonstoren’s Rietvlei farm, a quiet shift is taking place, gradually expanding the boundaries of dairy production in South Africa. Here, the focus has moved beyond conventional cattle to the distinctive and increasingly sought-after water buffalo. Owner Kobus Lambrechts spoke to Farmer’s Weekly about his operation.

High rainfall can benefit crops, but without proper grooming and timely treatments, muddy fields can lead to various ailments in horses, including lameness, mud fever, and foot rot, writes Dr Mac.

Len Harvey’s lifelong interest in cattle and his personal commitment to improving Southern Rhodesia’s livestock were the driving forces behind the Tuli breed’s development.

The lineage of Golden TT demonstrates founding breeders, car and medal winners and consistency of results. comparing with Europe’s best. Golden TT’s genetics is probably the best seen in South Africa in 129 years.

The genetics of polledness has long been of major interest to cattle breeders and livestock geneticists, and advances in genomics have helped unravel the genetic mechanisms that control horn development and polledness.

Obert Chinhamo, Tsungirai Tembo and Kelvin Mundeta are each using Simmentaler genetics in different ways to improve herd performance in Zimbabwe. From supporting communal farmers with semen donations, to building stud operations and crossbreeding for beef production, their experiences highlight how the breed is helping farmers boost productivity in a challenging environment.

In part two of this feature on the future of wildlife, Dr Mike Peel, specialist researcher at the Agricultural Research Council, and Dr Pete Zacharias, a consultant in vegetation and animal systems tell us how wildlife managers should revisit the basic building blocks of ecosystems.

Rachel and Jannie Beukes’s regenerative poultry farm in Stanford in the Western Cape is taking flight and growing from 100 birds to 700 birds a month through grit, practical learning, and smart use of social media.