Cattle

As livestock producers contend with rising input costs, climate uncertainty, and increasing disease pressure, adaptability is becoming one of the most sought-after traits in beef production, says Limpopo veterinarian and Nguni breeder Dr Pierre Bester.

An Eastern Cape stud farmer told Farmer’s Weekly at Nampo Cape 2026 that he believes the changing climate in the Western Cape could make the Senepol an attractive option for red meat producers contending with harsh, dry summers and rising feed costs.

Lochner Eksteen spoke to Clayton Swart on why he believes the Nguni breed's diversity, adaptability and efficiency continue to set it apart.

The Santa Gertrudis story at Tregenna began in 1974, when Justin Fyvie’s grandfather imported cattle from Texas in the US. Five Star Santa Gertrudis now continues that breeding legacy with an emphasis on fertility, functionality and moderate cow size.

A demanding medical career led Dr Oswald Jannasch to seek cattle that could thrive with minimal intervention. The owner of the Matla Nguni Stud, and established cattle breeding farm near Polokwane in Limpopo, believes the indigenous breed is ideally suited to extensive beef production.

When foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) affected cattle at ZZ2 farms, its Nguni animals appeared to fare better than several other breeds. Clayton Swart hears how the experience reinforced ZZ2's confidence in the breed's genetics and sparked a research collaboration aimed at understanding why.

As water resources dwindle on his family farm near Mooketsi in Limpopo, Dr Doug Reed has shifted away from crops and towards adaptable, low-input Nguni cattle. Clayton Swart visited the Modjadji Nguni Stud to learn why fertility, longevity, and adaptability underpin Reed’s breeding philosophy.

More young women are entering South Africa’s stud and livestock sector, which remains largely male. Charlize Meintjes, who manages the Ankole, Boran, and game enterprises at Sterkfontein Farms in Gauteng and North West, spoke to Henning Naudé about finding her way into farming through an unexpected route and earning credibility in a competitive stud environment.

The dry period plays a major role in determining a cow’s health, fertility, and productivity after calving. Detecting and addressing problems at this stage can reduce post-calving disease and involuntary culling, limit milk losses, and improve reproductive performance.

Running cattle in thornveld under severe heartwater pressure and summer temperatures that can climb into the 40s requires animals that can look after themselves. Henning Naudé spoke to Priscilla Dent about her breeding philosophy, herd management, and the rebuilding of Double Bar Brahmans.

An independent Wageningen Bioveterinary Research study confirms Biogénesis Bagó’s BIOAFTOGEN® SAT1 vaccine provides up to 100% protection against the expanding SAT1 foot-and-mouth disease strain, offering vital defence for global livestock.

The award-winning Harrobi Brahman Stud has left a noticeable impact on beef cattle production in Namibia since 1954. The stud was founded on some of the first white Brahmans to be imported from the US in that year, Annelie Coleman reports.

As the demand continues to grow across Africa and South Africa for impeccable Brahman cattle genetics, the Brahman is playing an increasing role in the Bos-Blanco Stud’s overall breeding strategy.

The Loriza Brahmans are specifically bred for fertility, growth, milk and equally importantly, a calm disposition. Louis Meyer, owner of the stud, told Annelie Coleman that it is a pleasure to work with animals with an even temperament, and it also adds markedly to effective management and, obviously, increased production.

Brazil has placed emphasis on efficient management of pastureland in order to improve livestock health. This is complemented by the adoption of improved production systems.

A new digital platform developed by software and technology company Buffalo Analytics, in partnership with vaccine importer Dunevax Biotech, aims to simplify the regulatory process for South Africa’s private-sector foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccination programme, providing government with real-time vaccination data.

In a high-risk foot-and-mouth disease climate, the Vlakte Bonsmara Study Group prioritises biosecurity and traceability. Their disciplined, multi-stage screening ensures buyers receive resilient, fertile genetics backed by rigorous veterinary compliance and certainty.

Of the various Sanga-descended breeds we now have in South Africa, the Tuli is an established, reliable breed known for its proven beef genetics, and is now found in stud and commercial cattle operations nationwide. Christo Rothmann spoke to Henning Naudé about the four key factors for running an award-winning Tuli stud under challenging conditions.

Running 250 cattle on 90ha of land, producing farm-to-fork grass-fed beef without any feed supplementation, is a remarkable feat, especially when the land is rented and requires building soil health from scratch. Lindi Botha visited Balgowan Beef Company in KwaZulu-Natal to learn how it’s done.

By day, Sibonele Gumede navigates the precise world of radiography; by dawn and dusk, he is a dedicated cattleman tending to his emerging stud in Haakdoornboom. What began as a desperate search for a replacement bull transformed into a deep-seated passion for the Limousin breed, renowned globally for its exceptional muscling and feed efficiency.