Limousin stud: starting well and getting better
At 23, Limousin breeder Rehan van Niekerk has already made a name for himself. This young Bothaville farmer established the Eran Limousin herd while still at school and has since...
Survey: Dairy producers get the basics right
A benchmarking exercise involving SA dairy producers showed few similarities between top producers. In fact, getting the basics right was the only common factor. Dairy consultants Chris Fourie and Justin...
Dual-purpose Braunvieh for meat and dairy
Cois Harman believes that the Braunvieh breed is ideal for both beef and milk production.
Loriza Brahman: where excellence is a given
The Meyer family has been farming Brahmans since the 1960s – and it shows. In 2014, the stud had the top performance herd in the country and the best cow...
A legendary cattleman’s insight
Cattle consultant Erwin Church is one of South Africa’s greatest stockmen. In this interview with Heather Dugmore, he shares some of his knowledge gained from a lifetime of working with...
Buffalo breeders urged to reduce disease risk
Buffalo are known to carry several harmful diseases that can also be fatal in cattle. To address this subject, the Free State Buffalo Breeders’ Association recently organised a workshop in...
Dairy consultant transforming the dairy industry
Jeff Every is shifting mind sets and boosting profitability in the Eastern Cape’s dairy sector.
Oxen off grass – working the numbers
The Daybreaker Beef Off Grass brand, a partnership between farmers Llewellyn Maclean and father-and-son team Pieter and Koot Prinsloo, aims to create a market for selling oxen as grass-fed beef.
Wesselsbron virus – Mosquito-borne disease
Wesselsbron virus is transmitted mostly by Aedes mosquitoes found in wetlands and floodwater areas.
Improved soil health through high-density grazing – Part 1
The rising cost of fertiliser and other soil amelioration products has made it crucial for farmers to improve soil health with natural, affordable methods. USA-based soil scientist Doug Peterson visited...
Heartwater – Tick-borne disease
Heartwater is transmitted to cattle, goats and sheep by infected bont ticks.
West Nile virus – Mosquito-borne diseases
WNV is an important, under-detected cause of neurological disease in humans and animals, according to Prof Marietjie Venter.
Successful meat production on Réunion Island
Space is limited on the island of Réunion. Farms are small, and farming is intensive and diversified. Yet, assisted by subsidies from France, farmers supply nearly half the island’s meat...
Arthropod-borne summer livestock diseases
As the weather grows hotter and wetter across the country, the incidence of livestock diseases transmitted by arthropods increases.
Success with Holsteins – 2
At the Wait-and-See Holstein Stud, between Cradock and Cookhouse in the Eastern Cape, John Sieberhagen milks 420 cows in a 15-a-side Herringbone parlour. The milking herd calves year-round, with about...
Success with Braunvieh cattle – a top breeder shares his secrets
In 1989, Willie du Plessis (68) established the Vaaldu Braunvieh Stud herd on the farm Honesty between Warrenton and Christiana, in the North West. He’s now regarded as one of...
Success with Holsteins – 1
Some 46 Holstein cows from the Wait-and-See Holstein Stud, between Cradock and Cookhouse in the Eastern Cape, have reached lifetime production figures of over 100 000kg of milk. By any...
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