Cattle

Inadequate and slow service delivery, tight regulations, increased imports and high feed costs are contributing to an increasingly sluggish poultry industry in KwaZulu-Natal. Despite this, opportunities do exist.

February, March and April are the peak months for insect- and tick-transmitted diseases. The unavailability of the blue tongue vaccine resulted in serious losses to smallstock farmers and everything should be done so that this never happens again.

For Moorreesburg Merino stud breeder Johann Kotze, careful selection based on performance testing, BLUP values and strict visual selection of wool and conformation traits are all essential for a successful breeding programme.

Germinated grain produced in a closed system is a highly nutritious fodder, but factors such as the high cost of production and the high moisture content may make it uneconomical, says Prof Tertius Brand.

A burgeoning warthog population indirectly benefited smallstock predators on James Faber’s farm in the Northern Cape. The problem was so severe that he converted his farming operation from sheep and goats to a Brangus and Nguni stud. Annelie Coleman investigates the background and outcome.

OAD milking is becoming increasingly popular in New Zealand, but can it work in SA?

In his controversial new book, legendary Southern Africa cattleman Johann Zietsman urges other cattle farmers to buck the status quo, innovate and increase their production by more than 50%. Heather Dugmore summarises his views.

Father and son team, Paradise and Temba Mahlangu, believe in sound education, hard work, service to the community and a balance between the drive to succeed and a sense of contentment. The Mahlangu men spoke to Nan Smith about farming Bonsmaras in Mpumalanga.

Monthly report on livestock disease trends in South Africa.

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 built it into an award-winning stud.

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 Moolman spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the findings of the exercise.

Cois Harman believes that the Braunvieh breed is ideal for both beef and milk production.

Monthly report on livestock disease trends.

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 of the breed.

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 cattle.

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 Aldam near Winburg.

Jeff Every is shifting mind sets and boosting profitability in the Eastern Cape’s dairy sector.

Monthly report on livestock disease trends.

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 is transmitted mostly by Aedes mosquitoes found in wetlands and floodwater areas.