Cattle

Almost 20 years ago, Chris Webb introduced Borans to his crossbreeding programme on the 1 500ha farm, Tharfield, in the Eastern Cape.

Kragga Kamma Ngunis on the outskirts of Port Elizabeth is a successful stud and commercial operation that proves creative thinking and ongoing marketing are more important than owning the land on which you farm. Keri Harvey spoke to owner Neil Dawson.

Quentin and Marisa de Bruyn from Ladybrand in the Free State have ‘fallen head-over-heels in love’ with Boran cattle, and see the breed as a top contender in South Africa’s red meat production industry, especially when used in a crossbreeding system.

Zolani Tyali and his son Mandange recently won the 2017 Unistel SA Stud Book Elite Developing Farmer award. Mike Burgess visited them on their farm in the Eastern Cape to gain a better understanding of the ups and downs experienced in their stud and commercial Nguni operations.

Ingo Rix’s Black Nossob Santa Gertrudis stud near Witvlei in Namibia, is the only stud in Southern Africa with a Breedplan 5-Star Completeness of Performance accreditation. He told Annelie Coleman how this hardy, adaptable breed has proven itself to be the ultimate breed for extensive farming conditions.

Bovine respiratory disease is caused by several pathogenic organisms. It can lead to substantial economic loss in feedlots.

Simmentaler stud breeder, René Krafft from Dordabis in Namibia, maintains stringent selection criteria for fertility and productivity. Wayne Southwood visited him on his farm, Ibenstein.

The Ugandan Ankole breed could offer many advantages for the local market. SA deputy president and Ankole stud breeder, Cyril Ramaphosa, farm manager and animal scientist Kobus Rall, and embryologist Morné de la Rey spoke to Gerhard Uys.

Dallas Phillips has been managing Sussex cattle on the same farm for the past 40 years. He says that simple management practices and keeping the herd pure form the foundation of the exceptional results achieved. Gerhard Uys visited him on Skietlaagte near Viljoenskroon in the Free State.

From the start of his enterprise, Pierre van Niekerk has sourced Limousin genetics from France to build his Jacre Limousin Stud near Bedford in the Eastern Cape. Mike Burgess visited Klipfontein to see why French sires still define this herd renowned for producing award-winning carcasses.

The perception that only stud breeders benefit from performance testing is unfounded. Commercial farmers can significantly improve the productivity of their herds using this system, says Frans Jordaan, chief research technician at the Agricultural Research Council.

In Ireland, low-input dairy production on pasture with limited labour resources can be viable. On a recent visit to Ireland, Gerhard Uys spoke to farmer Pat Hennessy about how thorough infrastructure planning, good pastures and the correct breed can ensure success.