Cattle

Cattle farming made easy: expert advice on nutrition, health, and herd management.

The winning formula behind Zimbabwe’s most fertile stud

Stud breeder Lianne Herbst has high praise for her Simbra cattle, a versatile breed known for its good fertility, adaptability to market demands, and performance in feedlots.

Expert tips for managing calving issues in Dexter cattle

At a regenerative farming day held earlier this year in Paarl, Western Cape, Willie du Plessis, chairperson of the Southern Dexter Club, shed some light on ways to treat calving...

Producing healthy animals through high-density grazing

Simbra farmer Kobus Bester spoke to Zunel van Eeden about the advantages of high-density grazing, which entails the grouping of high numbers of livestock to graze small areas of land...

Inside the Cornish Beefmasters stud

Marcel Stapelberg, co-owner of the Cornish Beefmasters stud, spoke to Mike Burgess to give him a better understanding of why and how the family established their stud in less than...

How to manage and control internal parasites in cattle

Internal parasites are the bane of most farmers’ existence as they are hard to detect, control, prevent or manage. Thankfully, there are some strategies that may help. Janine Ryan reports.

SA Boran genetics in good demand internationally

In August Troy Gayler, the owner of Paradise Boran Stud in southern Queensland, Australia, bought a pregnant heifer, Haylee (BH 21-404) for an African record price of R1,8 million at...

The dairy where small changes have made a big difference

Dian Landman, winner of the Eastern Cape Toyota Young Farmer of the Year award and runner-up in the Milk Producers’ Organisation’s Nedbank Stewardship Awards in 2023, spoke to Glenneis Kriel...

Top tips for effectively managing a Bonsmara herd

Louis Steyl, CEO of the Bonsmara Cattle Breeders’ Society of South Africa, spoke to Annelie Coleman about the true value of effectively managing a Bonsmara herd in order to maximise...

Facial recognition technology: a new weapon against stock theft

Facial recognition technology is poised to revolutionise livestock management. Annelie Coleman spoke to experts about this Australian-developed technology and its potential to reshape livestock production in South Africa.

Epigenetics: what it is and what it can do for livestock production

Epigenetics is an emerging area of research in livestock nutrition, genetics and breeding. Prof Michiel Scholtz, specialist researcher in applied animal breeding at the Agricultural Research Council, spoke to Annelie...

Dexter cattle find their niche in regenerative farming systems

The Dexter cattle breed is proving its mettle as a regenerative farming tool in the Western Cape’s intensive farming systems.

Regenerative farming: from ‘lifeless dust’ to productive farm

The use of regenerative farming practices has enabled Barry Meijer to restore the ‘lifeless dust’ on his farm and turn it into productive pastures for his cattle. He spoke to...
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The WOAH addresses four major animal health challenges

The World Organisation for Animal Health’s 2024 general session addressed global animal health challenges, including foot-and-mouth disease, highly pathogenic avian influenza, and African swine fever.

The role of reproduction in profitable beef cattle farming

Reproduction is vital for beef production, boosting income, genetic improvement, and reducing overheads. Hennie du Toit, animal and pasture scientist at Agropedo Armenta, writes about the importance of reproduction in...

Why performance testing in livestock is important

Melville Ferreira and Freek Botes, researchers at the Agricultural Research Council’s Animal Production Institute in Armoedsvlakte, explain why performance testing is important for herd progress.
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RPO advises on FMD outbreak control and biosecurity measures

The Eastern Cape Red Meat Producers’ Organisation confirms that more than 140 animals have tested positive for foot-and-mouth disease in the province, and movement control is in place in certain...
Braunvieh bulls

South African Braunvieh set for global beef market success

The South African Braunvieh has all it takes to become a serious contender in the international red meat production arena, says Gawie Naudé, owner of the award-winning Eduan Braunvieh Stud...

Zimbabwe’s Nkone cattle breed recovers from near extinction

Zimbabwe’s quintessential Nkone cattle breed is back from the brink of extinction, says Annelie Coleman. She spoke to George Hulme, a Nkone farmer and breeding society vice-chairperson, who jointly runs...

Success story of a Brangus stud on an Eastern Cape dairy farm

In 2001, Steve Kretzmann, introduced a beef component to his dairy farm, Edendale, in the Eastern Cape. Mike Burgess visited him recently to better understand the impact that the Panorama...

Challenges and opportunities expected for dairy production

The US Department of Agriculture recently released its latest report on dairy production in the US, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, and the trends driving trading.
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