Blazing or grazing – the great fire debate
The grasslands of the African savannah depend on defoliation processes like fire and grazing to maintain plant vigour, increase cover and reduce rainfall-runoff. Prof Winston Trollope talks to Heather Dugmore...
Livestock Disease Trends (as informally reported by vets in South Africa) November 2012
A record number of vetinarary practices (50) reported this month, as well as three veterinary laboratories.
Tree lucerne: marvellous, but not miraculous!
The pioneer of tree lucerne in South Africa, Gavin Armstrong, warns that as the interest in this high-yield fodder crop grows, many suppliers are overcharging farmers for inferior plant material....
Namibian Simmentalers survive & thrive
Stephan Voigts, owner of the historic Voigtland Simmentaler herd in Namibia bases his breeding objectives on the commercial cattleman’s requirements. The commercial sector determines the value of any cattle breed,...
Livestock Disease Trends (as informally reported by vets in SA) October 2012
The number of practices reporting are increasing – hopefully Limpopo will get on board in future. Thank you to all who participated.
From herdboy to commercial cattle farmer
It has taken Zandisile Maswana a lifetime to become an independent commercial beef producer. Mike Burgess spoke to him on his farm Kingscote near the former Ciskei town of Hamburg...
A standard of excellence
Technology has brought rapid advances in the dairy industry, but record keeping is still crucial as a guide to dairy farmers.
Dairyman: A master at his craft
An unwavering focus on genetics and attention to detail has paid off for master dairyman Charlie MacGillivray. Robyn Joubert visited his farm in the Karkloof.
Between a rock & a hard place
Dairy farmers need to maintain profitable businesses despite being squeezed between high input costs and powerful milk buyers.
The East African Boran – ‘the world’s hardiest breed’
Steeped in history and rooted in the African soil, the rugged Boran is receiving more and more accolades. Tanzanian Boran breeder Mark Myatt-Taylor tells Lloyd Phillips why.
Good neighbours make good business
Eastern Cape’s Young Farmer of the Year, Richard Morgan, has built on his family’s agricultural legacy, which started in 1895 in the Mankazana Valley near Adelaide. Mike Burgess reports.
Farmers finding common ground
By forming a good working relationship, nine farmers from Mmakgabetlwane village in North West have found a way to farm on communal land. Peter Mashala visited them.
Pioneer farming in Africa – in the 21st century
These days, it’s rare to hear stories of a family establishing, from scratch, a commercial farm in virgin African bushveld. But this is what one family has done in just...
From pipe dream to poultry success
A city couple bought a run-down chicken farm in the Dargle, with the intention of changing it into a wedding venue. But the chickens turned out to be profitable on...
Eastern Cape farmers in search of the optimum cow
Alwyn Marx, who farms with his father near Burgersdorp, started a small Tuli herd a decade ago. Impressed with the Tuli’s performance, they have expanded the operation to 300 stud...
From the Karoo to the catwalk: The journey of the Charmac Merino
The wool of the Charmac Merino, which is bred in the Karoo by the McNaughton family, was recently developed into an exclusive fashion fabric in Australia to meet the demand...
Building a family business
After completing agricultural studies and gaining work experience, Ananias and Mphai Rapholo returned home to Limpopo to start a family business, the Mohloma Agricultural Co-operative, with their father. The brothers...
Selecting for quality in a Braford stud herd
Pieter Schulenburg of Leeuwfontein Braford Stud has established an acclaimed stud herd through a tough selection regime. His animals thrive under the harsh conditions of the semi-arid bushveld, says Peter...
