Cattle

Age has not prevented a group of elderly communal sheep farmers in the former Transkei from embracing change and improving their flocks. The result has been better sheep, finer wool – and improved profits. Mike Burgess investigates.

Merino breeder Johan Hoffman of Bothaville in the Free State has virtually eradicated wireworm (Haemonchus contortus) from his 800-strong stud flock. He spoke to Annelie Coleman.

Running a successful shisa nyama in the busy township of Mamelodi near Pretoria, Jerry Boshoga realised that buying meat was eroding his profit. Last year, he established a feedlot to supply his business. Peter Mashala visited him.

Angora rabbits need a patient approach before their wool can be harvested. But the end-product is sought after by discerning consumers worldwide.

Johannes Uys of Cohanma Jerseys in the Overberg bred McIvor, the 2013 Taurus Jersey Bull of the Year. Denene Erasmus looks at the man and the herd behind this bull.

According to Alfred Maabelo, keeping a large herd of cattle on communal land is not always a good idea. It’s far better, he argues, to choose the breed carefully, keep a small herd and ensure tight management at all times. He spoke to Peter Mashala about his approach.

Badly managed bulls are costing the national beef herd dearly, with disease and financial consequences that cattlemen will feel for years to come. Susan Botes investigates the re-emergence of STDs.

Introduction and summary of diseases and other conditions during August 2013.

Karel-Günther Jordaan began his working career in big business. But this chartered management accountant chose to farm Merinos and Bovelders in the Karoo instead, and is doing so well he is Toyota Agri Eastern Cape Young Farmer of the Year for 2013. Heather Dugmore reports.

Desmond Siteti farms in a communal area of the former Ciskei as well as on a 500ha commercial farm with Boer- and Savannah-type goats and a small, but impressive herd of Bonsmara-type cattle. Incredibly, as Mike Burgess reports, he manages his farm while working as a shift foreman on a Gauteng mine – an arrangement that has proved critical in the development of his livestock initiative.

Implementing an integrated fly control programme can prevent overwintering fly populations from exploding in spring and help to improve udder health and reduce somatic cell counts. Robyn Joubert reports.

The science of genomics allows livestock breeders to predict the genetic merit of an animal. Dr Japie van der Westhuizen of SA Stud Book explains the basic principles to Annelie Coleman.

For many years, Frekkie Sentsho had very little option but to accept the deadly effects of poison leaf on his cattle and goats. He explains to Peter Mashala how he managed to reduce the problem by 80%.

Identifying and preventing botulism and tetanus.

Agri North West’s 2013 Young Farmer of the Year, Heinrich Bruwer believes that it makes economic sense to increase individual animal productivity as this will be reflected in optimum income per hectare. Annelie Coleman reports.

Fairly common, especially among free-range layers, this can be a hard habit to break – so prevention is better than cure.

Genomic testing and the ability to transfer embryos gives dairy company Inovula an edge in the industry. Dr Kobus Hendriks, the company’s managing director is also a vet and the business has raked in more awards than its shelf space can handle; the most recent of which was the National Master Dairyman for 2012. Lindi van Rooyen reports.

Former Cabinet minister Dr Penuell Maduna has been out of politics for some time and is now building a name for himself in cattle-breeding circles. Peter Mashala visited him.

Veld management has more to do with the season of rest than the system of grazing. Izak du Plessis discusses strategy and action for managing stock on veld during drought.

Second-generation Argentinian farmer Ricardo Mendizabal runs 4 100 cattle in the Entre Ríos province of Argentina and owns a cattle transport and cattle auction business. Anneli Groenewald spoke to him through interpreter Hendrik Jordaan during Farmer’s Weekly tour to Argentina.