Cattle

Studies indicate that gentler livestock handling practices will result in less stress for the animals and fewer stress-related diseases, says Leon Kruger of the smallstock unit at the Agricultural Research Council.

Dave Cawthorn runs stud and commercial Tuli cattle on semi-sweet veld near Stutterheim in the Eastern Cape. Mike Burgess recently visited the Horseshoe Farm to investigate the impact of this hardy and fertile indigenous beef breed on the Cawthorn farming operation.

Heinrich Bruwer's passion for superior Brahmans has led him to the best genetics in the world.

The owners of Rouvus Drakensberger Stud near Ventersburg take performance testing and animal recording seriously. Father and son team Gawie and Frik Roux incorporated central growth testing into the management of their stud to determine feed conversion ratios (FCR), in conjunction with animal scientist, Danie Bosman.

Rangeland Ecology Group programme manager at the Agricultural Research Council, Dr Mike Peel, discusses animal management under fluctuating environmental conditions in the Lowveld areas of SA.

Charolais farmer Corrie de Vos spoke to Gerhard Uys about how the breed has improved over the decades and how sound business principles can help a commercial and stud farmer to be profitable.

The interrelationship between vegetation, grazing animals, soil and climate is complex and dynamic. Finding and maintaining a balance between these factors for optimum, sustainable economic production has been the quest of the best rangeland ecologists in the world for some time. Dr Richard Fynn of the Okavango Research Institute in Maun, Botswana, explains.

Woodrose Red Poll Stud owner Anzabeth Nieuwoudt says the Red Poll has evolved into a true South African dual-purpose breed. Annelie Coleman visited her on the farm Biesieslaagte in Schweizer-Reneke to find out more about her cattle and the unique qualities of the breed.

With the rising demand for food, farmers have to produce more with fewer inputs. Bertus Mong, owner of the BM Hereford Stud, tells Glenneis Kriel how production recording helped him and his fellow Hereford breeders achieve this goal.

Spring is here and it’s time to check your management and vaccination programmes.

Is it possible to combine the best traits of the Brahman, Angus, Simmentaler and Boran? Eastern Cape farmer Johannes Norval thinks so. Mike Burgess spoke to him about his idea to develop this unique breed and his future prospects.

Whether commercial or stud, a herd has to be correctly established in order to achieve sustainable economic production. Simmentaler breeder Hennie Viljoen and general manager of Simmentaler SA Flaf Lauwrens spoke to Gerhard Uys on how a novice should go about it.