Running more animals without buying more land
Soaring land prices in Limpopo’s Thabazimbi district forced Callie Lee to expand his irrigated pastures. Thanks to careful management, he achieves optimal land use and good weaning weights.
Providing water in the Kalahari thirstland
Agri Northern Cape Young Farmer of the Year finalist Johann Bekker says a reliable water supply is crucial for successful commercial sheep farming in the western Kalahari. Annelie Coleman visited...
Expanding a dairy enterprise
South Africans consume a mere 145ml of milk per person per day – so there’s room for expansion. But how? In fact, farmers have several options.
High Stocking rate on minimum veld
Backed up by 40 years’ experience in sustainable cattle production, Johann Zietsman consults with South African cattlemen on how to double, treble or quadruple their cattle numbers on the same...
Marshall Charolais does it again
For the second year running, the Farmer's Weekly-ARC Best Elite Charolais Cow is from the same Botswana herd.
A truly Elite Nguni Cow for 2011
Following in the footsteps of her dam, AVM 96 0039 has taken this year's title of Farmer's Weekly-ARC Best Elite Nguni Cow.
Are you smart enough to be a Brahman breeder?
Defying the common misconception that Brahmans are wild, temperamental and a problem to farm with, Johan Prinsloo selects only calm animals to maintain a desirable temperament in his PRI Brahman...
SA’s best commercial beef cow
The best commercial cow at the Farmer's Weekly-ARC Best Elite Cow Awards was bred by veterinary scientist Dr RD Bigalke.
Ansoria Gelbvieh impresses once again
Ansoria Geldenhuys has won her second Farmer's Weekly-ARC Best Elite Gelbvieh Cow award with ANS 00 0016. Chris Nel reports.
Good udder health paramount at Reynshire
Free State dairyman Riaan Reynders ascribes his success to a directed programme of cost-effective animal health, udder health monitoring and a consistent hygienic milking routine. This approach has significantly improved...
Nico’s exemplary Sussex cow
The mother of the 2007 Vleissentraal-ARC Special Performance Test Class bull, NJB 01 0148 now has an Elite Cow title of her own. Chris Nel reports.
The best Beefmaster cow in SA
The WO Beefmaster Stud in Vrede took the award for the Farmer’s Weekly-ARC Best Elite Cow, writes Chris Nel.
Brahman cattle raised without intervention
Although beef farming abounds with technical information on how to maximise production and financial returns, successful beef farmer Neil Haines believes the benefit of using nature as an ally is...
The biosynthesis of milk
If we want our dairy cows to produce more and better milk, we need to understand how they synthesise milk in the first place.
No place for pampered stud animals in beef cattle production
Don't pussyfoot around with stud cattle - to be effective in the commercial market, they must be managed as commercial animals, with the ultimate test being performance. So says stud...
Border Collies: Worth their weight in gold
For 50 years sheepdogs have proven themselves indispensable workers on many livestock farms. But for KwaZulu-Natal farming sisters Ragni Pretorius and Ingrid Fricke, Border Collies are absolutely critical in managing...
Absorption of undegradable proteins
Food proteins that can't be broken down by microbes are passed down to the duodenum and digested enzymatically. Malcolm Stewart-Burger examines these undegradable proteins and how they are absorbed.
Getting through to horses for a living
By the time Riekert Erasmus could walk, he was picking up tips on how to break in horses from his father. At 16, he was taming and training wild horses...
Sussex a top feedlot contender
Sussex cattle perform so well in a feedlot that the Huntersvlei and Skietlaagte Feedlots in the Free State pay a premium for Sussex or Sussex-cross weaners.The feedlots belong to the...
Fears of KZN’s corridor disease spreading
Corridor disease isn't new to KZN, and respected KZN wildlife vet Dr Dave Cooper says the increasing appeal of stocking African buffalo on private game farms could be one of...
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