Cattle

The convenience of Eskom-supplied electricity is almost unknown to Bushmanland’s commercial livestock farmers. But thanks to the sun, wind and careful management, these farmers have all the power they need. Jaco Visser visited the area.

Ruminants are adapted to convert fibre into the energy needed to produce milk and meat, but total input needs to be balanced for optimum production.

James Stephen talks to Chris Nel about establishing a new stud herd and rehabilitating a previously neglected farm at the same time.

Urea can be mixed with silage and roughage to increase milk production.

Calf rearing is a critical aspect of dairy farming. Good calf rearing has the potential to create wealth and improve the quality of the herd.

The Du Toits of La Rhone in Tulbagh are fruit farmers. A fortuitous event inspired them to transform their beef hobby herd into an acclaimed South African Limousin stud. Denene Erasmus reports.

These critical periods need to be well managed in the dairy cow so that problems are minimised and production optimised.

The past two years have seen the 76-year-old Eduan Braunvieh Stud excel at the Vryburg Show and the Braunvieh Vleissentraal-ARC Special Performance Test Class. Mike Burgess visited Gawie Naudé to learn some of the secrets behind his family’s ongoing success with this breed.

Supplements are not a substitute for good nutrition, but trace elements are vital to dairy cow health.

Businessman Muzi Dhlomo and his wife Mmakeng own the Jodema Pinzgauer Stud. Muzi believes in keeping things simple. Peter Mashala spoke to him.

It’s the main component in all living animal tissue, yet water is often neglected in ration formulations.

Dr Roland Larson, a vet who has practiced in the Graaff-Reinet district for 27 years has made it his life’s mission to help farmers manage livestock parasite loads by encouraging a resilience-based approach. He talks to Heather Dugmore.