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...
Dealing with milkweed
These plants grow almost anywhere, and can be deadly if your animals eat too many of them, warns Paul Donovan.
An answer to African poverty?
According to Johnny Morrison, chairperson of the SA Indigenous Veld Goat Club, a millenia-long migration through Africa has honed the breed into a superbly functional animal. Annelie Coleman reports.
Body condition scoring
Scoring body condition (BCS) in dairy cows is an economically important management tool to check the body reserves and energy status of cattle.
Brahmans come in from the cold
Brahman stud breeder James Prinsloo runs a thriving cattle enterprise on the Mpumalanga highveld where winter temperatures can fall to -12°C. Known for their resilience to heat and drought, the...
Bee farming – liquid gold, but hard work
South Africa’s beekeeping industry may still have room for newcomers, but this unusual type of agricultural production is far more challenging than it may appear. Lloyd Phillips reports.
Bringing back the Afrino
This easy-care, dual purpose breed thrives in the harshest conditions, offers high net profits and is a pleasure to farm. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Supporting a family, week by lonely week
Malekaleke Maila farms with Pedi sheep on communal land in Limpopo. Unable to run his flock near his village, he is forced to spend each week away from home. Yet,...
Mastitis in a dairy herd
Udder health problems, especially mastitis, can significantly limit profitable dairy farming, says vet Dr Vincent Turner. Robyn Joubert reports.
100 years of memories
Oom Jacob Coetzee of Hartbeesfontein has watched agriculture develop over the course of the last century. Born in Cradock on 17 July 1912 he moved to the farm Mahemsvlei in...
