Cashing in on game farming in the Eastern Cape

Mike Burgess recently visited Warren Rieger, Wildlife Ranching SA’s (WRSA) 2016 Eastern Cape Best Newcomer, on Benghoil Private Reserve near Cathcart to see how he has managed to establish an...

Economic & ecological benefits of hunting in Namibia

In Namibia, hunting is a vital part of conservation and contributes to the economic sustainability of mixed farming operations, private game farms, and more importantly, communal conservancies. Gerhard Uys spoke...

Following the spoor: What to look for

You hear the shot of the rifle and feel the recoil, but the animal runs. What should you do now? To learn about tracking, Gerhard Uys spoke to Willem van...

Grey Rhebok – phantom of the veld

With its cryptic colouring, quiet habits and powerful senses, the grey rhebok is a worthy adversary. Renowned hunter, Peter Flack, describes why he believes it is Southern Africa’s top game...

Commercial buffalo breeding: ‘It’s not just for the rich’

Father-and-son team Francoais Schutte Sr and Jr breed buffalo on their farm near Theunissen in the Free State. They are passionate about the species and say that commercial buffalo breeding...

The many rewards of game farming in the Karoo

Game animals have brought a new dimension to farm life in the arid Karoo. Roelof Bezuidenhout spoke to Neil Dodds and Rob Hobson, two farmers from Jansenville, who have combined...

How to reduce tortoise electrocution mortalities

Thousands of tortoises are inadvertently killed by electric fences in South Africa each year. Yet there are simple, practical steps that farmers can take to stop this. Dr Luke Arnot...

Is rhino breeding a potential gold mine for cattle farmers?

The socio-economic dynamics of an ever-growing and increasingly globalised human population are placing increasing demands on the world’s livestock producers. German Agricultural Society president, Carl-Albrecht Bartmer, explored these issues at...

Dr Dave Cooper at the frontline of rhino poaching

In a candid and sometimes emotional interview, Dr Dave Cooper, an award-winning wildlife veterinarian with Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife, reveals the toll that the rhino poaching scourge is taking on him...

Adding value to game ranches

Aspiring and current game farmers must carefully consider the factors that influence a ranch’s value.

How to manage your consultant

Your consultant might not be your employee, but if you’re expecting excellent results, you need to apply sound management skills to the relationship.

If you’re serious about safety, get NOSA

The NOSA Five Star Safety System goes beyond safety issues. It offers a proven way of ensuring excellence in your operation and increasing profits.

Unlocking the Western Cape’s game farming potential

Game farms may be uncommon in the Western Cape, but Fernando Rueda, a rare-game breeder on Arc-en-ciel, near Wellington, is convinced that the province has great potential for aspiring game...

Hunting & the law

Landowners and trophy and biltong hunters should ensure they are up to date with the legal requirements for carrying ammunition and transporting meat as well as the environmental conservation ordinances.

Saving the geometric tortoise

The geometric tortoise is thought to be one of the most endangered species of tortoise on earth. It occurs only in the Western Cape, where over 90% of its habitat...

Eastern Cape farmer earns big with blesbok variants

In 2009, Petri Snyman introduced game breeding to his Somerset East livestock operation in an attempt at vertical development. Mike Burgess visited him recently to see how the game component,...

Problem animal control must be based on evidence

Managing human-wildlife conflict should be based on science rather than hearsay, as this failed attempt at controlling baboons with prisms in the Western Cape shows.