Game & Wildlife

Farmer’s Weekly brings you the latest game farming and wildlife ranching news and updates from South Africa and the rest of Africa.

Castle De Wildt’s opening sale on 7 July

Bernard Groenewald of LBG Holdings opened a game marketing facility, Castle De Wildt, outside Modimolle (Nylstroom) last weekend.

Eastern Cape’s sable pioneer

In 1994 Hennie Barnard became the first person to successfully breed sable antelope in the Eastern Cape. This finalist in the Wildlife Ranching South Africa’s 2011 Game Rancher of the Year competition has fine herds of sable and buffalo on his farm near Aberdeen. Heather Dugmore paid him a visit.

Speaking to Cyril Ramaphosa about game breeding

As businessman and game breeder, Cyril Ramaphosa focuses on buying the best and conserving animals for the future. Sean Christie spoke to him.

Co-existence: leopards & farmers

Farmers and leopards living peacefully together might sound impossible, especially if you’re farming in the Southern Cape, where predation seems rife. But a new study suggests that leopards in the George-Wilderness region seldom eat livestock if other prey is available. Leopard researcher Alexander Braczkowski reports.

Wildlife: stay in the game

Whenever there are problems in an industry, it is advisable to go back to basics. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.

Karoo’s small cats tread softly

Black-footed cat (Felis nigripes) and African wild cat (Felis silvestris lybica) populations are under threat from diminishing prey bases, degraded habitats, persecution, disease and hybridisation. To better understand Africa’s smallest cats, Mike Burgess visited Marion Holmes and Dr Mircea Pfleiderer near Cradock in Eastern Cape.

Keeping hunting clients happy

South Africa is a favourite destination for US trophy hunters, but the authorities underestimate their contribution to the local economy and don't try and lure them here.

Reviving Canada’s indigenous bison

The population of Canada's indigenous American plains bison is recovering after the species was nearly decimated in the late 1800s.

Where have all the kudus gone?

Within two seasons, and without warning, the Eastern Cape's free-ranging kudu numbers have shifted from 'too many' to 'too few'. Roelof Bezuidenhout speculates on what could've gone wrong.

A rare game initiative on stock farms

When Abel Erasmus bought five stock farms near Philippolis in the Free State to establish the 14 000ha Otterskloof Private Game Reserve, he focused on breeding rare game species, including disease-free buffalo, roan antelope and sable antelope. Mike Burgess spoke to him about his success converting stock farms into a game reserve.

Scans & embryo transfers – game follows livestock farming

Ultrasound scans aren't new in the livestock industry, but they're now being increasingly used in the high-profit game industry. And that's just the start - researchers say embryo transfer is the next big thing. Heather Dugmore investigates.

Black gold: disease-free buffalo farming

Few farming enterprises can offer the returns of a well-managed buffalo breeding operation.

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