Animals

As a rule, you should avoid tying off the umbilical cord after birth. However, if very heavy bleeding occurs, it’s time to act, advises Dr Mac.

The popularity of colour variants such as the golden wildebeest and black impala skyrocketed in the South African game market in 2000, and their prices reflected this. Fourteen years later, these prices dropped just as precipitously. Dr Flippie Cloete, head of Terratek at Suidwes Landbou, takes a look at the drivers that influence the price movements of colour variants.

Alwyn Viljoen is the production manager of Zaytoon Farms, which is situated on the outskirts of Mbombela and is the only supplier of fresh chicken to the region’s supermarkets. Despite being a small operation, it maintains profitability.

Johan and Danita de Swardt, who became farmers after retiring from corporate careers, ensure profitably by supplying value-added beef directly to their clients. Chris Nel visited them on their farm, Damplaas, near Paul Roux in the eastern Free State.

About 2% of foals are unable to expel the meconium within the first 24 hours after birth, warns Dr Mac.

The production of trout remains a heated topic between conservationists and aquaculturists.

Multi-award-winning Limousin stud breeder John Devonport says that a simple and practical approach makes business sense when breeding top cattle.

In the US, Soft-Ride boots are often used to make a horse more comfortable on a hard floor, such as in a stable or a horsebox. South African owners should consider using them too, says Dr Mac.

Many experts have the theoretical knowledge, but fail to put themselves in the shoes of the rural, small-scale fish farmer.

Free State dairy farmer Mick Quin has managed to grow his business by more than 800% at a time when many inland producers are struggling to survive. His secret, as Sabrina Dean discovered, is active and precise pasture management.

Certain horse breeds have an inborn ability to separate a cow from a herd, a trait that makes them a valuable partner on a farm, says Dr Mac.

In the Ponta do Ouro Partial Marine Reserve in southern Mozambique, the local community are included in conservation efforts: they closely monitor turtles and fish catches, and ensure that poaching is kept to a minimum. It’s a conservation success story, supported by the Peace Parks Foundation and implemented Africa-style.

John Schenk and Fiona Lees are focused on the timber industry near Hogsback, but started a part-time agricultural venture near Elliot in 2004. Despite committing to Nguni cattle, their willingness to experiment on their farm has ensured a broader scope of interest. Mike Burgess reports.

Green water culture provides a highly nutritious ‘soup’ of feed for fish stock, promoting faster growth. It also cuts out the high cost of artificial feed.

Piggery owner Zodwa Thwala, winner of the 2017 Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Best Female Entrepreneur Award, says that her love for teaching motivated her to add farmer training to her existing piggery business.

Stefan Erasmus, the 2017 Toyota/AgriSA Eastern Cape Young Farmer, has boosted his Merino weaning rate more than 30% by lambing in a closed system. Mike Burgess visited him near Middelburg in the Eastern Cape to see how his 1 200m2 lambing shed has increased income from his flock of ewes.

Knowing the difference is important to breeders, as the genetics are not the same, although the colours may appear similar, says Dr Mac.

At a recent poultry production course hosted by the Agricultural Research Council and presented by Paulus Sape and July Mahlangu. Gerhard Uys learnt about some of the basic principles of poultry production.

Small-scale aquaculture will never succeed if producers are forced to finance heavy-security fencing for their ponds.

With Bonsmaras having been bred for decades in South Africa for local conditions, the standards for this beef breed are firmly established. One Free State farming family is building on this solid foundation to make their cattle even more adaptable and profitable.