Animals

The genetics of polledness has long been of major interest to cattle breeders and livestock geneticists, and advances in genomics have helped unravel the genetic mechanisms that control horn development and polledness.

Obert Chinhamo, Tsungirai Tembo and Kelvin Mundeta are each using Simmentaler genetics in different ways to improve herd performance in Zimbabwe. From supporting communal farmers with semen donations, to building stud operations and crossbreeding for beef production, their experiences highlight how the breed is helping farmers boost productivity in a challenging environment.

In part two of this feature on the future of wildlife, Dr Mike Peel, specialist researcher at the Agricultural Research Council, and Dr Pete Zacharias, a consultant in vegetation and animal systems tell us how wildlife managers should revisit the basic building blocks of ecosystems.

Rachel and Jannie Beukes’s regenerative poultry farm in Stanford in the Western Cape is taking flight and growing from 100 birds to 700 birds a month through grit, practical learning, and smart use of social media.

The future of the wildlife industry lies in bridging the gap between science and management. Ecological balance and sustained productivity depend on effective management of biodiversity and understanding the interactions between species and the environment, as well as how ecosystems function and respond to change.

Decades of compulsory performance testing has shaped the Bonsmara into a reliable, data-driven beef breed. By prioritising measurable function over appearance, Bonsmara breeders have built a transparent genetic system that delivers proven performance, adaptability, and commercial relevance.

In just over a decade, Dorper breeder, inspector and judge Ashley Phillips has visited more than a dozen countries around the globe to conduct work involved with the breed. He spoke to Sabrina Dean about how the sheep breed’s adaptability, fertility, and proven carcass quality have positioned it as a global player.

Bonsmara producer Justin Stirk farms in an area in the Eastern Cape where seasons don’t follow normal patterns and no part of the farm is the same as another. Sabrina Dean found out more about his production practices in such a variable scenario.

Twinning in Dorper sheep can greatly boost productivity, but it requires precise nutrition, fertility management, and seasonal planning to safeguard ewe health and lamb survival.

As the agriculture sector starts to adapt to the fast-paced development of technology, producers and processors need to decide what to implement and what to avoid. Henning Naudé spoke to Izak Klopper, manager of shearer training at the National Wool Growers’ Association, about how shearing has changed, and what the industry can expect from new research and development from international markets.

When forensic fire investigator Zelda Greyling arrived at a farm to assess a blaze, she didn’t expect to meet a cow that would change her life. That meeting led her to purchase Mitzi, an elite Akaushi female, and launch Bizon Wagyu in Hammanskraal, Gauteng. She spoke to Hanlie du Plessis.

For more than 60 years, the Simmentaler has played a structured, performance-driven role in Southern African beef production. Jamie Berger, general manager of the Simmentaler Cattle Breeders’ Society of South Africa, spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about the breed’s performance, adaptability, and maternal strength.

Ashley Phillips, a Dorper farmer in Tarkastad in the Eastern Cape, spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about genetics, production systems, nutrition, breeding efficiency and the economics of sheep farming.

Attention to detail and work ethic have earned Gerrit Maritz the title of AgriCulture Gauteng’s Young Farmer of the Year 2025. He runs a poultry operation producing 4,5 million broilers per year in Magaliesberg, Gauteng. He shared his lessons on keeping margins favourable with Lindi Botha.

This is the first presentation of a study in two parts, revealing the background behind a successful pigeon-racing enterprise that raked in millions of rands.

Fardi Simmentalers near Wesselsbron focuses on breeding fertile, adaptable cattle that perform under real-world conditions. By prioritising functionality, strong maternal lines and balanced milk and meat production, the stud aims to deliver Simmentaler genetics that improve profitability for commercial beef producers.

Within the poultry market in South Africa, the individual consumer demand for duck meat and eggs has yet to compete with its feathered competition. However, up-and-coming producers are now finding their feet to satisfy niche markets nationwide wanting free-range ducks. Amoré Mannsberger spoke to Henning Naudé about how innovative practices helped her build her duck farm from the ground up, and how she manages to overcome a lack of commercial hormone-free feed.

Fairbridge Agri, a mixed farming operation on the slopes of the Southern Drakensberg in the Eastern Cape, has used Charolais bulls for terminal crosses since the stud’s inception in 1979. Owner Delwyn Roberts explains their approach.

Nestled in the arid expanse of the Northern Cape, the ATKA Dorper Stud, owned and run by Dr Corrie Avenant, is producing world-class Dorpers that are in high demand.

Mpumalanga poultry farmer Lebogang Mashego spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel, and shared practical insights on planning, building systems that work, breed choice, feed management, and markets to build a profitable and sustainable egg business.