Ankole Longhorn: Cyril Ramaphosa’s passion and pride
The Ugandan Ankole breed could offer many advantages for the local market. SA deputy president and Ankole stud breeder, Cyril Ramaphosa, farm manager and animal scientist Kobus Rall, and embryologist...
Quality and service secures free-range market
Mark Smith produces 270 000 free-range eggs a month on Maralou Farm near East London. Unable to compete on price with eggs produced in battery cage operations, he focuses on...
Sussex management: Keep it pure and simple
Dallas Phillips has been managing Sussex cattle on the same farm for the past 40 years. He says that simple management practices and keeping the herd pure form the foundation...
Dealing with a fractured jaw
Breaks are often misdiagnosed and sometimes even heal on their own, says Dr Mac.
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...
Understanding the role of the boar in breeding
Novice pig farmers should start with highly marketable and popular breeds such as the Landrace or Large White, says Shane Brody.
Three decades later: progress or regress?
In South Africa, it’s easy to become depressed, but the progress made in other African countries shows that, with the right attitude, fish farming can flourish.
The R5 million racing pigeon
Golden Prince, currently the most expensive pigeon in the world, is owned by two South African fanciers.
Cold-tolerant tilapia can weather winter’s chill
Taking tilapia cold tolerance ranges into account shows how just a few degrees can make for a worry-free season.
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...
Dealing with sacroiliac injuries
Injuries to the posterior section of the spine are often caused by unbalanced stress on the pelvis. However, the prognosis is usually good if the horse is given time to...
Jacre Limousins: founded on French genetics
From the start of his enterprise, Pierre van Niekerk has sourced Limousin genetics from France to build his Jacre Limousin Stud near Bedford in the Eastern Cape. Mike Burgess visited...
A successful Boer goat stud in the Hantam Karoo
Careful management and marketing are both crucial in Boer goat production. Pip Nieuwoudt of Nama Stud, the oldest Boer goat stud in the Western Cape, spoke to Jeandré du Preez...
Cobalt now a controlled substance
Riders should be very careful about giving horses supplements before competitions, cautions Dr Mac.
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...
Performance testing: not only for stud farmers
The perception that only stud breeders benefit from performance testing is unfounded. Commercial farmers can significantly improve the productivity of their herds using this system, says Frans Jordaan, chief research...
How to be successful at pigeon racing
To be successful at pigeon racing, you need to be fast, very fast, says Thomas Smit.
Low-input dairy production in Ireland
In Ireland, low-input dairy production on pasture with limited labour resources can be viable. On a recent visit to Ireland, Gerhard Uys spoke to farmer Pat Hennessy about how thorough...
Why you don’t need an intricate filtration system
Filtration systems with sophisticated designs rarely work efficiently. Instead, growers should focus on higher volumes.
Get your horse to canter correctly
Only when a horse has the correct lead is it balanced and safe to ride at a canter, says Dr Mac.
