Generalist and specialist fish species

Not all fish species are suitable for aquaculture simply because they grow large in their natural habitat.

Cost effective feed for your horse

It is possible to pay less to feed your horse without compromising its health, says Kim Dyson.

A simpler intensive sheep farming programme

Farmers are often deterred by the challenges of an intensive sheep farming enterprise. Wayne Southwood visited Dr Karin and Manie Wessels who run the Mamre Dorper Stud near Vrede, to...

Competitive horse riders beware of buscopan!

Buscopan is effective for treating colic. But take care: the main ingredient is on the list of banned substances for competitions, warns Dr Mac.

Twee Plus Brangus pushes the breed to new heights

In 2015, Flippie Kotze and his son, Walter, sold a Brangus bull for a SA record price of R500 000 at the National Brangus Sale in the Free State. Mike...

Aquaculture: claims vs reality

Production claims must be based on proven, long-term commercial results – they cannot be extrapolated.

How to tell if a horse has recovered from a back injury

Many horses that fail to return to their original work after a back injury simply haven’t been given enough time to recover, says Kim Dyson.

Bonsmara-infused Afrikaners: enhancing performance

Bothaville Stud breeder, Herbert Bruinette, has succeeded in breeding Afrikaner cattle with excellent breeding values and muscling through the introduction of Bonsmara genetics into his herd. He started in 2008...

Groundwork for horses

The amount of training a horse needs before a rider climbs on its back differs according to the discipline you choose, says Dr Mac.

Locheim Herefords: bred for balance

Philip de Waal, owner of the Locheim studs in the Swartland and on the West Coast, has won regional, national and international awards for his top-performing Hereford cattle. He spoke...

Invest in rural aquaculture!

The SA government does not provide adequate support or information to rural people who want to start a fish farm.

Don’t let your horse suffer from osteochondritis dissecans

Unfortunately, the developmental disease osteochondritis dissecans is quite common and can cause your horse severe discomfort.

Three-way crossbreeding for optimal production

Crossbreeding two beef breeds is a popular practice among South Africa’s commercial beef producers. A KwaZulu-Natal family that has been in the beef farming business for several decades believes it...

Taking a horse through water

Our dry climate means that young horses often are not used to crossing streams and even large puddles, but with a little patience you can show them how.

Do the eyes have it?

The theory of ‘eye-sign’ is a subject of much controversy in the pigeon racing fraternity.

The stages of filtration – it’s all about balance

There are four key aspects of filtration, all of which are non-negotiable and integral to running a successful system.

Achieving shorter ICP

Fertility and a short intercalving period (ICP) are more heritable than experts suggest, says cattle farmer Peter Schultz. He explains to Gerhard Uys that cattle well-adapted to their environment and...