An award-winning Merino sheep enterprise
Van Pletzen is a well-known and highly respected name in the SA Merino wool sheep industry. Gavin Isted visited the farm Sterkfontein near Jamestown to find out why.
Livestock Disease Trends Report – June
Winter is setting in and in many areas the nutritional value of grazing is poor. Animals are losing condition and immune levels are dropping.
Adding value sets Sarahsrivier’s dairy business apart
Milk production on Sarahsrivier Boerdery near Ashton in the Western Cape has undergone many changes since its cheese factory was established in 1994. To achieve organic certification, it moved away from a conventional pasture system and opted for Jersey cows.
Solar energy for aquaculture
Currently, relying on Eskom electricity for either business or pleasure, is a dangerous path to tread. Fish-rearing systems are no exception.
Barbary sheep: farming potential?
The much-maligned and hunted Barbary sheep may have a niche commercial value when farmed sustainably in a well-managed confined production environment. Shane Brody investigates.
50 years of Simmentaler: From Europe to Africa
The Southern African Simmentaler/Simbra Breeders’ Society was registered on 28 February 1964. To celebrate last year’s 50th anniversary, the society has published a comprehensive commemorative history of the breed in both South Africa and Namibia.
Heritability of temperament in horses
Is temperament mainly genetic or due to the environment? Before answering this question,
we should be clear about what is meant by ‘temperament’, says Dr Mac.
Winter feeding methods: a tale of two farms
There is more to feeding in winter than simply keeping cattle alive until summer. Mistakes in winter cattle feeding may take more than one season to rectify, and costs a farmer time, money and production. Gerhard Uys assesses how two farmers tackle the challenge differently.
Beneke Lofts
The multiple award-winning father-and-sons team at Beneke Lofts discusses their partnership
and champion racing pigeon lines with Thomas Smit.
Importing horses
Bringing in competition horses from overseas can be expensive and requires expert help, cautions Dr Mac.
How to keep farming sheep in drought
Drought is a fact of life – and death – in South Africa, and the current drought is certainly no exception. Overberg sheep farmer, Thys Delport, gives practical advice on how a sheep farmer can continue farming his/her sheep in drought, and remain lucrative.
The limits of stocking rates for aquaculture
In South Africa, open ponds for aquaculture are impractical due to our cool winters. And with the country’s electricity crisis, one can ill afford to adopt an indoor system that does not yield good results.
Dealing with the rattles
Rhodococcus equi infections can be fatal, especially in Arabian foals, says Dr Mac.
Brucellosis in cattle
The bacterial disease, brucellosis, costs the local livestock industry millions of rands every year. In the first of a new animal health series, Dr JH du Preez and Dr Faffa Malan, discuss this impact.
Know your horse breed: Percheron
Percherons have become extremely popular in South Africa, not least because these gentle giants are easy to handle and still have some use on the farm, says Dr Mac.
Livestock Disease Trends Report – May
The winter months lie ahead and additional nutritional supplementation should be given to animals in time.
Groblersdal’s champion Damara Stud
Neels Nel has been breeding Damara sheep near Groblersdal in Limpopo for almost 25 years. Today, his Krinkhout Stud, which has consistently won South African champion titles over the years, is highly respected in the industry.
A passion for fish farming
Aquaculture is a demanding career that requires perseverance and an abiding interest in fish. Unless you have the ‘fish bug’, rather consider running a fish-and-chip shop.
Talking to pigeon fancier Deon du Toit
Deon’s first racing season in the Kalahari Pigeon Federation was in 2014, and his birds led from the start, writes Thomas Smit.
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