Make hay while the sun shines
The coming winter looks set to be hard. Horse owners should plan ahead to ensure they have enough food to take their horses through this difficult time, says Dr Mac.
Time to re-assess your carrying capacity?
Choosing the correct stocking rate is the most important grazing management decision in sustainable livestock and wildlife production, says Dr Mias van der Westhuizen of the Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development at Glen.
About gaited horses
‘Gait’ is the way a horse moves, but there are also breeds known as ‘gaited horses’, explains Dr Mac.
Record-breaking Ngunis from the bushveld
Jannie Breytenbach’s Goedvoor Nguni Stud near Marble Hall is best known for setting a South African record price for an Nguni cow and calf sold for R86 000 in 2007. Mike Burgess visited Jannie on his 403ha Goedvoor farm recently to find out why his Ngunis remain so sought-after.
Farming with ornamental fish
You don’t need an expensive system to produce top-quality ornamentals that can compete with fish from the Far East and elsewhere.
A promising new colour variant for game farmers
With colour variants in rare game being in the headlines for all the wrong reasons, ‘White Saddleback’ blesbok may be the way to go for breeders who want to ensure colouring won’t change over time. Gerhard Uys examines this hardy breed.
All about fenugreek
Horses that compete in sports where big, strong muscles are needed will benefit from having this herb in their feed regularly, says Kim Dyson.
Invasive trees halve broiler heating costs
Eucalyptus trees are seen as a threat to native plants and scarce water resources, requiring the eradication of these trees at a considerable cost. Broiler producer Hugh Davison has found a way to turn these trees into a valuable asset – using them to heat up his broiler houses.
New AHS vaccine schedule
The Directorate of Animal Health will now enforce vaccination between June and October in the Western Cape’s African horse sickness-free zone, reports Dr Mac.
Charles Carlson Jnr’s pigeons auction
Top racing pigeons were on offer at Charles Carlson Jnr’s auction at the end of April. It’s not often that a collection of such excellence becomes available at a single sale, says Thomas Smit.
Aquaculture: when a plan comes together
There is incontrovertible proof that aquaculture can flourish in Southern Africa. The secret to success lies in appropriate scale and top-class feed.
The horse passport explained
This legal document helps to simplify equestrian sport and ensure greater protection for horses, explains Dr Mac.
Colostrum: it’s about quality and quantity
It is crucial that a foal gets enough good quality colostrum, and harvesting can be a practical solution, says Dr Mac.
Sheep milk cheese – a quality niche product
Sheep milk is far richer in fat, protein and minerals than milk from cows or goats, and thus makes excellent cheese. While in the Netherlands, Jacques Claassen visited a dairy sheep farm that produces an array of organic sheep milk cheeses.
SA aquaculture comes of age
Late to the game, South African fish farms are beginning to offer tasty, well-presented products that are attracting more and more consumers.
An exclusive game hotel for high-value guests
An innovative idea for a ‘game hotel’ has boosted the profitability of Willem and Calla van Niekerk’s game farming enterprise, eliminating the need for production credit. Annelie Coleman visited their farm Langkop in Boshof to learn more about their novel business.
An additive for healthier intestines
Remove sand from the bowel and so prevent later problems, says Kim Dyson.
Managing feed and breeding in replacement females
Heifers, first-calvers, maiden ewes and first-lambers need to be managed properly to reduce risk in terms of productivity versus production costs. Dr Francois van de Vyver, livestock nutritionist with Voermol Feeds, offers advice on this situation.
KwaZulu-Natal dairy farmers’ success challenges
KZN can become SA’s leading dairy supplier, but industry challenges must first be addressed.
Why colostrum is so important for a foal
The first fluid suckled by a foal significantly reduces the risk of disease, says Dr Mac.
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