The winning formula behind Zimbabwe’s most fertile stud
Stud breeder Lianne Herbst has high praise for her Simbra cattle, a versatile breed known for its good fertility, adaptability to market demands, and performance in feedlots.
Wet carcass syndrome: a scourge in SA sheep farming
Wet carcass syndrome continues to take a huge financial toll on South African sheep farmers. Octavia Avesca Spandiel spoke to two experts about the ongoing genetic research aimed at addressing...
Optimising fish farming through size sorting
Aquaculture specialist Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions, designs and builds fish farms and aquaponics systems across sub-Saharan Africa and trains farmers to manage them optimally. He shares his...
Common pig diseases every farmer should watch out for
In this article, we discuss some of the most common viral pig diseases in South Africa, and what farmers should do to prevent and/or treat these diseases to ensure a...
Expert tips for managing calving issues in Dexter cattle
At a regenerative farming day held earlier this year in Paarl, Western Cape, Willie du Plessis, chairperson of the Southern Dexter Club, shed some light on ways to treat calving...
Producing healthy animals through high-density grazing
Simbra farmer Kobus Bester spoke to Zunel van Eeden about the advantages of high-density grazing, which entails the grouping of high numbers of livestock to graze small areas of land...
Happy, healthy flyers win the big prizes
In this article, the final in a three-part series on pigeon racing, Thomas Smit looks at ways to help your birds settle in a loft, as well as the best...
The profound importance of the feed conversion ratio
To grow an aquaculture concern efficiently and profitably, the quality of feed and the price point need to be correct, writes Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions.
Inside the Cornish Beefmasters stud
Marcel Stapelberg, co-owner of the Cornish Beefmasters stud, spoke to Mike Burgess to give him a better understanding of why and how the family established their stud in less than...
How to manage and control internal parasites in cattle
Internal parasites are the bane of most farmers’ existence as they are hard to detect, control, prevent or manage. Thankfully, there are some strategies that may help. Janine Ryan reports.
Tilapia: the African fish that’s popular the world over
No fish has made as big of an impact on the global aquaculture industry as the tilapia has. Aquaculture specialist Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions, writes about this...
SA Boran genetics in good demand internationally
In August Troy Gayler, the owner of Paradise Boran Stud in southern Queensland, Australia, bought a pregnant heifer, Haylee (BH 21-404) for an African record price of R1,8 million at...
AfrikaPro: a beacon for local and international pigeon racing
In this article, part two in a three-part series on pigeon racing in South Africa, Thomas Smit discusses the AfrikaPro, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s One Loft Race, and the winner of...
The dairy where small changes have made a big difference
Dian Landman, winner of the Eastern Cape Toyota Young Farmer of the Year award and runner-up in the Milk Producers’ Organisation’s Nedbank Stewardship Awards in 2023, spoke to Glenneis Kriel...
Top tips for effectively managing a Bonsmara herd
Louis Steyl, CEO of the Bonsmara Cattle Breeders’ Society of South Africa, spoke to Annelie Coleman about the true value of effectively managing a Bonsmara herd in order to maximise...
Can privately owned One Loft Races revive pigeon racing in SA?
In this article, part one of a three-part series on pigeon racing, Thomas Smit looks at the sport’s decline in South Africa, and whether One Loft Races, with their attractive...
Facial recognition technology: a new weapon against stock theft
Facial recognition technology is poised to revolutionise livestock management. Annelie Coleman spoke to experts about this Australian-developed technology and its potential to reshape livestock production in South Africa.
Epigenetics: what it is and what it can do for livestock production
Epigenetics is an emerging area of research in livestock nutrition, genetics and breeding. Prof Michiel Scholtz, specialist researcher in applied animal breeding at the Agricultural Research Council, spoke to Annelie...
Running a Meatmaster stud on just 65ha
Innovative Meatmaster breeder René Rossouw runs her 350-strong Jumike Meatmasters stud on only 65ha on the family farm, Alice, in Wesselsbron in the Free State. She spoke to Annelie Coleman...
Profitable free-range chicken production in the Swartland
Suzanne Smit, owner of The Country Chic, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about her journey into commercial broiler and layer production in the Swartland.
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