Animals

The Brahman has played a pivotal role in the development of Namibia’s beef cattle industry. During the Namibia Brahman Breeders Society’s 70th anniversary, seasoned Brahman breeder Ryno van der Merwe spoke to Annelie Coleman about the breed’s influence on the country’s beef production.

Proper nutrition is vital for the health and productivity of pigs and poultry. Dr Sipokazi Nyeleka and JD Mostert spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about exploring essential nutrients, common feeding mistakes, and best practices for feed safety to optimise livestock growth and reproductive health.

From the bustling streets of Pretoria, Gauteng, to the serene pastures of eNtokozweni in Mpumalanga, Colin Morodi’s journey from government bureaucrat to dedicated cattle breeder is a story of determination and the pursuit of a lifelong dream.

Pieter Jordaan runs Angora goats and Merinos on 16 000ha near Aberdeen in the Eastern Cape. The 2024 Agri Eastern Cape Young Farmer of the Year finalist spoke to Mike Burgess about how his stud, Legacy Angora, has added value to his farming enterprise by consistently producing a quality product for the market.

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 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 this issue.

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 expertise on the practice of size sorting in fish farming.

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 happy and healthy herd.

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 and reproductive emergencies.

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 over short periods.

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 nutrition to enhance their health and stamina during long races.

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.

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 a decade.

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.

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 highly sought-after fish, which he has come to describe as the ‘aquatic chicken’.

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 the Hurwitz Farming 10th Production Auction. He spoke to Glenneis Kriel about his interest in Boran cattle.

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 last year’s competition.

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 about how he balances growth and sustainability on his dairy farm.

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 profit.

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 cash prizes, can revive it.