Making it in the mohair business
an Lottering and Andries Mopiley’s Angora goat farming enterprise in Prince Albert shows that an agricultural empowerment project can succeed driven by motivated beneficiaries and mentored by the industry’s experts. Denene Erasmus reports.
Maintaining optimal pigeon health
Renowned SA vet Dr Ockert Botha says maintaining optimal pigeon health requires a 365-days-a-year programme.
Colour under investigation
Research on springbok in the Free State focuses on the implications of selecting game animals for their colour. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Rearing dairy calves
Calf rearing is a critical aspect of dairy farming. Good calf rearing has the potential to create wealth and improve the quality of the herd.
Damara sheep: Adaptable and profitable
The Damara breed originated in Asia and spread to Southern Africa 2 000 years ago. Down the centuries, the extreme environment continually selected the hardiest, most adaptable specimens. Stud breeder Stan Burger spoke to Annelie Coleman about his passion for this remarkable breed.
Broiler house management: 3 best practices
Poultry expert Bruce Gibson says the three golden rules for best broiler house management are: look, listen and smell. Lloyd Phillips investigates the importance of using your sense of smell.
Preventing colic
Colic can be caused by various things, but the good news is that by reducing risk factors you’ll dramatically reduce the chances of your horse suffering from this condition, says Kim Dyson.
Breeding Limousins for Southern Africa
The Du Toits of La Rhone in Tulbagh are fruit farmers. A fortuitous event inspired them to transform their beef hobby herd into an acclaimed South African Limousin stud. Denene Erasmus reports.
Castle De Wildt’s opening sale on 7 July
Bernard Groenewald of LBG Holdings opened a game marketing facility, Castle De Wildt, outside Modimolle (Nylstroom) last weekend.
Using a snaffle bit
Snaffles generally suit all types of riders and are comfortable for novice horses, writes Dr Mac.
Making waves
The pigeon families of third generation champion fancier Charles Carlson breed highly competitive ‘racing machines’, writes Thomas Smit.
Mycotoxins make poultry more vulnerable
Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by fungi that grow on certain agricultural products. The presence of mycotoxins in feed has a detrimental effect on animals in production systems. Lloyd Phillips reports.
Preparation for calving & lactation
These critical periods need to be well managed in the dairy cow so that problems are minimised and production optimised.
How to tie up your horse
Tying up a horse incorrectly risks serious injury to the horse’s neck and back if it spooks and can’t get free. Horses need special training when it comes to tying up, says Kim Dyson.
Still strong after 76 years
The past two years have seen the 76-year-old Eduan Braunvieh Stud excel at the Vryburg Show and the Braunvieh Vleissentraal-ARC Special Performance Test Class. Mike Burgess visited Gawie Naudé to learn some of the secrets behind his family’s ongoing success with this breed.
Micro mineral requirements
Supplements are not a substitute for good nutrition, but trace elements are vital to dairy cow health.
Horses at Nampo
As most readers will know, the Nampo Harvest Day was initially intended to show off advances in technology associated with planting, harvesting and processing maize, but it’s evolved into the biggest agricultural show in South Africa.
The way to better birds
If it’s success you’re after, get rid of your average pigeons and use world-class birds, urges Thomas Smit.
Superior genetics ensure pig breeding profits
Arthur Gee says that only superior genetics can counteract declining profits in pork production.
