No more backyard shacks
The key to successful pigeon racing lies in good pigeon health, which you won't achieve if pigeon housing is poor. Thomas Smit presents a beginner's guide to building an effective...
Absorption of undegradable proteins
Food proteins that can't be broken down by microbes are passed down to the duodenum and digested enzymatically. Malcolm Stewart-Burger examines these undegradable proteins and how they are absorbed.
Summer + horses = flies
Summer brings flies and diseases to your stables. Kim Dyson gives some advice on how to protect your horse against the other critters and ailments the warm weather brings.
Getting through to horses for a living
By the time Riekert Erasmus could walk, he was picking up tips on how to break in horses from his father. At 16, he was taming and training wild horses...
Sprouts for sheep
A livestock farmer, plagued by stock theft, turned to feeding sprouting grain in a feedlot to protect his sheep. And his trial has yielded some impressive results. Robyn Joubert reports.
A celebration of quality
The richest one-loft race in the world, the Sun City Million Dollar Pigeon Race is more than just another pigeon race. It's an institution that tests your skill as a...
How to treat soft tissue injuries on horses
Knowing how soft tissue injuries occur will help you alleviate your horse's pain and speed up the healing process, writes Kim Dyson.
Sussex a top feedlot contender
Sussex cattle perform so well in a feedlot that the Huntersvlei and Skietlaagte Feedlots in the Free State pay a premium for Sussex or Sussex-cross weaners.The feedlots belong to the...
Now is the time to get to know your pigeons
Once racing is over serious fanciers have more time available to attend to the little things about pigeon racing that make all the difference between winning and losing.
The golden oldies
Some 145 pacing pigeons went under the hammer at Gauteng champion Harry Willson's pigeon auction at the Alberton Racing Pigeon Club recently. He's been involved with racing pigeons on and...
Fears of KZN’s corridor disease spreading
Corridor disease isn't new to KZN, and respected KZN wildlife vet Dr Dave Cooper says the increasing appeal of stocking African buffalo on private game farms could be one of...
Super breeders, superlative birds
Belgium's Herbots brothers are regarded as some of the world's top breeders, thanks to the performances of their remarkable birds, National 1 and The Leverige, writes Thomas Smit.
How to feed during drought
Feeding sheep flocks during a bad drought can be like throwing money down a bottomless pit, because no one knows when it will rain again. Jan Hoon of the Grootfontein...
Treating white line disease
White line disease is an infection of the hoof wall of a horse, mule or donkey, which causes it to disintegrate, writes Dr Mac.
A rare game initiative on stock farms
When Abel Erasmus bought five stock farms near Philippolis in the Free State to establish the 14 000ha Otterskloof Private Game Reserve, he focused on breeding rare game species, including...
Treating ringworm in horses
If you have itchy red spots, beware - you might have caught them from your horse, warns Dr Mac.
Boosting Merino potential with lucerne
Ben Lategan is the national runner-up of the National Wool Growers Association/FNB best economically classed clip in South Africa for 2009/10. His Merino enterprise on 6 000ha in the Burgersdorp...
SAPIR results update – 2010 SA Prestige Invitational Race
The first section of the 2010 South African Prestige Invitational Pigeon Race has been completed and many fortunate pigeon fanciers have succeeded in impressing their wives - and their bank...
Teaching your horse to tie up
Before you start these lessons, it's essential for your horse to trust you completely. He must know how to relax and give in to positive pressure. Once your horse is...
Good? Bad? Better? The truth about the McCosker Brew
Few people can claim to HAVE developed a recipe that's helped optimise rumen activity on low-protein, unpalatable, lignified sour veld. But Australia's Terry McCosker is one such person.
