Latest articles
Doing things the professional way
It’s no longer possible to be competitive in South African pigeon racing without world-class quality pigeon stock, but there are ways of acquiring this without breaking the bank, says Thomas Smit.
Coping with colic
The threat of colic has to be taken seriously as surgery can be extremely expensive, cautions Dr Mac.
Starting small, making it big
Finding niche milk markets has allowed this small-scale dairyman to operate a thriving business at a time when many small producers are being forced out of business. Robyn Joubert reports.
Speed up conservation
SA National Parks (SANParks), which is responsible for managing SA’s conservation treasures, came under criticism from organised agriculture recently.
Buying your first horse
Owning a horse can be a wonderful experience, but you need to do your homework before taking the plunge, writes Kim Dyson.
Off season preparation
What you do now to prepare your race team will affect its performance in the upcoming season, writes Thomas Smit.
A piece of land
The recent report of organised land grabbing in Mtubatuba in KwaZulu-Natal raised eyebrows. Apparently a landowner’s land was sold off at the local taxi rank and he was threatened with death if he dared interfere.
Starting afresh on a farm in Zambia
Keith Clubb, drawn by low land prices and the favourable climate, moved to Zambia in 1997.
Optimal management in a big beef enterprise
To increase production and profit in a commercial beef enterprise, it’s essential to stick to tried-and tested management procedures.
Running more animals without buying more land
Soaring land prices in Limpopo’s Thabazimbi district forced Callie Lee to expand his irrigated pastures. Thanks to careful management, he achieves optimal land use and good weaning weights.
Horses for kids
Safety first is the essential consideration when buying a horse for a child to ride.
Prepare for a great racing season
It doesn’t matter whether you’re a new starter or an old hand at pigeon racing, without well-defined goals and proper preparation you’re not going to be a competitive fancier, says Thomas Smit.
Piebald or Pinto?
Piebald and pinto horses have large areas of white hair, with pink skin underneath, due to a lack of pigmentation, says Dr Mac.
Providing water in the Kalahari thirstland
Agri Northern Cape Young Farmer of the Year finalist Johann Bekker says a reliable water supply is crucial for successful commercial sheep farming in the western Kalahari. Annelie Coleman visited his farms in the Mier district to see how he gets it right.
Expanding a dairy enterprise
South Africans consume a mere 145ml of milk per person per day – so there’s room for expansion. But how? In fact, farmers have several options.
Racing the world
The Kitchenbrands are one of the oldest pigeon families in the South African pigeon racing fraternity. Now, fourth-generation champion Mark Kitchenbrand is racing pigeons both here and abroad, reports Thomas Smit.
Good nutrition, healthier horses
The modern horse lives a life far removed from that of its ancestors, and domestication imposes unnatural living conditions which can lead to disease. Kim Dyson tells us how to keep your horses healthy.
High Stocking rate on minimum veld
Backed up by 40 years’ experience in sustainable cattle production, Johann Zietsman consults with South African cattlemen on how to double, treble or quadruple their cattle numbers on the same land while improving the quality of the veld.
Marshall Charolais does it again
For the second year running, the Farmer's Weekly-ARC Best Elite Charolais Cow is from the same Botswana herd.
