Animals

Former teacher and nurse Zodwa Twala of Kromdraai produces weaners at her piggery for the feedlot market in Pretoria. She urges new farmers to receive proper training before starting their venture. Peter Mashala spoke to her.

Kosie van Zyl hails from a long line of farm managers but 15 years ago he was given the opportunity to farm his own land.

Since more than 10 000 flies can emerge from 1kg of horse manure to terrorise your stable, some form of management is desperately needed. Dr Mac tells us how to fight this disease-carrying menace.

Few farming enterprises can offer the returns of a well-managed buffalo breeding operation.

Night falls and suddenly it's a two-day race. How will your birds cope? Is their fighting spirit up to the challenge? Thomas Smit takes us through the ins and outs of these marathon events.

Johan Rautenbach has won the Farmer's Weekly-ARC Best Elite Drankensberger cow award for the third time, and lets Wayne Southwood in on his secret.

Last issue Kim Dyson covered the basics of feeding your horse. This week, she looks at how much to feed your equine sidekick.

The affordable Allflight is popular, thanks to its cash prizes. Thomas Smit announces this year's winter winners.

Pesticide resistance in ticks is becoming a major problem. Eastern Cape farmer Denys Wells told Roelof Bezuidenhout how Pierre van Niekerk's scientific tick management strategy saved him from ruin.
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After buying a horse, it's very important to know what to feed your new equine friend. Kim Dyson gives some useful feeding tips.

Johan and Celia Strydom are members of the Bethlehem Pigeon Racing Club (BPRC), one of the 10 clubs that make up the North East Free State Federation (NEFSF).

"We think the Appaloosa is the best multi-purpose horse around," says Rick Johnson of Sans Souci Farm in KwaZulu-Natal's Kamberg Valley.

Related to the nasal worms found in sheep, the larvae of the bot fly can cause digestive problems in horses, writes Dr Mac.

Last week, Thomas Smit named the winners in the short-distance races in the Transvaal Racing Pigeon Federation's racing programme. Here are the current top two performers in the middle-distance races.

Cornelis Rautenbach of the Nonnie Tuli Stud is the owner of the 2010 Farmer’s Weekly-ARC Best Elite Tuli Cow, CR 98 0048. This is the fourth year his cows have taken part in the competition, making his Tulis one of the top performing herds of all breeds in the country. Wayne Southwood visited him on his Free State farm in Reitz.

With the high price of diesel, many farmers are reconsidering using donkeys for small loads, or to transport workers on the farm. As the health of the working donkey is important to maintain its efficiency, it's worthwhile knowing how to see if they're sick, writes Dr Mac.

The Transvaal Racing Pigeon Federation (TRPF) is having a rather fast-paced racing season this year, with average race speeds of between 1 300m and 1 400m per minute. Training is done on a knife's edge to keep the front runners in top shape.

Winners of the Royal Show's carcass competition hold the prestigious title of producer of the best beef carcass in KwaZulu-Natal for a year. Lloyd Phillips visited Weston Agricultural College to hear how they did it in 2010.

Conditions involving your horse's eyes are potentially serious and should be treated by a vet, warns Kim Dyson.
Issue date : 10 September 2010

Training for the first year of the South African Prestige Invitational Race is in full swing. Thomas Smit takes a look at this event.