Animals

Merino SA president Julian Southey talks to Heather Dugmore about the need to be adaptable and to change farming practices to meet the current economic challenges and benefit from the knowledge available today.

Fascioliasis or liver fluke is common in sheep and cattle, but can also infect horses.

An increasing number of well-heeled fanciers will stop at nothing to push their pigeons to the limit - even, it is alleged, using tough races to kill off weaker birds. This has led to a court case and the creation of a task team to investigate cruelty to pigeons.

Ansoria Geldenhuys has won her second Farmer's Weekly-ARC Best Elite Gelbvieh Cow award with ANS 00 0016. Chris Nel reports.

Free State dairyman Riaan Reynders ascribes his success to a directed programme of cost-effective animal health, udder health monitoring and a consistent hygienic milking routine. This approach has significantly improved milk production and is keeping it at a sustainably high level. Annelie Coleman visited his farm Vaalhoek near Bethlehem.

Dressage to music is the next logical step after ordinary dressage. With their excellent sense of rhythm, horses take to it easily.

Janneman Kitching enjoyed a swift rise to fame in pigeon racing and his methods have much to teach beginners and struggling fanciers, notes Thomas Smit

The mother of the 2007 Vleissentraal-ARC Special Performance Test Class bull, NJB 01 0148 now has an Elite Cow title of her own. Chris Nel reports.

Against all odds, Barries Snijman has tamed the tough Karoo to develop a flock of veld-adapted Angoras that produce quality mohair. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.

Snakes are coming out of hibernation and now is a good time to brush up on your knowledge of how to treat a horse that's been bitten.

The Benoni Racing Pigeon Market was a big success, attended by pigeon fanciers from around the country

The WO Beefmaster Stud in Vrede took the award for the Farmer’s Weekly-ARC Best Elite Cow, writes Chris Nel.

Although beef farming abounds with technical information on how to maximise production and financial returns, successful beef farmer Neil Haines believes the benefit of using nature as an ally is often underestimated.

Keeping all tack clean is essential for the comfort of your horse and will keep both of you safer.

Thomas Smit continues to profile veteran fancier Hannes Greyling, whose superstars come up for auction soon

South Africa is a favourite destination for US trophy hunters, but the authorities underestimate their contribution to the local economy and don't try and lure them here.

The population of Canada's indigenous American plains bison is recovering after the species was nearly decimated in the late 1800s.

If we want our dairy cows to produce more and better milk, we need to understand how they synthesise milk in the first place.

Don't pussyfoot around with stud cattle - to be effective in the commercial market, they must be managed as commercial animals, with the ultimate test being performance. So says stud breeder John Burgers of the Victory Brangus Stud. Annelie Coleman visited him on his Wakkerstroom farm to find out more about his approach.

Brian Stewart, owner of The Duck Lady, shares his tips and secrets for profitable duck farming.