Animals

It was in 2006, the driest year Australian sheep farmers have ever experienced, that the SA Dohne Merino came into its own, delivering excellent lamb crops and wool clips. Former South African Dohne Merino breed director Cameron McMaster gives a first-hand account of the phenomenal success of this South African breed in Australia.

Texas is widely known as some of the best cattle country in the world. It evokes images of whooping and hollering cowboys on horseback herding vast herds of Longhorn cattle across trackless terrain, and the art of roping and branding calves without the benefit of a crush.

The hunting community has been divided since minister of environmental affairs and tourism Marthinus van Schalkwyk outlawed the hunting of captive-bred large predators earlier this year. Issue date 15 June 2007

One of the highlights of the 2007 Nampo livestock section was the ­Romagnola, an Italian beef cattle breed, which made its debut at this prestigious agricultural show.

The end of may and first week of June marked the ­beginning of the 2007 racing pigeon season. Issue date 15 June 2007

Various factors can contribute to resistance in your horse - the bit is not necessarily always the problem. Issue date 15 June 2007

The best time to start feeding a foal is two months before weaning. Once a foal has been weaned it is up to you to provide it with a good diet. Issue date 8 June 2007

Besides competitions and various tasks that absorb many hours of the pigeon ­fancier's week, there are incidents that lure us into a state of pigeon ­hypnotism. One of these is the breeding cycle.

What makes teenagers, adult men and women so interested in the world of racing pigeons?

To maintain the high quality of a superior gene pool, most pigeon breeders follow a breeding plan using line breeding or inbreeding from the foundation pigeons.

Facial paralysis is a fairly common ailment in horses. The paralysis of the facial nerve can be slight or very dramatic. If treated immediately it normally can be reversed

Farmer's Weekly recently spoke with Gert Roodt, chairperson of the Overberg Racing Pigeon Union, who was very proud of his region's achievements.

Eastern Cape farmer Lionel Whittal, who runs a herd of 100 Indigenous Veld Goat ewes on his farm in Bolo in the Eastern Cape says the breed is gaining popularity among goat breeders due to its great mothering abilities, excellent disease resistance and adaptability. Greg Miles reports

Around a joint or tendon is a capsule or sheath that produces synovial fluid, which acts as lubrication. If the capsule is damaged by percussion or overstretching, it produces extra synovial fluid. This then makes the capsule bulge. This bulge is called a windgall.
Issue Date: 30 March 2007

Tommy van Zyl is a self-employed building contractor who first engaged his passion for racing pigeons from a neat garden loft in the backyard of his Uitenhage home in the autumn of 1983.
Issue Date: 30 March 2007

Looking after South Africa's dams could be more important than finding new sources, but the country's pool of reservoir science has degenerated within a decade from being world-renowned to being almost non-functional. If the situation isn't corrected soon, the freshwater system could collapse, with catastrophic consequences. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Issue Date: 30 March 2007

Dr Jan du Preez, managing director of the Institute for Dairy Technology at the Milk Producers' Organisation and Michael Hutjens from the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Illinois in the US, recently discussed the impact of heat stress, and ways to deal with this problem in South African dairy herds
Issue Date: 30 March 2007

A splint is a bony growth that forms on the inside edge of the splint bone between the splint bone and the cannon bone. It is the result of tearing of the ligaments between the bone, which causes inflammation and eventually a small bony growth.
Issue Date: 23 March 2007

In all sports there are leaders and followers. There is nothing demeaning about being a follower, as long your attitude is right - and you commit to make the affairs of the pigeon club run efficiently.
Issue date:23 March 2007

This draft document could have far-reaching consequences for the wildlife industry.