Animals

The concept has already been years in the making, and finally Lesotho has begun implementing a countrywide livestock-marking programme to combat stock theft. South Africa is providing expertise and will benefit from the programme as well. Lloyd Phillips pays the mountain kingdom a visit.

Kevin Winter is a self-taught health researcher and pigeon analyst. He has tested the health of more than 44 000 pigeons in his own laboratory in Sunderland in the UK over the last five years. Issue Date: 23 February 2007

In the fourth article of our habitat planning series, habitat designer Ben Breedlove explains to Roelof Bezuidenhout how to cater for stressed-out but affluent visitors from the city. Issue date: 23 February 2007

Issue date: 23 February 2007

In the third part of our habitat planning series, biologist and habitat designer Ben Breedlove exlains how to create optimal animal-human meeting points. Issue Date: 16 February 2007

Retired after many years at the University of the Free State's animal science department, Prof Gert Erasmus talks to Roelof Bezuidenhout about five myths in breeding and explains why there's no such thing as the “ideal” animal. Issue Date: 16 February 2007

By mid-February, SA will have five indigenous goat breeds. The Indigenous Veld Goat will soon be officially registered as a breed and a breeders' society established. Issue Date:9 February 2007

Freeze branding is not a new concept to South African agriculture, yet it is only in recent years that it has gained in popularity among dairy farmers to facilitate easier herd management. Lloyd Phillips discovers how freeze branding works, and how it helps farmers.

The long-awaited results of a study into the economics of strategic protein supplementation of late pregnant and lactating sheep and Angora goats have been released by agricultural researcher Jan Hoon of Grootfontein Agricultural Development Institute at Middelburg in the Eastern Cape.

The draft policy on national game farming recently came under review. Roelof ­Bezuidenhout speaks to ­Eastern Cape rancher Arthur ­Rudman who attended the review workshop and who fully supports the agriculture department's involvement in the game industry.

Despite farming in marginal areas suited for cattle breeds that can ­withstand harsh conditions, some North West farmers still believe bigger is better. They farm with large-framed animals that force them to dig deeper into their pockets to maintain them. Jones Moraka of the Limpopo Department of Agriculture looks at the merits of the Western Sanga indigenous cattle as a viable alternative.