Poultry

Asiphe Pentu started his small-scale broiler business with only R2 000 when he was just 17 years old and still at school. After five years, he has a well-run, 100-chicken operation that turns a profit and has a loyal clientele in the local community.

Necessity inspired Anneke Loock of Bloemfontein to start earning a living from a small-scale poultry business. The lessons learnt on her journey to success will prove useful to anyone launching a similar enterprise, says Sabrina Dean.

Duck meat is a high-value niche product in South Africa. KwaZulu-Natal farmer Vanessa Collocott supplies this market with certified free-range ducks, and has combined shrewd business sense with compassion in her high-risk enterprise.

External parasites such as mites can be a major financial threat to a poultry operation. Control is essential.

Robert Patson of Happy Land Farm in Kyalami believes free-range chickens not only hold the answer to healthy food, but that his model of farming could help alleviate poverty for individuals and communities.

As a technician specialising in the installation and repair of gates, Rico Vergotine had little reason to be interested in agriculture. His life changed, however, after a chance meeting, and today he manages 2 500 pasture-raised chickens that produce 1 900 eggs a day. Jeandré van der Walt visited him on Boschendal wine estate to find out about his farming techniques and future plans.

Dr Fambies van Biljon, veterinarian at Sovereign Foods, talks to Glenneis Kriel about the crucial need to establish a well-run biosecurity programme at a poultry production facility.

Alwyn Viljoen is the production manager of Zaytoon Farms, which is situated on the outskirts of Mbombela and is the only supplier of fresh chicken to the region’s supermarkets. Despite being a small operation, it maintains profitability.

At a recent poultry production course hosted by the Agricultural Research Council and presented by Paulus Sape and July Mahlangu. Gerhard Uys learnt about some of the basic principles of poultry production.

As a small but significant addition to an intensive operation, Thorntree Farm’s free-range eggs are quietly making a name in this niche market. Ryan Stegmann spoke to Chris Nel.

Glenneis Kriel spoke to poultry industry experts about the challenges facing small-scale producers and ways in which these can be overcome.

Mark Smith produces 270 000 free-range eggs a month on Maralou Farm near East London. Unable to compete on price with eggs produced in battery cage operations, he focuses on offering customers the best quality eggs and service. Mike Burgess reports.