Dormer sheep: proven performer in SA’s meat market
Dormer sheep continue to dominate commercial meat systems with their fast growth, high weaning weights and impressive carcass yields. Agricultural economics lecturer and Dormer breeder Dr Mariëtte Geyser spoke to...
Cape Lob Ears flourish under exacting conditions in the Northern Cape’s Sneeuberg
Ronel Retief, a Cape Lob Ear indigenous veld goat stud breeder, runs her top-performing Klawervlei flock high in the Sneeuberg mountains near Richmond. The flock flourishes under extreme conditions, with...
Maize Valley Savanna Goat Stud rises to record-breaking success
The award-winning, top-performing Maize Valley Savanna Goat Stud, run by Andrew Roberts and Ju-mari Pretorius, came about by accident due to broken communications and poor Internet connectivity, writes Annelie Coleman.
Boer goat farming: a simple recipe for prosperity
Nestled in the heart of the Vredefort Dome, surrounded by the Dome Bergland mountain range, you will find Marius Smit and Heinrich Hamman, co-owners of the Aegagrus Boer Goat Stud.
Enviable Dormer traits: exceptional growth rates and early maturity
The Dormer is one of South Africa’s most prolific sheep breeds and exhibits many highly profitable traits. Over the years, selective breeding of the Dormer has led to the development...
Dormer breeders’ society is dedicated to improving the breed
Despite the Dormer’s rapid growth rates and excellent carcass quality, the Dormer Sheep Breeders’ Society of South Africa is actively working to further improve the breed.
Why sheep farmers should consider the Dormer for crossbreeding
The Dormer’s ability to pass on its economic traits to its offspring makes it the ideal breed for crossbreeding programmes. The Dormer has many exceptional traits, say Liezel Grobler, secretary...
Development of the Dormer, a purely South African breed
The Dormer is a truly South African sheep, purpose bred to perform locally and compete internationally. Sabrina Dean spoke to Liezel Grobler, secretary of the Dormer Breeders’ Society of South...
Mohair wins: practical tips from an Eastern Cape emerging farmer
Dintle Maphala has been farming Angora goats for the past nine years. Her hands-on approach, from breeding and grazing to mohair handling and marketing, offers a practical roadmap that emerging...
Building on a family wool farming legacy
The roots of the Battenhausen family in the Upper Karoo are as deep and meaningful as their family tree. For six generations, they have farmed sheep near Philipstown, and their...
South African goat breeds raise the bar for global meat quality
Chantelle Smit, secretary of the SA Boer Goat Breeders’ Association, spoke to Sabrina Dean about what sets South Africa’s Boer, Savanna, and Kalahari Red goats apart from their global counterparts.
Top genetics and passion drive success at goat stud
Christiaan Labuschagne established the Hakuna Matata Stud in Hoopstad, Free State, in 2024 and currently farms Boer and Savanna goats. In a short space of time, the stud has achieved...
Improving goat herds through better selection
Christiaan Labuschagne, owner of the Hakuna Matata Stud, says South Africa’s Boer goats are in high demand because stud owners have strict selection criteria and the South African Boer Goat...
Producers can’t keep up with global demand for goat meat
Global demand for goat meat is increasing, with health, cultural, and religious practices driving the surge. Trade data company the Observatory of Economic Complexity reported that, over the past five...
Expert tips for emerging sheep farmers
Emerging sheep farmers can boost their production and profitability by focusing on quality over quantity. Willem Goosen, production adviser at the National Wool Growers’ Association, spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel...
‘Choose the SA Suffolk for lucrative sheep farming’
According to RC Malherbe, the SA Suffolk sheep breed has all the characteristics needed for profitable sheep farming.
‘SA’s Ile de France sheep is the ideal choice for crossbreeding’
The Ile de France is a dual-purpose breed that improves the carcass quality of its crossbred progeny.
Brothers’ journey from communal farming to mohair success
Through strategic partnerships and perseverance, brothers Simphiwe, Thembinkosi, and Linda Fani have built Doornrivier Farm in Somerset East, Eastern Cape, into a thriving livestock operation. Simphiwe and Thembinkosi spoke to...
High-tech Meatmaster farming in the Klein Karoo
Fintech entrepreneur Pieter de Wet, who farms Meatmaster sheep in the Klein Karoo, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about how he is helping to reshape the local meat industry with his...
Unlocking value through livestock exports
Exporting livestock might sound like a daunting business that’s better left for big companies, but Gerrie Ferreira, who farms near Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape, has been doing it successfully...
