Annelie Coleman
Annelie Coleman represents Farmer’s Weekly in the Free State, North West and Northern Cape.
Agriculture is in her blood. She grew up on a maize farm in the Wesselsbron district where her brother is still continuing with the family business.
Annelie is passionate about the area she works in and calls it ‘God’s own country’. She’s particularly interested in beef cattle farming, especially with the indigenous African breeds.
South African project to explore the hidden value of fungi
Fungi are the engines of soil health, says University of Pretoria mycologist Prof Cobus Visagie. He spoke to Farmer's Weekly about how a better understanding of fungi will give farmers and agronomists a much stronger foundation for conservation agriculture.
Adaptable Nooitverwag Beefmasters thriving on the Highveld
The medium-framed South African Beefmaster represents an unmatched combination of Bos indicus and B. taurus genetics. It is a highly competitive breed that offers South African farmers the best option for profitable beef production, Gerrie Janse van Rensburg, co-owner of the Nooitverwag Beefmaster Stud near Ermelo, told Annelie Coleman. He runs the stud with his father Kerneels.
Beefmaster traits ensure NGB Stud is highly efficient and profitable
The decision on choosing the Beefmaster beef cattle breed was based on simple mathematics, according to Wynand Potgieter, who runs the NGB Beefmaster Stud near Thabazimbi in Limpopo with his sons Phillip and Willie. He told Annelie Coleman the breed was the obvious choice for optimum production per hectare and, obviously, optimum income.
Boran set to take red meat production in SA to the next level
The fertile, hardy and even-tempered Boran beef cattle breed truly is a gift to the commercial red meat producers of South Africa, according to Johna Boshoff, owner of the Bosiu Borane stud in Fouriesburg in the eastern Free State. He told Annelie Coleman how the breed’s inherent qualities makes it a supreme choice in crossbreeding concerns.
Why the South African Charolais is called the ‘weaner calf king’
With more than 80% of South Africa’s beef cattle calves destined for feedlots, farmers need fast-growing animals that perform well. The Charolais produces top weaners with strong growth and feed conversion, says Dami Stemmett, president of the Charolais Cattle Breeders’ Society of South Africa.
Ankole’s huge potential in SA beef production
The future is bright for the Ankole cattle breed in South Africa as it is bound to become a contender of note in the beef production arena in future, Anton de Swardt, president of the South African Ankole Breeders’ Society, told Annelie Coleman.
Demand for Nguni cattle grows due to its resilience to FMD
The Nguni cattle breed has shown remarkable resilience to foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) during the current outbreak in South Africa, which Dr Oswald Jannasch, president of the Nguni Cattle Breeders’ Society, attributes to thousands of years of selection for disease and pest resistance in Africa.
The Boerboel: defined by temperament, loyalty, and strict breeding standards
The modern Boerboel has been developed over decades as South Africa’s only landrace dog breed. Only animals registered with the South African Boerboel Breeders’ Society may be officially recognised as Boerboels.
How agriculture benefits from bats
Bats remain under threat despite their vital role as keystone species. On International Bat Appreciation Day on 17 April, Dr Mark Ofua, wildlife veterinarian and Wild Africa representative, emphasised that bats support biodiversity and help control pest populations.
Agri NC calls for disaster declaration over rain-damaged roads
Excessive rainfall in the Northern Cape over recent weeks has caused extensive damage to the road network, severely impacting agriculture and prompting Agri Northern Cape (Agri NC) to urgently petition local government to declare a state of disaster.
The story of the Drakensberger beef cattle breed’s evolution in Africa
The Drakensberger cattle breed has been part of the South African landscape for ages. So-called black indigenous cattle existed in South Africa as early as the 15th and 16th centuries and formed the foundation of the current Drakensberger beef cattle breed.
Romagnola beef cattle vastly increased weaner weights on a Free State farm
The Romagnola cattle breed has the inherent quality to increase beef production in South Africa markedly, according to Marnus Lessing, owner of the JML Romagnola stud near Lindley in the Free State, who succeeded in pushing up weaner weights considerably through crossbreeding Romagnolas with Brahmans.
Miniature Mediterranean Donkeys popular as pets in South Africa
Miniature Mediterranean Donkeys are growing in popularity as pets in South Africa due to their sweet, affectionate nature, says Free State breeder Angelique du Preez, who runs her donkey herd as part of the family-run Collett Farming business.
How to show off your animals in a show ring
Andrew and Colette Masterson run an expanded farming concern on the farm Milagro in the Humansdorp district. Their farm includes, among others, a Simmentaler stud and an Angus stud. The Mastersons are active participants in the show ring.
Lessons learnt on the journey to build a Nguni stud from scratch
When Cecilia Prinsloo-Van der Linde started exploring the idea of cattle farming, she was advised to farm animals that are suited to the land, so she decided on Nguni. Annelie Coleman spoke to her about the pros and cons of setting up and developing a stud in a relatively short period of time.
Resistance to internal and external parasite control in the beef cattle sector is a worry
Dr Dave Midgley, CEO of the Ruminant Veterinary Association of South Africa, believes that parasites’ growing resistance to anthelmintic remedies and an increasing parasite load among beef cattle in South Africa is a serious cause for concern. He spoke to Annelie Coleman.
Van Rooy: a highly economical sheep farming option
The Van Rooy sheep breed, developed by South Africans for South African producers, is a treasure trove of genetics and has proven itself time and time again as a decidedly economic choice. Pieter Wiese, owner of the Kasteel stud in the Northern Cape, spoke to Annelie Coleman about the value of the breed.
Nick Serfontein calls on Steenhuisen over FMD crisis
Nick Serfontein, Sernick Group chairperson and Bonsmara stud breeder from Edenville in the Free State, warns that South Africa’s cattle industry is on the brink of an abyss due to the ineffective management of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks.
Meet South Africa’s only herd of iconic Murray Grey cattle
Johannes and Marijke Botha’s herd of the Australian Murray Grey cattle is the only one of its kind in South Africa.
Fighting rural crime: how AfriForum empowers communities across SA
The rural safety crisis in South Africa remains dire, with farm attacks and murders on the rise. Jacques Broodryk, chief spokesperson for community safety at AfriForum, talks about how the organisation’s farm watch initiative helps farmers protect their communities, improve security, and reclaim control over their farms.
