Dealing with enzootic abortion
This infectious condition is one of the most common causes of abortion and death in sheep and goats.
How to be a good stockman
Whether you’re farming in the semi-desert or on pasture, you will benefit from having a practised eye, says Roelof Bezuidenhout.
How stress affects livestock health
Livestock can suffer stress even during normal handling, increasing their susceptibility to a number of serious diseases.
Know your cattle: The Bonsmara breed
The Bonsmara is an outstanding beef breed, developed in South Africa.
Tips for producing low cost livestock feed
Here’s how to prevent calamity on your farm during times of grazing scarcity. And you don’t need mechanisation, says Shane Brody.
Basic infrastructure for small-scale pig farming
The size of your pig housing infrastructure will depend on the number of pigs you have. Ideally, it should be strong, simple and adaptable, and it need not be expensive, says Shane Brody.
Follow these guidelines when dosing lambs
Every sheep farmer strives to get his or her sheep onto the market sooner and earn more money. Jannie Fourie of the National Wool Growers’ Association gives useful guidelines to help with this.
Do’s and don’ts of FAMACHA scoring
To implement this system properly, you will need to obtain practical hands-on instruction in its use.
Checking a bull’s scrotal circumference
The scrotum plays an important role in the fertility of a bull and its daughters – and should be examined closely when selecting bulls.
Profitable small-scale sheep farming
It is perfectly possible to farm sheep profitably on a small piece of land, says Jannie Fourie, National Wool Growers’ Association production advisor. To do this, never exceed the carrying capacity of your land, manage your operation carefully, and keep a record of everything.
Know your sheep breeds: Van Rooy
This is a locally developed medium-to large-framed sheep, with both rams and ewes polled.
Treatment and control of salmonella
Salmonella is a notifiable disease, often resistant to antimicrobials. Control should focus on eliminating, as far as possible, the sources of infection.
Beware the spectre of salmonella
One of the difficulties in fighting the spread of infection is that cattle might appear healthy even while they are spreading disease.
Dealing with bovine TB
Bovine tuberculosis is a controlled animal disease in South Africa because of the long-term negative effect of the disease on people and the economy.
Producing livestock feed without mechanisation
Many emerging farmers lack the resources to produce crops needed to feed their livestock when grazing becomes scarce. But with a little innovation, they can overcome this challenge, suggests Shane Brody.
Dairy farming: a beginners guide
As the fifth-largest agricultural industry in South Africa, milk production provides a regular income for thousands of small and large producers. If you wish to enter the sector, make sure you get to know and understand the dairy market first.
Animal identification: when to brand livestock
Marking livestock can deter thieves. It is also a legal requirement. Gerhard Uys provides a brief overview of the process.
Vaccinate your livestock!
Most of the cases of infectious diseases reported to the Ruminant Veterinary Association of South Africa every month can be prevented if livestock are vaccinated properly.
Understanding Estimated Breeding Values
Estimated breeding values provide the most reliable information on how an animal might breed, says Amari Bornman, animal scientist at Simmentaler SA.
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