What will happen after the rain?
Before the grazing ecosystem can function properly once again, the adverse and debilitating effects of the drought on veld vigour have to be overcome, says Roelof Bezuidenhout.
Silage basics
Utilising silage pays for feedlotters and dairy farmers, but the process has to be managed well, says Gerhard Uys.
Efficient feeding during drought
Precision feeding can take the sting out of a drought, according to Dr Chris Landman, a feed specialist and consultant. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Dehorning beef cattle – how you can benefit
This practice has many advantages – reducing injuries is just one of them.
Backgrounding cattle
‘Backgrounding’ is grazing an animal on pasture or in a veld camp and feeding it a supplement in preparation for more intensive feeding in a feedlot.
Using draft animals to plough the fields
Animal draft power still has an important role to play in agricultural development, says Bruce Joubert.
Protect your cattle against brucellosis
All involved with cattle farming and milk processing must work together to control and eradicate this disease.
Advice on how to mark your livestock
Marking your livestock proves ownership, and it's part of the record keeping that's essential if your farming enterprise is to survive and do well.
Get the best value from your abattoir
A misunderstanding about how prices are determined can leave a farmer seething at the abattoir. Here are some guidelines from Estelle van Reenen of Sparta Beef in Welkom, where 700...
Safe slaughtering
The formal red meat sector is structured and organised in such a manner that the consumer is guaranteed a good product.
What is lumpy-skin disease?
Lumpy-skin disease (LSD) is a viral disease of cattle typically characterised by nodules or lumps on the skin.
Dealing with diseases in goats
As livestock farming becomes more intensive, greater health problems will inevitably occur, increasing animal health costs on farms, warns Johan Steyn from Boer Goats SA.
The basics of Johne’s disease
Also called paratuberculosis, this is a contagious, chronic and sometimes fatal infection that affects cattle, sheep, goats and certain game species.
Managing the kidding process
Knowing how to handle a kidding doe and new kids can put a young goat on its way to a productive life, says Johan Steyn from Boer Goats SA.
Rabies: a potential killer
Rightly feared worldwide, rabies is spread from animals to humans and is invariably fatal. If exposure is suspected, a vaccine should always be administered.
Breeding season for goats
A well-planned breeding season can increase profit, says Johan Steyn of Boer Goats SA.
Dealing with anthrax
This is a highly contagious disease of domestic and wild animals that can affect humans.
Goat farming: nutrition and veld management
Feed and grazing management can make all the difference to a goat farm’s profitability, says Johan Steyn.
Indigenous sheep and goat breeds list
Some South African sheep and goat breeds enjoy commercial status, while others are vulnerable and even endangered, says Leon Kruger of the ARC-Animal Production Institute.
