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.

Goat production: Weaning kids

It’s important to wean kids so ewes can regain the condition they lost during pregnancy and be ready to breed again.

The upswing in the Mohair market has again got many farmers interested in Angora goats. But they should do their homework before venturing into this branch of smallstock farming, warns Roelof Bezuidenhout.

Rodent control

Rodents can cut into your profits – and spread disease. Paul Donovan discusses ways of preventing this from happening.

Brucellosis biosecurity

This highly contagious zoonotic disease of cattle continues to be of great concern, says Dr Sewellyn Davey, State Veterinarian, Western Cape.

Anti-venom basics

Using anti-venom has its disadvantages, but in the right hands, and at the right time, it is life-saving.

The basics of heritability – Part 3

Genetic markers, selection and cross-breeding play a role in improving profitability in pigs, says Prof Cheryl McCrindle of the University of Pretoria.

Europe’s influence on South African cattle

A wide variety of cattle breeds are seen in South Africa today, says Theo Oosthuizen.

The basics of heritability: disease and parasite resistance

Selecting for disease and parasite resistance in cattle can help improve production, says Prof Cheryl McCrindle of the University of Pretoria.

Water important in weaning pigs

Water is an important nutrient in weaning piglets. Piglets have to drink 800ml per day as it improves digestibility, reduces diarrhoea and lowers down the pH in the gut.

Understanding the basics of heritability – Part 1

This week we focus on sheep and goat farming, where genetic markers are now being used to select for production.

Get to know your vet

Establishing a good relationship with your vet will pay off in the long run and in an emergency, says Prof Cheryl McCrindle.

Why are eggs different colours?

Depending on the breed of chicken, most eggs are uniform in colour, ranging from white, pink and green, through to dark brown and blue.

Farming insects

The UN’s Food and Agricultural Organisation suggests that if we could farm insects on a commercial scale, food insecurity in many developing nations would be a thing of the past.

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