Choosing a breed that’s right for you

One of the first things beginner cattlemen want to know is: what’s the best beef breed to farm with? Leslie Bergh of the ARC provides a few broad guidelines.

The Dexter breed

A hardy, docile breed, the tiny Dexter is often favoured by smallholder farmers.

12 financial management rules for dairy farmers

Consultant Allan Penderis of Tammac Consultants says that while he can’t provide specific advice because he has not personally visited Nofisa Farm, Tammac’s 12 general rules are of value to...

A balancing act with goats – 3

Goats are an easy-care option able to thrive under harsh conditions, but they need some attention, says Roelof Bezuidenhout.

Making a go of goats – 2

Goats can be a money-spinner, but good stockmanship is essential for success, says Roelof Bezuidenhout.

The true value of goats – 1

Modern goat breeds offer many opportunities for value adding and are a reliable way of making a good profit, explains Roelof Bezuidenhout.

Contagious ecthyma or the orf virus

Orf is a contagious virus of sheep and goats that can be transmitted to humans, says Prof Cheryl McCrindle.

Good wool classing

Uniformity of staple length and fineness in the fleece is important when classing Merino wool.

Dealing with sheep scab – part 1

Sheep scab occurs in all provinces, and is a very serious disease that, if left untreated, can infect your whole herd and lead to stock deaths.

Better shearing

Merino wool is usually shorn when it has a good length, after 8 to 12 months of growth.

Check the condition of your herd

Over-fat cows can have problems with conception and at calving.

The difference between vaccination and treatment

Vaccines and treatment drugs can both be injected, but the two are not the same.

Estimating cattle age

You can make a good guess at the age of cattle by looking at their teeth.

When the bite is worse than the bark

The symptoms, prevention and treatment of the killer disease rabies.

Identifying the predator

Accurate identification of the damage-causing animal (DCA) preying on your livestock is critical to a predator management strategy.

Keep your broilers cool

Follow these tips provided by the Livestock Research and Innovation Institute of the Limpopo Department of Agriculture to reduce the effect of summer’s high temperatures on broiler houses.