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.
The difference between vaccination and treatment
Vaccines and treatment drugs can both be injected, but the two are not the same.
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.
Step 3 – How to protect the land
Monitor overhead cables and other potentially dangerous structures.
Grasses, grazers and grazing
If you’re changing from cash crops to livestock farming, you will have to get your veld management right, cautions Roelof Bezuidenhout.
Keep stock thieves away
Stock theft and predation is widespread in the livestock industry and losses could be higher than we think.
Dipping tip
You don’t have to inspect an Angora goat’s fleece closely to detect the presence of lice – a quick glance at the horn tips of a couple of goats will show if your flock is free of lice or not.
Common pig diseases – 2
This week we look at lameness, salt poisoning, diarrhoea and other ailments common in small pig herds.
Common pig diseases – 1
Pigs, like any livestock, are prone to diseases. Some of these can be serious and even fatal. Fortunately, most can be treated if caught in time.
More money from Merinos
Good clip preparation is vital, and opens up an opportunity to add value to the product before it leaves the farm, says Roelof Bezuidenhout.
Managing sows
Healthy sows are important if you want to produce the maximum number of pigs and make a good profit.
Dealing with Rift Valley fever
Researchers at Onderstepoort Biological Products examine the symptoms and control of RVF.
The truth about Rift Valley fever
Controversy has surrounded RVF and the efficacy of vaccines for the disease. Dr TK Smit, Dr J Heath and P Pieterson of Onderstepoort Biological Products attempt to set the record straight.
