Choosing a good-quality breeding bull
A poorly bred beef animal will not produce high-priced meat cuts. Instead, the beef will be used for cheaper products such as sausages and mince. In turn, you will earn...
How to keep livestock calm and stress-free
Over and above their physical needs, animals have emotional needs, and these are often overlooked. Stress in livestock should be avoided at all costs, Leon Kruger, a lecturer at the...
How to recognise the ticks plaguing your livestock
Prof Maxime Madder, Prof Ivan Horak and Dr Hein Stoltsz look at three important tick species in South Africa and their effects on livestock, and offer tips for farmers on how...
Guard dogs: which breed is best?
Many experts will tell you that it’s essential to have a mixture of dog breeds on a farm. Some farmers, for example, have terriers that stay inside their houses at...
Get the basics right, and you’ll make a lot more money
To compete successfully against commercial farmers, communal farmers need to upgrade their infrastructure, manage grazing properly and implement proper health protocols, says Shane Brody.
How to choose a guard dog for your farm
When it comes to protecting your life and belongings, dogs can be highly valuable assets. But since there are hundreds of breeds out there, selecting the right one to guard...
All you need to know about three-day stiff sickness
While the mortality rate of three-day stiff sickness is usually less than 1%, morbidity is high, with most animals never reaching the same level of production after recovery.
Biosecurity protocols to combat livestock diseases
Communal farmers need to work together to devise biosecurity protocols and make sure they apply to everyone. This is the only way to keep the communal herd free of diseases,...
The fascinating history of the Drakensberger
The Drakensberger has a centuries-old history, and was initially bred for pulling wagons and ploughs. However, it has since evolved into an efficient meat-producing animal.
Providing high-quality feed for your animals
Good-quality feed is not cheap. Yet farmers should think twice before buying a substandard product and possibly compromising the productivity of their animals, say Dr Naudé Rossouw, director at Rossgro...
Treating seedy mohair
Seed contamination can result in a lower selling price for your mohair, even though mohair sells relatively well, says Roelof Bezuidenhout.
Working together to control parasites in livestock
Communal farmers in an area should work as a team to implement parasite control protocols for their animals. This will help to prevent the spread of disease and, potentially, huge...
Brafords: the best of two breeds
The Braford was developed with improved efficiency and meat quality in mind. Today, the breed thrives on the veld and in feedlots. It is also renowned for its early maturity.
Farming tips for winter
Many communal farmer households run cattle and have fruit trees to provide fresh produce for the family or as a business initiative. In winter, you need to pay special attention...
Exploring the traits of the Angus
While the Aberdeen-Angus may have its roots in Scotland, it is thriving in South Africa due to its meat quality and maternal abilities, amongst other traits, according to the Angus...
Protect your animals against foot-and-mouth disease
Communal farming groups need to institute quarantine and other biosecurity protocols, especially when it comes to new livestock entering their areas, says Shane Brody.
A basic checklist to keep sheep healthy and productive
The price of replacement livestock has increased dramatically in recent years, so it’s important to obtain the highest-possible lamb weaning rate. Shane Brody explains how to achieve this.
The proper fencing to keep sheep and goats safe
Sheep and goats present a unique challenge to many farmers. Like the rest of your animals, they need to be kept safe and penned in on your property, but their...
How clever kraaling can restore bare patches
A veld management strategy, based on an old animal husbandry practice, can benefit both communal farmers and holistic resource managers.
Using DNA sampling to deter stock thieves
South Africa’s livestock farmers need every bit of help they can get to counter stock theft, which has reached unprecedented heights. One weapon in the fight is genetic profiling. Susan...
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