How to Livestock

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 small size and mischievous nature make them difficult to keep in one place, says Dain Rakestraw, director of marketing and client services at Red Brand.

A veld management strategy, based on an old animal husbandry practice, can benefit both communal farmers and holistic resource managers.

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 Marais explores how this technology, which establishes livestock lineage, can help protect a farmer’s assets and bring thieves to book.

With a little planning and a lot of care, you can cultivate your own grazing pastures that will feed your livestock for a number of years. In this way, you’ll cut your costs and boost your profits, says Shane Brody.

The Angus breed was first bred in Scotland in the 1700s. the high quality of its beef was important right from the start. the first importation of angus into South Africa was in 1895, when 10 cattle arrived on the farm of J Newburg in the Free State.

Any animal can suffer a sudden traumatic injury or other medical emergency. In this first part of a four-part series, Prof Cheryl McCrindle, a practising veterinarian and professor at the University of Pretoria, details how to treat cattle, sheep and goats in emergencies.

Taking a good look at every camp on your farm will reveal if your veld management system is on the right track, writes Roelof Bezuidenhout.

When an animal is slaughtered on the farm, the skin should be salted immediately. Many farmers don’t bother to do this, thinking the cost of the salt is more than what they can get for the skin. This means the loss of potential income when prices are right, says Roelof Bezuidenhout.

Wandering cattle from unknown places and of unknown health status can wreak havoc in communal herds if animals from the two groups mate with each other, says Shane Brody.

Ticks are external parasites that live on the skin or the fleece of livestock. It’s important to know about their effects on your animals.

Before selecting sheep, decide on your breeding goals and which type of sheep will adapt best to your conditions and provide maximum income.

Dr Danie Odendaal, director of the Veterinarian Network, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about what to consider when drawing up a herd health and production management plan for sheep and cattle. His advice can be applied to most other livestock.

This article focuses on how to build, manage and maintain an affordable, small-scale egg production unit.

Mastitis can cause devastating economic losses for a dairy farmer. Yet a long-term vaccination programme can be an effective weapon in the fight to control it, writes Robyn Joubert. She spoke to Prof Inge-Marié Petzer, an udder health specialist at Onderstepoort.

Sheep need to be dipped to prevent the spread of lice, scab and other economically important ectoparasites.

Livestock auctions offer a relatively safe way for farmers to trade their animals, with a fairly low barrier to entry. Cornel Landman and Anton Vos spoke to Glenneis Kriel about factors that producers have to consider when participating in these events, and the administrative processes that need to be adhered to.

Many medications are available for treating diseases and other problems, such as worms, in livestock. But by far the most important treatment you can give your animals is vaccinations against the diseases that occur in your area. Shane Brody explains why vaccines are different to other medicines, and why they are so effective.

Feed accounts for 65% to 75% of a poultry or pig farmer’s total input costs. Feed expert Dr Leon Ekermans spoke to Glenneis Kriel about strategies to reduce these costs and prevent wastage.

Removing the horns from your cattle holds a number of advantages. Most importantly, it will prevent the problem of bruised meat.

Tuberculosis is an important zoonotic disease that spreads slowly in animal populations.