Why colostrum is important
A calf must drink from its mother as soon as possible during the
first 12 hours of its life.
Goats: good management = good money
If you understand the needs of your goats and enjoy working with them, you’ll earn more from an average quality flock than a bad manager will from a top-class flock, says Roelof Bezuidenhout.
Don’t be tricked by pronkgras
Fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum, or pronkgras in Afrikaans) can trick landowners into assuming that it is a relative of indigenous blue buffalo grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) and therefore valuable as a grazing plant.
How to start your own poultry business
New opportunities to generate a sustainable income are opening up in SA’s poultry industry.
Dealing with powdery mildew
Unless a cucurbit variety has genetic resistance to powdery mildew, you will have to deal with this fungal disease at some stage.
Classing mohair 2
Roelof Bezuidenhout focuses on the importance of the micron in Angora hair and how to shear and grade.
Know your pests: Aphids
All aphids share the same basic body structure. They are small and soft-bodied with a tear-drop shape and sucking mouthparts. Their success is in part due to the prolific asexual reproduction capability of some species.
Know your crop pests
In the coming months, entomologist Paul Donovan will explain how to identify crop pests and suggest various measures to control them.
Look after your wind pump
A wind pump is expensive, but is one of the most neglected pieces of farm equipment, says Roelof Bezuidenhout.
Managing heifers and first-calvers
It’s expensive to grow out heifers until they calve for the first time. It pays to invest in the heifer group, says the ARC’s Leslie Bergh.
Farming hydroponically – part 3
Hydroponics is a popular way to grow vegetables because of the high quality of the produce and efficient water use. If you use a greenhouse, you can supply vegetables out of season when the price is good.
Carrot pests and diseases
Protecting carrots from nematodes, leaf and bacterial blight and white mould.
Veld and flock management
A goat farmer must plan veld and flock management in advance, advises Roelof Bezuidenhout.
Spinach: a step-by-step guide on how to grow it
Spinach is a cool weather crop that doesn’t grow well in hot summer months when the days are long. The best temperature for growing spinach is between 16ºC and 24ºC.
Constant inspection of your flock is crucial for success
If you want to be a successful livestock farmer, your animals must be the last thing you think about at night, and the first thing you think about in the morning.
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