Stockfarm Magazine - June 2020

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In this issue

Simon Sutton: A natural approach to farming
CoCA 2017: An overview of commercial agriculture
Trophy hunting • Polish dairy industry • Fodder flow in winter • Genomics and selection • Sheep scab • Drought lessons • Trading Post

Responsible Mohair Standard launched in South Africa

Mohair South Africa recently launched the Responsible Mohair Standard (RMS), which is aimed at driving a sustainable and ethical mohair industry. The RMS was developed by the global non-profit, Textile Exchange.

2 mins

Breaking New Ground With Sustainable Agriculture PhD

In 2014 Stellenbosch University (SU) initiated a new postgraduate programme in sustainable agriculture. Tawanda Marandure was among the programme’s first intake of MSc students and became its first graduate. He is again leading the way as the first SU student to receive a PhD as part of the programme.

3 mins

Anti-Trophy Sentiments Can Hamper Conservation

The looming ban on hunting trophy imports and exports is a hot topic in Britain and America and can pose serious consequences for one of the South African wildlife industry’s strongest pillars. Although trophy hunters from England make up only a small percentage of the hunting industry’s clientele, such a ban could set a precedent that could potentially see other governments folding under the pressure of animal welfare groups.

5 mins

Co-ops: The key to a healthy Polish dairy industry

Dairy farmers’ dissatisfaction with the milk price is nothing new and is certainly not limited to South Africa. Waldemar Broś of the National Association of Dairy Cooperatives in Poland believes that, while the economic situation of Polish dairy farmers may have been stable the past few years, he has not yet encountered a milk producer anywhere in the world who is satisfied with the producer price of milk.

5 mins

Adopting A More Natural Approach To Farming

Stockfarm visited Avondale Farm in the Queenstown district where Simon Sutton, one of four brothers, farms by mimicking the way wild animals used to roam unrestricted before fences were erected.

4 mins

Dairy Cows: Overcoming Fodder Flow Shortages In Winter

Kikuyu grazing into which ryegrass is sown in autumn is the most common grazing system in the milk-producing areas of the Southern Cape. Kikuyu is dormant during the winter months (June to September) and ryegrass is therefore sown to bridge the fodder flow gap created by this resting period – Italian and perennial ryegrass cultivars are commonly used.

5 mins

Year-round planning for the winter months

Although the winter months pose several challenges to livestock farmers, they can be overcome quite easily with proper planning throughout the year.

5 mins

Feed sorghum as an alternative silage crop

The summer silage season is almost at an end and all that remains are a few hectares of feed sorghum that still need to be ensiled.

3 mins

The role of genetics in profitable animal breeding

The principles of selection, genetics and genomics have been fascinating humanity for many decades. Over the centuries, innovators have been trying to imitate and enhance the course of nature using artificial selection as opposed to natural selection.

6 mins

Stigmas and poor management fuel the sheep scab fire

Since not all farmers report sheep scab among their sheep, the disease continues to pose a tremendous threat to the industry. Sheep scab can only be effectively controlled if all farmers make an effort to obey the law and report incidences timeously.