During a recent visit to Zambia, the positive effects of prudent selection, combined with the use of superior bulls, was illustrated beautifully in a cow herd of 4 000. FarmBiz was invited along when well-known Beefmaster stud breeder, Frans Odendaal of WO Beefmasters, and cattle farmer Chippie Watson from Underberg in KwaZulu Natal, travelled to select replacement heifers for Zambezi Ranching and Cropping (ZRC), a farming enterprise some 45km north-east of Lusaka.
ZRC is a large mixed farm. The current owners moved in roughly 15 years ago. At the time it was only a ranch, running approximately 1 200 cows on 18 000ha. Their first priority was to develop the farm’s cropping potential, focussing initially on tobacco and seed maize. A massive irrigation infrastructure of 1 600ha under pivots was developed, and more land was acquired. Currently they farm on 30 000ha, with 5 000 under crops of which 1 600ha are irrigated.
The cropping includes tobacco, seed maize, soya and dryland pastures, predominantly Rhodes grass, in the summer and in winter potatoes, onions, wheat and barley. In addition, they have a small dairy, as well as a chicken division producing two million broilers per annum and a 500-sow multiplier pig division with Topigs genetics.
“While we developed the cropping side,” recalls Graham Rae, managing director of ZRC, “the cattle herd was just ticking over. A few years ago, however, we decided that it was time to bring this side of the business onto the same level as the cropping.”
Building of a cattle herd
“When we first came here there were two herds of cattle, one a Brahman herd and the other Sussex. These were converted to a terminal cross-breeding operation. We brought in a consultant from South Africa, Dr Andrew van der Walt. The aim was to achieve more beef per hectare per year in as short a time as possible off the veld. At the time we were selling three-year-old and older animals, since that was when they reached 400kg.”
This story is from the August 2016 edition of FarmBiz.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 2016 edition of FarmBiz.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Hauling In A Full Net: Reaping The Benefits Of Processed Fish
As local and global governments deal with the full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, producers are now more than ever searching for new options for expanding their businesses. That said, farming and value addition to produce does not have to be limited to landlocked food sources.
Grow Produce Year-round With Tunnels And Greenhouses
Climate change is an inescapable reality and can wreak havoc in open-field production systems that rely on the right weather patterns to produce good yields. For this reason, many producers worldwide have turned to growing crops in tunnels or greenhouses. These production systems offer protection from changing weather patterns, allowing them to grow crops throughout the year.
Saving Soil: Harnessing The Microbiome
We live in unprecedented times.
Summer Grain Production: A Producer's Perspective
The 2020 planting season for producers in the summer rainfall areas is here and most of them are looking forward to the first summer rains so that they can plant their crops. FarmBiz spoke to Jaco Minnaar from the farm Uitsny near Henneman about the new season. Jaco is vice-chairperson of Agri SA and currently serves on the Senwes board.
Electronic Auctions: The New Normal?
The South African livestock industry has suffered a tremendous setback with challenges posed to physical auctions. However, the industry is nothing if not resilient. The first ban on livestock auctions was imposed during the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in 2019.
Oxygen Types That Damage Crops In Extreme Weather Conditions
Oxygen is best known as a life-giving gas without which life as we know it, would not be possible.
Asia's Maize Imports Likely To Grow
In 2019, the Asian maize market was finally on the rise to reach US$204,4 billion after two years of decline. The total consumption indicated buoyant growth from 2009 to 2019. Its value increased at an average annual rate of 5,1% over the last decade.
Cultivated grazing: Fertiliser is the key to success
Nowadays everything in agriculture has to be done on a larger scale. Cultivated grazing has also become a science, with producers forced to think bigger to get more out of their grazing – all at the most economical cost.
Industry Giants Comment On Special Adjustment Budget
Prof Johan Willemse, an independent agricultural economist, says the supplementary budget delivered by the minister of finance on 24 June was a real shocker. According to him, the government is spending an additional R145 billion on the COVID-19 issue. The real issue, however, is a record budget shortfall due to the economic meltdown, with wrong policy choices and corruption on the cards.
Rethinking The Conversion Process Of Poultry Litter To Biogas
The poultry industry is generally comprised of broiler chicken production, egg production, day-old chick suppliers and other poultry. While micro-enterprise businesses are gaining prominence as a means to address the challenges of job creation, economic growth and equity, the industry has future challenges concerning poultry litter management.
