Three in a row for Westend Landgoed

Hannes and Hano Lombard’s Westend Landgoed near Morgenzon in Mpumalanga was once again crowned the Santam Agriculture National Silage King in 2019.

- Izak Hofmeyr

Not only is it the third consecutive time that they’ve achieved this feat, but their scores have improved significantly with each successive year. This is a clear indication of their unquenchable desire for constant improvement. Resting on their laurels is certainly not part of their frame of reference.

The farm consists of several branches – arable land, a dairy, and a cattle and sheep division. They produce approximately 16 000 tons of silage annually for the dairy, which consists of 1 000 cows in cowsheds.

According to Hano, there is no big secret to their silage-making success. “Our goal is to run each branch as efficiently as possible and to manage every process as effectively as possible. This includes producing the best possible feed for the animals. I believe the secret lies in paying attention to every little detail and doing every single thing to the best of your ability.”

Optimum silage-making process

Every aspect of the silage-making process is approached in the most optimal way, says Hano. “As long as we are profitable, no effort or expense is spared to ensure that every little detail of the silage-making process is performed 100% efficiently.”

They decided to call in the help of a consultant, and every facet of the silage making process was scrutinized. “We had important questions and as such, it was imperative to get the answers from an expert. My advice to other producers is to not hesitate in calling in expert help,” says Werner le Roux, who manages the dairy.

Several adjustments were made to optimize Westend’s silage-making process. “We sat around a table and planned every detail meticulously. By putting in a little extra effort, we were able to set a new standard against which to measure ourselves every year,” says Hano.