Business
Stockfarm
Cultivate A Future In Agriculture Through Learning
If chosen wisely, there is a long list of career opportunities in agriculture around the globe that can raise the bar in terms of job satisfaction.
9 min |
July 2021
Stockfarm
Serfontein Poultry Paves The Way In The Layer Industry
The Serfontein Group is a family driven farming enterprise, founded in 1947 by Piet and Teuntje Serfontein, currently in its third generation. Their son, Jan Snr, and his two sons, Jannie and Petrus, are building on this legacy, which originated with poultry farming.
5 min |
May 2021
Stockfarm
Acidosis can be managed
The saying goes that too much of a good thing is not good at all. In the case of acidosis, this is indeed true. Acidosis is a common occurrence in animals exposed to an abundance of palatable feed and that had ingested too many highly digestible carbohydrates (or sugar).
3 min |
July 2021
Stockfarm
Angora Goat Health Guide: Keeping Biological Integrity Intact
Every farm differs slightly in its management plan, with variations relating to land use (pastures and veld), mating/ kidding and husbandry procedures. Even extensive producers will experience periods during the year when they need to farm their Angora goats under intensive management conditions.
5 min |
June 2021
Stockfarm
The Boran: Uniquely Suited To The South African Environment
The Boran developed after the introduction of Bos indicus cattle to Africa, following the Arab invasion of East Africa in around 700 AD. The breed gets its name from the Borana plateau in Southern Ethiopia, a high-altitude region with harsh climate conditions and frequent droughts.
4 min |
June 2021
Stockfarm
Broiler Production: Choosing The Right Breed For The Job
Many producers nowadays consider adding a broiler branch to their farming enterprise, as it is an easy way to earn extra money. Entrepreneurs who would like to venture into farming, but who can only afford a small parcel of land, also give serious consideration to broiler farming. Yet broiler production requires a relatively large capital outlay and producers and aspiring producers therefore need to make the right choices from the onset. One such choice is the chicken breed to be used.
4 min |
May 2021
Stockfarm
Creep Feed For Small Stock: Distinguish Between Lambs And Kids
The difference between creep feed for lambs and kids is substantial, says Dewald Vosloo, nutrition consultant and managing director of Saamstaan Voere in Vrede.
6 min |
June 2021
Stockfarm
Building Strength Through Co-Operation
Farmer co-operatives in South Africa and Peru are set to improve their profitability, productivity, resilience and competitiveness in the marketplace as a result of a five-year, US$7,7 million grant from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
5 min |
June 2021
Stockfarm
Mineral Supplementation For Ruminants
This article provides a brief overview of a very important but complex subject. The aim is to give the ruminant producer a broad framework for decision-making to optimise management.
4 min |
June 2021
Stockfarm
Land Reform For Sustainability
The government’s Land Reform Programme aims to achieve four main outcomes, namely increased black land ownership, increased employment, improved farm productivity and improved livelihoods. Livelihoods are most often measured through dietary diversity, food security and improved household income.
5 min |
June 2021
Stockfarm
New Blood And Positive Developments At Cape Wools
Cape Wools South Africa (Cape Wools) is a dynamic organisation in the South African wool industry, with a clear focus on progress and bringing about positive change in the entire wool value chain. This focus rests on three pillars, namely sustainability, biosecurity and transformation.
4 min |
June 2021
Stockfarm
Rodents In Poultry Housing: A Multi-Faceted Plan Of Attack
Three different rodent species are usually encountered on a poultry farm. They are Rattus rattus or the roof or black rat, Rattus norvegicus or the brown or sewer rat, and Mus musculus or the house mouse.
5 min |
May 2021
Stockfarm
Poultry Production Made Easy: Construct Your Own Broiler House
Profit margins in the agricultural industry are not always what they should be. Producers therefore need to focus on improved methods, equipment and structures to generate bigger profits while keeping capital input to a minimum.
3 min |
May 2021
Stockfarm
Seven Key Aspects Of Overwintering In Summer Rainfall Regions
Overwintering tends to be a general topic of discussion when, in fact, it is spring that poses the greatest challenge to producers. In the summer rainfall regions, September is known as the lean month and October (sometimes even November) as the killer month. Bridging these months successfully is therefore crucial to the livestock producer’s enterprise.
6 min |
June 2021
Stockfarm
Crop Residues: Popular Crops And Managing Them
Once harvesting in the summer planting areas has been completed, it is a good time to move your animals onto the crop residues remaining in the fields. During the winter months, crop residues are very effective in bridging the autumn/winter gap in the fodder flow programme, as it is a very economical way of feeding animals.
5 min |
June 2021
Stockfarm
The Goose That Lays Agriculture's Golden Eggs
Chickens can play a major role in developing the agricultural sector at various levels, according to Izaak Breitenbach, general manager: broiler organisation at the South African Poultry Association (Sapa). Sapa is instrumental in developing this potential, but there are a few stumbling blocks standing in the way of the industry reaching its full economic potential and which have hindered growth during the last decade or so.
6 min |
May 2021
Stockfarm
Regenerative Farming: When Agriculture And Technology Connect
Crowned as the Eastern Cape’s Agri SA Toyota Young Farmer of the Year in 2015, Paul Collett of Speelmanskop Farming in Cradock aspires to progressively build an environment with biologically balanced soil, radiant crops, productive livestock and fulfilled people.
5 min |
May 2021
Stockfarm
The Basic Principles Of Dry-Season Nutrition For Cattle
Dry-season nutrition for cattle is essential, especially in the summer rainfall regions and given the declining nutritional value of grassveld in the country’s interior during winter.
5 min |
June 2021
Stockfarm
The Purpose And Methods Of Marking Livestock
The main reason for marking livestock is the identification of animals based on their ownership and ancestry. This is particularly important in instances of livestock theft, where producers must be able to identify their animals quickly and easily. To make the most of grazing, some producers also let their livestock intermingle with those of other producers. If cattle have been marked, it is easy to distinguish the herds from each other.
2 min |
May 2021
Stockfarm
Should We Have A System To Identify Lameness In Sheep?
Facing hoof problems in a sheep flock can be overwhelming. Producers are often left to sort out hoof problems on their own. This can be partially because cattle are difficult to treat and require the help of professional hoof trimmers who can help producers to identify hoof lesions, as well as perform proper trimming.
2 min |
May 2021
Stockfarm
Mineral Supplements For The Transition To Winter
Precision feeding is playing an ever-increasing role in guaranteeing the sustainability of a profitable livestock production system. Fertility is crucial for a modern livestock farming operation and nutrition is key to its success. Relying on the same summer and winter supplements year after year is no longer an option.
5 min |
May 2021
Stockfarm
Your Guide To Significant Poultry Diseases
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which causes severe clinical symptoms and high mortality in poultry, poses a threat to producers in South Africa this season. Avian influenza (AI) is a highly contagious viral disease affecting several species of poultry, pet birds and wild birds.
6 min |
May 2021
Stockfarm
Preparing Your Weaner Calves For The Feedlot
Excellent growth and feed efficiency are the two main traits of weaner calves that have the greatest influence on the profitability of a feedlot. The calves’ age and weight will, for the most part, be determined by the feedlot’s resources as well as their management system.
5 min |
April 2021
Stockfarm
Supplements For Overwintering: Do Not Overestimate Lush Grazing
Livestock producers in large parts of the country are heading into the winter with camps full of lush grazing after widespread, good rainfall. Yet the nutritional value of this grazing can be misleading and may even put a damper on the profitability of enterprises. With the right nutritional supplements, however, this problem can be remedied.
5 min |
April 2021
Stockfarm
Scan Your Sheep For Improved Management
The old adage that ‘knowledge is power’ applies to all livestock producers. To farm profitably, producers need to be aware of the status of their herds, whether the farming enterprise is operated on a commercial, extensive, intensive, stud or emerging scale.
2 min |
April 2021
Stockfarm
Jan Masiu: Building A Family Business
For Jan Masiu, who used to earn his living as a farmworker in the Marquard area of the Free State for most of his life, sitting at home after retiring in 2011 was not an option. He wanted to continue farming on his own with the 75 head of cattle he managed to accumulate over the years.
5 min |
April 2021
Stockfarm
How To Rehydrate The Land
In the article ‘The hidden role of water on earth’ featured in the January edition of Stockfarm, we discussed the crucial but often ignored role that water plays in making earth habitable. This article, the second in the series, provides a brief overview of the steps that can be taken to ensure that enough water is available in the right places to have a stabilising effect on the climate, which will also make the land more drought-proof.
5 min |
April 2021
Stockfarm
Is The Self-Mixing Of Feed A Viable Option?
A livestock producer’s decision to either self-mix his own feed rations and licks, or buy in readymixed feed and supplements, is influenced by many factors. This decision requires careful consideration so as to determine which system will be most advantageous and cost-effective.
5 min |
April 2021
Stockfarm
The health of the national herd begins on the farm
Animal diseases are an unavoidable aspect of any livestock farming enterprise and require due attention. Yet it is often overlooked, leading to major economic losses.
6 min |
April 2021
Stockfarm
Triplet model creates new possibilities
Deon and Tina van Wyk’s dream of breeding a sheep ewe that regularly produces triplets throughout her productive life is delivering results. They hope that by the end of the year they will be able to make their sheep breeding model accessible to new small-scale producers who want to start a viable business.
5 min |