Emerging farmers in the Western Cape receive bull power

Seven emerging farmers from Genadendal recently received a Bonsmara bull each from the Western Cape Department of Agriculture. This is the first of 23 bulls from the department’s bull project that will be distributed to small-scale farmers this year.

The Role Of Organic Matter In Soil

Of all the components of soil, organic matter is probably the most important and most misunderstood. Organic matter serves as a reservoir of nutrients and water in the soil, aids in reducing compaction and surface crusting, and increases water infiltration into the soil. Yet it is often ignored and neglected.

Crunch Those Numbers Before Planting Pastures

It is often difficult to ascertain whether planting spring grazing crops is worthwhile for a livestock farmer. Some of the most important considerations include the purpose of the grazing, how it will be utilised, and the existing resources available on the farm.

Practical Recordkeeping For Financial Success

Business management leader, Peter Drucker, once said: “You can’t manage what you can’t measure, and if you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it.” One can add to this that you can only measure something if you keep track of it.

Disease Transmission Through Artificial Insemination In Cattle

Many cattle producers are looking to improve their profitability by investing in superior bulls that will drive genetic improvement and increase overall meat and milk production in their herd. Artificial insemination (AI) allows a producer to hand-pick a specific bull to be mated with a specific cow, provided the bull has been proven fertile.

Nutritional Flushing Of Sheep

The economic pressure that sheep producers have experienced in recent times has been detrimental. To relieve this pressure, flush feeding could be used as a management tool to maximise the economic viability of producers’ sheep farming enterprises during a crucial part of production – the breeding season.

For The Love Of Farming

Farming and rearing livestock because you love it is one thing, but without a proper marketing strategy all your efforts will be in vain. This is, however, not the case for the Molotsi family, as their proximity to the Free State town of Steynsrus means they have a market right on their doorstep.

Marking Your Animals Is Worth Your While

There are still cattle farmers who believe the marking of their livestock is a waste of time. The truth is that this small chore has numerous advantages that will ultimately save producers a great deal of money and effort. Without reliable identification in the form of a mark, the animal cannot be traced back to the owner, which will throw his or her ownership into question.

Analyse And Plan Before Investing In Cultivated Grazing

For many, the idea of cultivated grazing invokes an idyllic image of grasslands gently blowing in the breeze. There is also a growing number of producers who are considering expanding their livestock components and reducing the area under grain production due to the country’s erratic rainfall.

Makgatlo: Lesotho's solution to livestock theft

Tyron Boucher with two members of the Hamasile Mokgatlo. On his left is Hlopo Mosia and on his right is Thabane Polo.

Silage Fermentation And The Use Of Inoculants

Since the dawn of time there has been a need to provide a good quality supplementary feed source in times when grass or other forage options are limited. In modern agriculture, silage production forms an integral part of most livestock production systems.

Sernick Bonsmaras: Selecting For Feed Conversion And Growth

When breeding female animals, the focus of your selection process should be on the improvement of reproduction and relative growth. Since nutrition (the environment) has such a huge impact on reproduction and milk production, it is crucial that enough feed is available for the cow.

The Animal Diseases Act: What Farmers Should Know

Part 15: Control of Johne’s disease

Ewe Nutrition For Optimal Lamb Production

Sheep producers are often heard complaining about ewes that produce thick and sticky, slow-flowing colostrum, with a subsequent negative effect on lambs. Several studies indicate that this problem can be directly attributed to poor nutrition during late gestation.

Conservation Agriculture Can Boost Maize Yields

Maize farmers who aim to practise no-till or conservation agriculture on their farms will benefit from significantly higher yields during dry seasons, since these farming methods allow them to plant crops much closer together.

Synchronisation And AI Of Beef Cattle Cows Make Sense

Artificial insemination (AI) offers tremendous benefits to the commercial cattle producer. And these benefits stretch far beyond the genetic progress that can be made. This is according to Peter Milton, a cattle production consultant from Port Elizabeth. The first advantage of AI, he says, is its cost-saving aspect.

Guidelines For Effective Silage Face Management

Face management involves the effective management of the open side of a bunker – the face – so as to prevent losses.

The versatility of cover crops

The use of cover crops has been gaining momentum in recent years. It is especially farmers adhering to the principles of regenerative agriculture, or conservation agriculture, that are making huge strides in gaining experience in the benefits of various plant species, if they are utilised correctly.

Investigating the meat quality of Boran cattle

Boran cattle have been subject to prolonged natural selection under harsh environmental conditions for centuries and are now considered an early maturing medium-frame animal. The Boran breed is known for its low production costs and the ability to produce an excellent carcass that can be marketed off the veld.

Champion farmer's support plan for emerging farmers

In 2019 Rego Malao was crowned SA Stud Book and Unistel’s Emerging Stud Farmer of the Year. With his farming enterprise growing by leaps and bounds, he came up with a first-rate plan to assist emerging farmers, who share his passion for beef cattle production, on their road to success.

The Importance Of Sustainable Biosecurity And Shearing Practices

Consumers around the globe are placing greater value on products that meet certain requirements, with emphasis on aspects such as traceability as an effective identification system, as well as ecological and economic sustainability.

Silage Talk: Physical Evaluation Of Silage

There is a lot to be said about the physical appearance of silage. In this instance I am not talking about aspects pertaining to proper silage management – we all know that substandard management merely tends to exacerbate existing problems or create new problems that could have been avoided.

A Bright Future Ahead For The Brahman

For the Brahman breeders of South Africa, the challenge of breeding genetically correct animals is one they do not take lightly. They regard it as their responsibility as the benefits will not only extend to commercial beef producers, but also the entire value chain.

Correct Adaptation Of Livestock On Crop Residues In Winter

For many livestock farmers crop residues are an indispensable link in their fodder flow programmes, especially in the eastern sourveld areas of the country, where the grazing value of winter veld is very low.

Grazing Systems Versus Feedlots: An Economic Perspective

Just as the foot-and-mouth outbreak finally came to an end, the COVID-19 lockdown came into effect.

From Farmer's Wife To Boer Goat Breeder And Mentor

The value of Boer goats as animals that can utilise the same grazing as cattle is often overlooked. Yet on a relatively small farm near Vryburg, this advantageous practice is being applied very effectively. This is according to Desré Ferreira, a farmer’s wife and stud breeder from Vryburg. She started her own stud upon realising that if she continued to try and ‘organise’ her husband’s Bonsmara stud, it might just lead to trouble. Today the Boer goats perfectly complement the cattle farming enterprise.

The Influence Of High-density Grazing On Herd Fertility

Farmers are increasingly recognising the advantages of ultra-high-density grazing (UHDG) to improve their veld while also increasing their stocking rate.

An Overview Of The Global Wildlife Trade

The global trade in wildlife products is an enormous industry. While information relating to the illicit trade of these products is freely available, figures pertaining to legitimate trade rarely makes the headlines. According to global customs statistics released in 2012, wildlife products worth $187 billion were imported worldwide and the value of wild animals, excluding fish and plant products, amounted to approximately $3 billion.

Growth stimulants in perspective

Running a feedlot at maximum profitability is no mean feat. What it comes down to is that you have only around 120 days in which to double the weight of the weaners in your system.

Managing dairy cows in winter

The dairy cattle breeds found in South Africa today, originated in Western Europe and the British Isles, where winter conditions are much colder than in South Africa.