Wool Quality: A Century Of Positive Change

South Africa’s wool industry has undergone some radical changes over the past 100 years, one of which is the increasing focus on rigorous selection and the correct breeding policy by producers in a bid to increase the financial sustainability of farming enterprises. This has led to the industry breeding well-balanced sheep with a good wool to meat ratio.

Functionally Efficient Animals Must Also Be Beautiful

Louis Greeff is partial to a beautiful Brahman, but to him science is just as important. For this reason, his genetically superior red Brahmans must also be beautiful. While other people are watching television, Louis usually sits at his computer where he carefully studies each animal. He uses advanced computer programs to plan the best matings with the greatest chance of success.

Winter crops for the cold months

The summer months have so far been mostly dry and the prospects for late summer rainfall remain uncertain. If conditions were to improve, greenfeed can be planted from February onwards. Many producers who have water available will be planting greenfeed to see their animals through the winter months.

The Animal Diseases Act: What farmers should know

Part 10: Controlled diseases in equines

Soil conservation and erosion

Soil plays a central role in our life on earth and its importance should never be underestimated.

Prepare your ewes for the mating season

A sheep farmer has three chances to ensure an optimal lamb harvest and to guarantee profitability. The first is to have as many ewes as possible conceive.

Make drought part of your water plan

It is said that drought conditions will become a normal feature of the landscape in future. If this is indeed going to be the case, it means that producers will have to incorporate this aspect into their normal on-farm planning.

Diversification and value addition: A perfect combination

The first factor to consider when you want to diversify your farming enterprise and add as much value to your farm as possible, is your natural resources. This applies to both your farm’s natural resources and that which the environment offers.

Creep feed pens: Clever thinking goes a long way

There are several existing patents for creep feed pens and nutritionists, engineers and designers have been ‘borrowing’ from each other’s designs in a bid to create smart, workable gates that can partition creep feed for lambs and calves. These designs are usually cost-effective and can quite often be used elsewhere on the farm. Stockfarm spoke to Nadia van Staden of Hekkies, a company that manufactures such systems.

Creep feed 101: The basic principles

The saying that you must first learn to crawl before you can walk, applies to many facets of life.

Be spot-on when sinking a borehole

Water is a scarce resource in South Africa and identifying the right place to drill for it, is often difficult. Several factors must be considered, as the cost of a borehole is extremely high.

The Correct Way To Manage And Utilise Groundwater

Around fifty years ago, a large-scale effort was made in South Africa to teach people about water conservation.

The Animal Diseases Act: What Farmers Should Know

Part 8: Control of African swine fever

Control Calf Diarrhoea With Proper Care

Diarrhoea and pneumonia are the two most prominent diseases among calves.

Precision livestock farming is here

In October last year Evonik hosted their fourth customer seminar at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Pretoria.

Unique feeding system requires less management

When AFGRI Animal Feeds brought the Kempen feeding system for dairy cows to South Africa in 2009, it was aimed mainly at farmers who use total mixed rations (TMRs). While it worked very well initially, AFGRI later learned an expensive lesson.

PLAAS Agricultural Youth Foundation goes from strength to strength

The PLAAS Agricultural Youth Foundation was established during ALFA 2017 following the rapid expansion of the Veeplaas Schools’ Herd Project, which meant that an umbrella body was needed to look after current and future projects.

Exceptional bull's legacy lives on

Every so often a farmer breeds a bull with genetically superior traits and an exceptional appearance, all highly heritable traits that he passes on to his children and their progeny.

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.

A fodder bank requires careful management

The production and maintenance of a fodder bank as insurance against unfavourable farming conditions, is particularly relevant during times when large parts of the country are subject to drought. But what is a fodder bank, and how should it be maintained?

Tulis Flourish On The Free State Highveld

Cornelis Rautenbach runs his Nonnie Tuli stud on the farm Mooipan in the Reitz area of the Eastern Free State. His determination to one day run his own stud was born during his school days in the 1970s.

Parasite Control In Sheep Requires A Holistic Approach

Internal parasites in sheep are an ever-present problem, and the only way farmers can minimise their impact on the flock is through proper management.

Indigenous Veld Goats: Cornerstone Of The Goat Industry

“You have to know where you are from before you can know who you are and where you are going.” The well-known novelist, Johan Kruger, used this expression in his book Die Vloek, but it also aptly describes the view of a group of indigenous veld goat breeders.

From Humble Herdsman To Lauded Breeder

A mon Phahlane, this year’s recipient of the Agricultural Research Council National Emerging Beef Farmer of the Year award, was 13 when he began herding cattle.

Feed Trough Design Can Make A World Of Difference

Feed trough design and management can have a significant impact on animal health without the producer even realising it, says Hannes Smit of Trogtek SA.

Your Horse's Saddle Must Fit Like A Glove

The main goal of a saddle is to improve weight distribution across a horse’s back. It allows the horse to carry its rider’s weight and it makes the rider’s position more comfortable.

Nutritional Requirements Of Boer Goats

Boer goats are ideal animals to complement an existing sheep or cattle enterprise as an additional branch. The unique traits of these animals do not interfere with sheep or cattle farming, especially in terms of grazing. This is according to Hennie le Roux, chairperson of the Northern Cape Boer Goat Club and a seasoned Boer goat breeder in the Kalahari.

Large Livestock Management

The availability and good management of feed is a major pillar of cattle farming.

From Poor Grazing To Meat, The Patriot Way

The Patriot Boer Goat Stud of the farm Grasrant in the Graaff-Reinet district, alongside the Sneeuberg Mountains in the Karoo, is Johan Steyn’s pride and joy.

A Small Start Can Pay Big Dividends

Lloyd James – a man who is very familiar with the saying “by the sweat of your face you will eat your bread” – has been farming large and small stock near Somerset East for the past nine years.