The first Boer goat veld test, consisting of rams and ewes belonging to Ilze Lombaard of Vrede, was recently concluded in the Eastern Free State. Although the criteria for the goat test have been adapted slightly, the concept remains the same.
A concept gaining in popularity
The number of breeders submitting their heifers for veld testing is growing. The test for heifers, explains Dr Dreyer, is easier than the test for bulls in that heifers are only weighed at the beginning and end of the test. Once the test has been concluded, pelvic measurements are taken and a mark given for femininity, coat quality, growth, and condition, which is also the most important criterion. This allows the owner to select only the best replacement heifers.
“Although wool sheep breeders have been participating in veld tests for some time now, mutton sheep breeders are also starting to see the value of these tests. In the Eastern Free State and Mpumalanga there are wool sheep breeders who submit as many as 800 rams at a time. The fact that they are able to identify the top 20% of these rams for retention in the flock, means they’re making excellent progress.”
The main advantage of any veld test, he continues, is that expenses are kept to a minimum, if any. Preparing animals for the market does not require a huge capital outlay. Weaner bulls enter the test at around 250kg and weigh between 350 and 380kg at the end of the test. A bull that does not pass the test can be marketed immediately. The 100 to 120kg that the bull gained in weight happened on the veld at minimal cost – only a basic lick was added. The big win, however, is that a breeder now has an objective and proven measure with which to identify top animals.
This story is from the April 2021 edition of Stockfarm.
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 April 2021 edition of Stockfarm.
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
Shongololo Boer Goat Stud: Only The Best Will Do
South African Boer goats have proven popular worldwide for their ability to improve indigenous goat breeds. In addition, Covid-19 restrictions necessitated the establishment of electronic auctions, making it easier for foreigners to acquire outstanding genetic material exported by agents via established channels.
Feed Additives: A Veterinary Perspective
In an already volatile environment, dairy profit margins vary as milk prices and feed costs shift annually. Feed costs represent the largest input cost (an estimated 35 to 70% of the variable cost) in the production of milk. As a group of feed ingredients, feed additives can cause a desired physiological response in a non-nutrient way, such as pH shift, growth or metabolic modifier, and will usually be cost-beneficial.
Guard Against Lumpy Skin Disease
Most parts of the country received good rains during the rain season and producers are generally very optimistic. Wet seasons unfortunately come with their own set of challenges and veterinarians have cautioned livestock producers to keep an eye out for elevated biting insect loads, which may lead to conditions such as lumpy skin disease (LSD).
Climate-Related Hazards: How Smallholders Can Mitigate Its Consequences
Rainfed crop production remains the main source of food security and livelihoods for rural communities in South Africa but presents the challenge of climate variability due to its high dependence on weather variables such as rainfall and temperature.
Tips for a successful AI programme
The success of an artificial insemination (AI) programme depends on several factors that are largely within the control of the producer. It is interesting that those producers who take a hands-on approach to their cattle and inspect them regularly are also the ones who achieve the greatest success. Before his passing, Stockfarm spoke to Koot Louw, a well-known reproduction technologist from Brandfort in the Free State, about his insights into and advice regarding the AI process.
Pay Attention To Orf In Your Flocks
Some of our readers may have treated or heard of sheep or goats that have been infected with orf (vuilbek).
Sanele Mbele: Where Passion And Skill Meet
Passion for farming runs strong in the Mbele family’s veins. Sanele Mbele, from the farm Rietspruit in the De Jagersdrift area near Dundee, has inherited this passion in huge dollops.
Land Reform: Case Studies In Kwazulu-Natal
Land reform in South Africa is complex. Land reform solutions are equally complex and within partnership and development models, this is no different – but there is hope. KwaZulu-Natal has several types of partnership models and the wide variation in farming systems, as well as their different needs, set each model up for different strengths and weaknesses.
Brahman Breeders In Limpopo Have A Winning Plan
Several breeders from the Bosveld Brahman Club in Limpopo are applying genetic excellence and genotypic correctness to stimulate the demand for their bulls. At several of the last auctions, the minimum standard of bulls was raised to achieve this goal.
A Brahman Dream Comes True
For as long as he can remember, JP Mlangeni wanted to be a farmer. It might have taken a few years, from being a teacher and later a businessman, but his dream finally took shape and today he runs a fully-fledged breeding and commercial Brahman farming enterprise in Mpumalanga.
