Business
Stockfarm
Ecovite Drifos P12 and P6: Weather resistant phosphate supplements
Over 90% of South African soils are deficient in the mineral phosphorus. The country's warm, dry climate contributes to low levels of organic matter, which in turn limits phosphorus availability to animals.
4 min |
October 2025
Stockfarm
Tick resistance raises concerns
Ticks are the cause of significant annual economic losses, primarily because of the diseases they transmit. In South Africa, the blue tick species is the main culprit.
3 min |
October 2025
Stockfarm
The next generation herd health plan
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2 min |
October 2025
Stockfarm
When FMD hits: Protocols and practices
South Africa's cattle sector faces tremendous challenges regarding biosecurity and traceability. This year, the dairy industry was among the hardest hit by foot-and-mouth (FMD) disease outbreaks in most provinces in the country, especially the Eastern Cape.
10 min |
October 2025
Stockfarm
Back to basics: Success is built on simplicity and order
We live in an age of constant noise in which we are flooded daily with information and endless decisions.
7 min |
October 2025
Stockfarm
Grassland Society presents 60th congress
The 60th Congress of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa (GSSA) was recently held in Hilton, KwaZulu-Natal, drawing around 160 delegates from across Southern Africa.
3 min |
October 2025
Stockfarm
Livestock's water requirements in intensive and extensive production systems
The Earth's total water supply is estimated at around 1 386 million km³. However, only 2,5% of this comprises freshwater. Of that small fraction, approximately 68,7% is locked away in ice and snow formations in Antarctica, the Arctic, and mountainous regions.
4 min |
October 2025
Stockfarm
Breeding values level the playing field
The production of a dairy cow is influenced by factors such as age, calving season, lactation number and stage, pregnancy status, length of her previous intercalving period (ICP), nutrition, temperature, and management.
3 min |
October 2025
Stockfarm
Boost spring pastures with effective fertilisation
Applying the right nutrients to planted pastures that are tailored to the specific plant species and local environmental conditions, can significantly boost both yield and quality. However, given the high cost of fertilisers, they must be used efficiently to ensure pastures are optimally utilised by livestock. Renier Bothma, a soil scientist at Kynoch Fertilizers, explains that rainfall is a key factor in pasture production under dryland conditions. The more it rains, the greater the pasture growth and the higher the nutrient demand for maintaining optimal yield and quality.
3 min |
October 2025
Stockfarm
WHAT'S UP?
Theft burdens agricultural growth
6 min |
October 2025
Stockfarm
How climate change affects veld
Climate change is no longer a distant concern - it is reshaping today’s farming landscape with far-reaching consequences. At its core, climate change refers to systematic shifts in weather patterns, both locally and globally.
3 min |
October 2025
Stockfarm
Breed purity and structure: Cornerstones of effective herd management
Some have described breed purity as ‘nature's poetry’ but for breeders, the real question is whether this poetry translates into practical value.
3 min |
October 2025
Stockfarm
Boer goat management: Buying your goats
When you hear Boer goat breeders talk about ewes lambing every seven to eight months, with flocks achieving lambing percentages of up to 180%, it’s easy to see the appeal. Boer goats can be an exceptionally rewarding livestock enterprise, provided a few key principles are followed.
2 min |
October 2025
Stockfarm
RPO Eastern Cape: Traceability is a benefit, not a burden
Animal health, biosecurity, and the economic risks related to local disease outbreaks – particularly their impact on red meat exports – were central themes at this year’s Red Meat Producers’ Organisation Eastern Cape (RPO EC) congress, held on 7 August.
2 min |
October 2025
Stockfarm
Which crop makes the best silage?
Silage can be made from various crops, but some ensile more successfully and deliver higher nutritional value than others. Cost and management practices also play a role. The three most popular silage crops currently are maize, forage sorghum, and oats.
2 min |
October 2025
Stockfarm
Rustin Shawe: Cattle Farmer of the Year tells how
Rustin Shawe of Grassfields Farm in the Groenvlei district of Wakkerstroom has been named the 2024 Voermol Cattle Farmer of the Year.
5 min |
October 2025
Stockfarm
Mohair Empowerment Trust: Graduates rewrite the story in 2025
South Africa is a leader in mohair production and in the care of the Mohair Empowerment Trust (MET) is the development of black commercial mohair producers, farm workers, and entrepreneurs.
4 min |
October 2025
Stockfarm
Basic principles of veld management for sustainable production
Good veld management does not require extraordinary measures - it is about applying basic principles consistently and effectively. This article outlines the most important of these principles.
4 min |
October 2025
Stockfarm
Savannas thrive on a Thaba game farm
Savanna goats and game may not sound like an obvious farming combination, but for Barnard & Seuns Savanna Stud near Thabazimbi, it works remarkably well.
4 min |
October 2025
Stockfarm
Bull subfertility: How to minimise the risk
In beef production economics, fertility is estimated to be ten times more important than carcass quality and five times more important than growth rate.
2 min |
October 2025
Stockfarm
The role of exports in the beef value chain
South Africa became a net exporter of beef in 2014, driven by surplus production that exceeded local consumption. Since then, exports have grown by more than 12 000 tonnes, reaching a record of over 39 000 tonnes in 2024.
3 min |
October 2025
Stockfarm
Farmworkers and unlawful fines
Unlike in the criminal justice system where a traffic officer can issue a motorist a fine for failing to obey the rules of the road, employers may not levy fines against employees who fail to obey rules in the workplace.
2 min |
October 2025
Stockfarm
Romance in a Hilux
Our accountant recently advised me to buy a new bakkie to pay less tax, which led to a lot of unsolicited advice from the petrolheads in the office.
2 min |
October 2025
Stockfarm
Northern Cape festivities put red meat in the spotlight
Red meat producers often highlight the gap between what they earn for their product and the price consumers ultimately pay. While neither producers nor organisations such as the Red Meat Producers' Organisation (RPO) can directly control market prices, they can influence consumer perceptions. One key opportunity is raising awareness of red meat as an affordable, high-quality source of protein.
3 min |
October 2025
Stockfarm
Selecting for cow maternal performance: Making your breeding and selection systems pay
The dramatic changes and volatility of cow-calf production system input costs and calf values have many producers seeking options to improve cow herd production efficiency and profitability.
5 min |
October 2025
Stockfarm
Brick by brick: Feeding a ruminant from birth to slaughter
Rearing a ruminant from birth to slaughter is a lot like building a house. It demands planning, precision, and the right 'materials' at every stage. From the moment of conception to the final finishing touches before market, each phase contributes to the overall integrity of the 'structure'.
4 min |
October 2025
Stockfarm
The right to keep livestock: The Moladora case
On 1 August this year, the Constitutional Court handed down judgment in Mereki vs Moladora Trust (CCT 121/24). The case attracted wide attention because it addresses the sensitive intersection of land ownership and the right of farm dwellers to keep livestock.
2 min |
October 2025
Stockfarm
Exploring nutritional factors influencing rumen development: A literature review
Feedlot profitability continues to face pressure from a range of external factors beyond the producer's control.
9 min |
August 2025
Stockfarm
Why vitamin A matters in livestock production
Vitamin A is an essential fat-soluble micronutrient in the diet of ruminants, playing a key role in immune function, reproduction, mucosal health, bone development, and vision.
3 min |
August 2025
Stockfarm
Take control of your cattle operation with Datamars precision technology
South African cattle producers are facing more challenges than ever. With rising input costs and tighter profit margins, they must find smarter ways to manage their operations.
2 min |