Stockfarm - latest Issue

Agriculture in South Africa has undergone some radical changes over the past 30 years. These changes were noticeable in every facet of agriculture – land ownership, market regulation, exports, technology, politics and the climate. It is unlikely that any other agricultural industry in the world underwent such radical changes over such a short period. However, despite the challenges, agriculture is standing stronger than ever! It seems that our only defense against such rapid changes is to involve the next generation in the industry as soon as possible, so that they can familiarise themselves with the industry and be able to manage change in a broader context once they become involved operationally.

Elanco to boost food security in East Africa

Lumpy skin disease control lifted

New trade tariffs post-Brexit

New AHS test to boost horse exports

The most advanced wearable wellnes device on the planet!

Solar silo launched in South Africa

South Africa a net exporter of beef

Theo de Jager elected WFO president

Afma launches Intervarsity Writer’s Cup

Vets impress with community service

Merino wool contract launched

Exactly one year ago everyone was speculating about the effect of the worst drought recorded in the history of agriculture and especially the livestock industry in South Africa. Research has shown that the average South African cow herd declined by 15% between 2013 and 2016. Ewe herds were reduced by 16% during the same period.

The sound of hooves on Karoo stone and dust will be etched in the minds of those who recently celebrated the joy and ethos of South Africa’s unique agricultural heritage at the 2017 Karoo Ranching Film Festival. The festival took place from 14 to 18 June and is the first of its kind in South Africa.

Antimicrobials are widely used in livestock production to maintain health and promote growth, but at the same time contributes to the spread of drugresistant pathogens in both livestock and humans. Awareness of the implications of the development of resistance for humans and animals, as well as promoting stewardship of antibiotics, is of utmost importance, especially in the animal feed industry. Globally, producers are moving toward implementing an antibiotic-free system.

There may be a number of reasons why suitable food safety training is vital to the dairy farmer. The aim of avoiding mistakes which may lead to complications down the value chain due to biological and chemical food safety risks, resulting in food adulteration and contamination, severe illness – or in extreme cases the death of a person who has consumed such dairy products – should probably be at the top the priority list.

From a strong background in wool farming in the Karoo, Julian Southey of Manor Holme near Middelburg in the Great Karoo, has become national sheep farmer of the year by “doing the basics”. Julian shares this success with his two sons, Robert and Stuart, and their loyal staff, but were greatly surprised at being nominated for the award by Voermol and various other sponsors.

Adaptability is a keyword in most conversations about farming. Cattle should be adaptable on the veld, farmers should adapt to the rapidly changing agricultural environment and farming systems should adapt to changing weather patterns.

August is traditionally an uncertain month for livestock farmers. It is a time when farmers often contemplate whether they will have enough feed for their livestock before the next rainy season. In terms of fodder flow, not much can be done in August with regard to dryland plantings. Farmers with irrigation systems are in a better position, as certain winter crops can still be planted at great risk.

Enough nutritious, palatable grazing is the heartbeat of success for the beef industry. The good rainfall that occurred across the major production areas, can be used by enterprising farmers to rectify issues that are handicapping meat production so that farming can become more profitable. Rising production costs are making beef farming a challenging venture. This is why optimal utilisation of natural grazing and hay that has been cut from veld grass, is crucial. The right nutrition is the best way to improve calving percentages and the profitability of a livestock herd.

The profitability of sheep farming is largely determined by the birth of multiple lambs. Hence the reproduction rate of the ewe herd plays a major role in the efficiency of a sheep farming enterprise. Lambing pens are a tool that can be used to improve efficiency.

Feed efficiency is one of the major aspects of economical livestock farming, but is an aspect that is often completely underutilised and undervalued. The most probable reason for its undervaluation is most likely its measurability.

One of the common challenges of silage bunker maintenance, is damage to covers. This can be damage by humans and animals walking across the bunker, as well as birds, rodents and even baboons! Any hole in the cover, no matter how small, must be repaired immediately. Holes let in water and air, and oxygen is the enemy of silage. It leads to direct losses in the form of musty and rotten silage directly underneath the hole.

August is the month in which seasonal dairy farmers are very active in obtaining new genetics. In the past, the buzz words were ‘litres per lactation’ and ‘average production per cow per day’.

Game farmers should not be discouraged by the relatively low prices recently fetched by breeding animals at game auctions. It should rather inspire them to offer animals with proven genetic breeding ability, making them sought-after for genetic progress in herds belonging to other farmers.

The mating of farm animals, mating methods and systems have a major influence on the genetic improvement of farm animals.

Am I supposed to dip my cattle in winter if there are very few ticks around? Every reader will certainly have his own opinion on this issue or will question its relevance.

Somebody recently enquired about “lots of small ticks that I see on my cattle this time of the year – in the middle of winter”. To understand this, one has to bear in mind the life cycle of a tick: The mature female tick lays thousands of eggs from which larvae develop. They moult and become nymphs, and then become mature ticks. This simply means that ticks can occur throughout the year in varying numbers.

With clinical mastitis (CM) being one of the biggest problems in dairy herds experienced worldwide, we need to fine-tune some of the management, treatment and prevention protocols available. In this way, we can improve the efficiency of the entire system. A perfect example has surfaced in the European dairy sector.

Livestock producers, especially in the Free State but also elsewhere in the country, are experiencing severe mortalities among their livestock offspring younger than a month, and it seems as though

The condition of livestock can deteriorate in winter and early spring due to malnutrition and stress. Animals’ resistance will decrease and in the process external parasite infestations will get a foothold. Mites and lice that are especially active in winter can cause significant production losses.