Animals

How to consistently breed the best cattle

‘Dexters carry us through the drought’

Paving the way for a greener dairy industry

Healthy soil means healthy cattle

Optimising nutrient availability for cattle

Hurwitz Farming’s record-breaking success with Boran cattle

Profitable free-range chicken production in the Swartland

From backyard chicks to top show poultry breeder

Quality feathers give Oudtshoorn ostrich farmer the edge

How to keep your chickens happy and healthy

Limpopo hatchery goes to the next level

First-aid basics for small-scale poultry farmers

Tuna fishing under pressure as global demand increases

The rising global demand for tuna has placed it under significant threat of overfishing. World Tuna Day, 2 May, was established by the United Nations (UN) to highlight the importance...

Production principles for hatchery success

The hatchery is the foundation of a fish farm. Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions, says that by following his six hatchery principles, farmers can set a trajectory for...

Why fish farms fail, and how to avoid becoming a statistic

The popularity of launching fish farms is not matched by their success. Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions, explores the factors that cause most of these businesses to go...

High-tech Meatmaster farming in the Klein Karoo

Unlocking value through livestock exports

Breeding productive, well-adapted Angoras in the Eastern Cape

Wet carcass syndrome: a scourge in SA sheep farming

Running a Meatmaster stud on just 65ha

Happy, healthy flyers win the big prizes

In this article, the final in a three-part series on pigeon racing, Thomas Smit looks at ways to help your birds settle in a loft, as well as the best...

Managing weaners and growers for maximum efficiency

Effective pig farming requires a delicate balance of care, precision, and innovation to ensure the well-being and performance of weaners and growers. Dr Alex Westerink, an expert in swine health...

Equine dentistry: is ‘bit seating’ really necessary for all horses?

While most horse owners agree that it’s a good idea for riding horses to be examined by a dentist at least once a year, the need for bit seating depends...

Plough for more

Load-shedding burdens SA’s fruit industry

The current rolling blackouts by power utility Eskom have struck the Western Cape in the midst of a critical time for the fruit industry.

SARS issues guidelines for diesel rebate repayments

A meeting between SARS and organised agriculture has resulted in a series of guidelines being provided to farmers wishing to claim their diesel tax rebates.

Western Cape Young Farmer finalists announced

This year’s Agri Western Cape Santam Agriculture Young Farmer of the Year competition finalists have been announced and competition, it seems, is tough.

OVK increases turnover despite ‘challenging conditions’

The agribusiness, OVK Group, has announced an increase of 8, 55% in turnover for the 2018/2019 financial year compared with the previous year.

Amathole Nguni Breeders’ Autumn 2014 Nguni Production Sale

Highest bull R31 000

Skilled jobs fall first

Of the 6 000 jobs shed in agriculture from the second to the third quarter of 2013 (Q3 2013), 4 000 were higher-paying skilled jobs, according to Statistics SA’s latest...

Former bank boss Reuel Khoza’s huge avocado investment

After playing a significant role in corporate South Africa, Dr Reuel Khoza, former chairperson of Nedbank and Eskom, decided to turn his focus back to his roots in the farming...

Rudles farming enterprise: A case study in cooperation

The Limpopo agriculture department brought in two small-scale chicken farmers to take over a failed land reform project.

Farming in Zambia: a South African’s story

In 1997, father-and-son farming team Keith and Chris Clubb moved from their Gauteng-based farming operation to establish what is now a large commercial mixed farming operation in Zambia. Chris, a...

How SA cotton industry created 5 500 jobs in four years

It’s been four years since the Department of Trade and Industry launched an initiative to increase capacity and competitiveness in South Africa’s textile and apparel industries. CEO of Cotton SA...

The sawmill that runs on wood gas power

With renewable energy becoming necessary, could wood gasification present a viable alternative?

From a tiny plot to a thriving commercial farm

Former extension officer, Sithembele Malgas, started farming in the Idutywa area of the former Transkei in 1990. Today, he produces cabbages, spinach and butternut in rotation on 3,5ha under irrigation...

Lifestyle

Practical home additions

James and Jill phoned me to request help with the design of additions to their home in Creighton, KwaZulu-Natal.

Trout & war in the Amatholes

The streams of the Amathole Mountains – including the Wolf River – were immortalised by Sydney Hey in his African fly-fishing text, The Rapture of the River. Mike Burgess travelled...

Crisp shortbread biscuits

With the possible exception of a chocolate brownie, nothing accompanies tea or coffee better than a crisp shortbread biscuit.

Double-storey valley views

I live in Tanzania in quite a remote location. The house site is in a rural setting on a piece of undeveloped land so I don’t have any municipal roads...

Sizzling red-hot fish braai

There comes a time when the amateur braai mechanic realises that not all protein is red nor are all steaks beef. Here’s a magnificent fish braai procedure that I learnt...

Calamari and salsa

In Latin America, warm salads offer grilled meats their proper accompaniment. Give this calamari and chilli salsa your best shot!

Animals

A horse’s mane and tale

Don’t underestimate the value that a long mane and tail will add to your horse, says Kim Dyson.

Why do horses bite?

Biting could be the sign of an illness or emotional stress, says Kim Dyson.

Know your horse breed: Percheron

Percherons have become extremely popular in South Africa, not least because these gentle giants are easy to handle and still have some use on the farm, says Dr Mac.

Breeding quality

There’s no secret formula when it comes to selecting winners, but there are some guidelines worth following, writes Thomas Smit.

Watch out for Mycotoxins

Mycotoxins, which are present in most animal feed, can affect a poultry flock badly. It’s crucial to manage feed and the environment to lower mycotoxin levels.

Measuring and improving the performance of cattle in feedlots

An Agricultural Research Council study of the performance of Brahman bulls in feedlots across South Africa has highlighted the non-genetic traits, such as environment and herd of origin, that affect...

Crops

Wheat producers, treat fungicides with caution!

South African wheat producers should guard against over-application of fungicide, according to Dr Tarekegn Terefe, senior researcher at ARC-Small Grain, Bethlehem. The unnecessary use of fungicides can harm the environment...

Nature: farmer’s best friend

A vegetable farmer in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, who converted to biological crop production, has significantly increased yield, improved quality and reduced input costs. Robyn Joubert reports.

It’s happening!

I regularly attack politicians and their bedfellows, and highlight the damage they’re causing to SA’s fresh produce markets.

Adding value

Marketing fresh produce is a competitive and frequently expensive business as producers seek ways to improve margins.

A stomping family success

World-renowned for its award-winning wines and olive products, Kloovenburg also produces table grapes and figs for export. With four sons all wanting to farm, Annalene and Pieter du Toit are...

Plunging into coffee?

Over the last few years, coffee production in South Africa has been more of a boutique industry limited to a handful of growers on minimal land. But as a coffee...