30-03-2020 - The year thus far, although we are only wrapping up the first quarter, has proven to be anything but uneventful. We have seen load shedding making an appearance again, interest rate cuts and several other significant events.
23-03-2020 - One of the biggest benefits of farming with ruminants is that they have the ability to digest fiber which enables us to feed them a more inexpensive diet compared to monogastric animals. In these tough economic times of today where one is farming with very tight margins, we must...
07-02-2020 - Profitability of the dairy industry is under severe pressure. We are confronted with high feed costs and low milk prices. The success of today’s dairy operations lies in making management decisions based on income over feed cost. The importance of margin management and grouping of...
22-07-2019 - The poultry industry is one of the largest and important sectors of our agricultural economy. Keeping birds safe from infectious disease is a top priority and responsibility for all owners, growers, workers, and enthusiasts involved in raising poultry. Disease outbreaks can lead to...
11-12-2018 - What factors influence the profitability in feedlots? The first factor will always be the price at which the lambs are bought. If you feed your own lambs, it will be the store lamb price vs the slaughter price. Feed conversion ratio (FCR): the amount of feed intake (kg) to gain 1...
01-09-2018 - Fleece production Fleece production depends on the area of the skin and the number of follicles that have developed on it. The maximum number of follicles that can develop is determined genetically, but the actual percentage of the wool-bearing follicles depends on nutrition. The...
01-08-2018 - More than 80% of the phosphates in the animal body are found in the bone structure of the animal. Phosphate that is not immediately used in the metabolic processes is stored in the skeletal structure. High levels of phosphate supplementation have a positive effect on an animal’s...
01-07-2018 - Maize silage may also be used to “dilute” the high protein content of pastures. Typically, grass proteins run between 24 and 30% crude protein (CP) in spring and summer. Too much protein in the diet is not desirable as it has a negative impact on fertility (embryotic death),...
01-06-2018 - The United States Food and Drug Administration approved the use of antibiotics as animal additives without veterinary prescription in 1951, and in the 1950s and 1960s, different European states approved their own national regulations concerning the use of antibiotics in animal...
01-05-2018 - Manufacturers like Belnori Boutique Cheesery produce specialty cheese products that make heads turn on the world markets. At the world championships organized by The Guild of Fine Foods they have already received one Super Gold "World Cheese Award" and two Golden Awards. This is...
