03-09-2020 - The last 14 days before calving and the first 21 days after calving is critical to the lactation success of any dairy operation. Helping cows to transition smoothly from the dry period into early lactation is an untold secret of many successful dairy operations. Because cows that...
27-08-2020 - The changing climate presents new challenges and opportunities for pork producers. There is a need to consider the productivity implications of climate change on businesses and the welfare of animals alike. It is no surprise that most of us as pork producers have had an encounter...
06-05-2020 - Fermentation is defined as the process in which a substance is broken down into a simpler substance. Microorganisms and bacteria play an enormous role in the fermentation process.
23-04-2020 - Feeding out of maize silage is an expensive and time-consuming operation. Expensive because it requires either a TLB or a tractor fitted with a front-end loader to load the silage and the one or more tractors and trailers to feed out the silage.
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...
