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What does it take to be a resilient stockman? Two prominent cattle farmers gave their insights at the recent LRF Stockman School at Aldam.
First up was Gerrit van Zyl of Hanzyl Bonsmaras. He defined a resilient stockman as a person involved in the management and care of livestock, who demonstrates the ability to withstand, recover and adapt to challenges and adversity.
“In essence,” Gerrit explained, “a resilient stockman is a combination of physical endurance, emotional fortitude, adaptability, problem-solving abilities, and a commitment to ongoing learning to thrive in the often unpredictable field of livestock management.”
The building blocks for resilience, he explained, are working towards the principles of regenerative agriculture, gearing to be part of the global village (export market), ensuring that your own biosecurity protocols are in place and updated as often as needed, and embracing the need for traceability.
Regenerative agriculture and the stockman
The livestock farmer, he stressed, is a steward of the land. As such, his responsibility is to produce healthy food for the consumer, but he needs to do it while using his natural resources sustainably. This includes focusing on soil health, which in turn translates into a healthy environment.
Sustainability, he pointed out, requires a bigger export market. A resilient stockman understands that the export market has different rules to which we have not been exposed before. We need to adapt fast.
Biosecurity, he warned, can make or break a stock farming operation and can devastate the industry. Responsibility begins with the farmer. “It is our business and we must care for it for ourselves, our community and our industry. Don’t wait for regulations, implement your own protocol!”
The principles he highlighted were not to try and save on the vet bill. “Have a quarantine protocol in place for any animals entering your property and have measures in place that prevent possible biosecurity risks. Consult your vet at least once a year on the appropriate vaccination programme suited to your farm.”
Traceability is key
Traceability, he said, refers to the ability to follow the movement of a food product through specified stages of production, processing and distribution. The main purpose is to help identify sources of contamination, manage recalls effectively and ensure compliance with safety standards.
Resilience, he concluded, means the stockman needs to take care of the land to align himself to thrive in the export market and to get his biosecurity protocol implemented. “Be proud to be traceable!”
Aspects that pave the way for resilience
Tito Vorster, cattle breeder from Northern KwaZulu-Natal, offered an alternative take on resilience. All livestock farmers, he said, should know exactly how many kilogrammes of meat are produced per hectare per year on their farm.
He gave a list of aspects to be considered on the road to resilience. These are the right cow for the job, sustainable land use, a clearly defined market, a clearly formulated business model, good nutrition and then last but not least, the skillset of the owner.
Livestock farming is a business, he said, which requires the stockman to be an astute businessman with entrepreneurial skills. These include a focus on sustainable profitability, an in-depth knowledge of the ‘tricks of the trade’ and a deep understanding that this is not an office job – it is hands-on, ‘boots-in-the-mud’.
Any business, he said, must have a clearly defined strategy or action plan. In addition, the focus should be on those challenges that will, if rectified, have the biggest positive impact on profitability.
Resilience, he concluded, demands that you know your business inside out, understand the challenges, name them, create a plan to resolve them, and set a completion date. Your business plan should be realistic, executable and profitable. – Izak Hofmeyr, Plaas Media
