Stockfarm
Stockfarm is a semi-scientific magazine for commercial and aspiring commercial livestock farmers who wish to farm more profitably by applying sound farming practices. Stockfarm is calendar driven and addresses topics ranging from feed and nutrition, to animal health, crops, grazing, breeding, handling and management. Sound information for farmers who are serious about their trade.
Read Stockfarm in May 2024
Livestock farming plays a crucial role in South Africa, contributing around 11,8% towards the gross value of agricultural products and the country’s food security. Livestock producers face many challenges, such as drought and animal diseases, including predator-related losses. These losses must be mitigated to ensure both the survival and financial security of farming operations. The May issue of Stockfarm looks into predation and possible solutions. Also included are articles ranging from a comparison of livestock theft across provinces and new climate-smart teff varieties, to the covert culprit that is bankrupt worm.
Also look forward to the following articles:
- Quality and biosecurity for successful livestock management.
- Are there (dangerous) hormones in my milk?
- Avondale Tuli: Where production comes first.
- Three Valleys Wildlife and Nature Reserve: Where proteas come to the aid of wildlife.
- Beef production at the Outeniqua Research Farm.
- Backgrounding calves for the feedlot.
- Add value to your grain and weaner calves.
- Efficient use of water (Part 2).
- Passive rainwater harvesting.
- Completeness of performance: Reach for the stars.
- EasyWean® is all about the cow.
- Soften the impact of weaning shock.
- Sheep scab: An itch that won’t just budge.
- Enzootic abortion in small stock.
- Just and equitable compensation for land.
- And much more!
Stockfarm is available from your nearest retailer or become a subscriber today! To subscribe phone Beauty Mthombeni on 064 890 6941 or SMS ‘Subscribe’ and your phone number to 064 890 6941 and we will get back to you. The magazine is also available at www.magzter.com and can be downloaded as an interactive flipbook at digimags.agriorbit.com.
Read articles from Stockfarm
Predators and problem animals on South African livestock farms
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Livestock producers face many challenges, such as predator-related losses. These losses must be kept to a minimum to ensure...
Passive rainwater harvesting
By Fanie Vorster, ARC-Natural Resources and Engineering
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Southern Africa, like many other regions in the world, is subject to water...
Avondale Tuli: Where production comes first
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
One of the biggest obstacles faced by beef cattle stud producers like Dave Mullins is breeding Tuli bulls capable...
Balancing intensive lamb rearing in sheep feedlots
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Sheep feedlots represent a specialised and efficient system of raising weaner lambs for meat production in an intensive environment....
Bonuses: A right or a privilege?
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
The payment of bonuses is an issue that often leads to friction between employers and employees.
Under what circumstances is...
Amendments in respect of tenure on farms
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
The Extension of Security of Tenure Amendment Act, 2018 (Act 2 of 2018) or the Amendment Act, as well...
Climate indices for informed agricultural decision-making
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
Livestock losses, reduced crop yields, pest and disease outbreaks, and farmworkers’ deaths associated with increased air temperatures as well...
GerLou Simbras: Feed efficiency requires balanced selection
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
Feed efficient cows are better producers because of their ability to maintain condition and their lighter per-unit footprint on...
An expert take on the best silage crops
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
The benefit of high-quality silage is tied to several key aspects of which cultivating suitable crops plays a significant...
From herdsman to award-winning producer
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
As a young boy, Rudzani Sadiki tended to his family’s cattle in the village’s communal pastures in Venda, Limpopo....
Winston South Devon: Home to naturally proficient mothers
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
Father-and-son team, John and James Miller, run a Merino flock and a South Devon herd on Winston Farms. They...
Protect your livestock from two-host ticks
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Ticks are small, external parasitic arachnids that belong to the superfamily Ixodoidea. When people or animals are bitten by...
Cattle breeding is like a three-legged pot: Keeping it all together
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
The primary focus at Kermar Brangus is to get a calf on the ground in one breeding season from...
Free State farm boys and girls show their agri skills
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
The inaugural Farm Skills Schools Competition in South Africa tested the agricultural abilities of 185 pupils from 13 schools...
Creep feed for your beef calves
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
Creep feed helps calves grow faster and heavier before weaning, leading to better marketability and potentially higher prices.
Creep feed...
Employment contract: Which one to use?
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
South African legislation requires the employer to provide an employee with the details of his or her employment.
A...
Rural crime: Determining the extent of SAPS duties
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Crime is not only crime against a person, but also against the country and the legal order that was...
Financing of developing agribusinesses
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
South Africa boasts a robust and resilient financial services industry, with ample deposited funds available for lending.
Despite these favourable...
Buying a better bull
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Buying a bull is one of the riskiest decisions a commercial cattle operation can make.
All the different breeds and...
Bumbi Mahlangu: A farmer with a vision
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
The 68-year-old Bumbi Mahlangu has proven that if you want to be a producer it is never too late,...
Biogas as a renewable energy source in South Africa
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
As the effects of climate change become progressively pronounced, the need to shift towards sustainable and green practices is...
Principles of a vaccination programme for cattle
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
A vaccination programme is aimed at establishing memory cells that can respond quickly to foreign organisms.
Vaccines contain either infectious...
Deal screwworm a death blow
Estimated reading time: 0 minutes
Although game and large stock are the main targets of screwworm, this parasite can also affect small stock, horses...
The economic impact of foot-and-mouth disease
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a serious, highly contagious viral disease of cattle, sheep, goats, swine and other cloven-hoofed animals,...
Seasonal diseases in spring and summer: What to look out for
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Summer is around the corner and has its own unique challenges when it comes to cattle diseases, especially in...
Communal livestock farming (Part 5): Marketing your livestock
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
In the last article in our series on communal livestock farming and the protocols and lessons associated with it,...
The connection between grain markets and feed prices
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Grain is definitely the biggest source of energy in feed and that the cost of grain influences the cost...
Care for your stock horse
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
The herdsman and his horse is an important cogs in the livestock enterprise machine.
Good hooves and legs are...
Women in agriculture saluted for their effort
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
The empowerment of women in agriculture was front and foremost during the first annual Women in Agribusiness Summit held...
Communal livestock farming (Part 4): A practical approach to biosecurity
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
This article, as part of the communal livestock farming series of articles, looks at biosecurity and managing diseases such...
