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 supplies information that is applicable to a particular season and particular circumstances. The magazine 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. This page contains a selection of articles from Stockfarm. In order to subscribe to the magazine, please visit digimags.agriorbit.com or SMS ‘Subscribe’ and your phone number to 064 890 6941.
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Caring for ewes and lambs during lambing
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
A strong lamb crop is highly dependent on meticulous management of the newborn lambs and their mothers. Quality care...
Streng seleksie sorg vir klipharde Bonsmaras
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Sowat 100km vanaf Johannesburg, aan die voet van die Magaliesberg, waar luiperds en bruin hiënas gereeld kalwers vang en...
RSG Landbou: 4 Augustus 2022 – geborg deur Hygrotech
Talle plaaseienaars maak dikwels van ‘n maatskappy gebruik om tydelike of seisoenale werkers in diens te neem, maar hoe weet jy of die instansie...
Brown stomach worm: A parasite to be reckoned with
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
The brown stomach worm is one of the most important roundworm species that infect cattle (Ostertagia ostertagi) and sheep...
Blouberg farmers and SerDev: A partnership in the making
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
During a recent large gathering of black cattle farmers in the Blouberg area in Limpopo they heard how they...
Nutritional management of production animals
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
In November last year, Dr Francois van de Vyver, formerly of Voermol, addressed Brahman society members regarding the importance...
Keep your calf crop healthy by banishing brucellosis
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
It is completely normal to have one or two animals that abort in a herd. However, when more than...
The role of veterinarians at South African abattoirs
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Sustainability plays a key role in any industry. It is with this in mind that the Ruminant Veterinary Association...
Nodular worm: One of the most damaging parasites in sheep
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
The nodular worm (Oesophagostomum spp) (Afrikaans = knoppieswurm) is a parasitic roundworm. The adults occur in the caecum and...
Focus on formidable farmers: For the love of farming
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Stockfarm recently visited two formidable farmers in the Eastern Cape, both of whom are making their mark in South...
Pulpy kidney: The silent killer
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
To find dead sheep in your kraal when they were seemingly healthy the previous day is not a pretty...
Vhanyai Boran: Breeding functional, fertile cattle through proven genetics
Estimated reading time: 0 minutes
A well-educated, humble Boran stud breeder in North West is making his mark in the cattle production industry, despite...
Genetic improvement in commercial and stud herds in Southern Africa
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
In any population, genetic change is driven by the efficiency of selection in the stud populations. Progress in the...
Keep a watchful eye on long-necked bankrupt worm
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
The long-necked bankrupt worm – or thin-necked or thread-necked worm – belongs to the genus Nematodirus and is found...
Climate-smart livestock farming (part 5): Mitigate the effects of drought
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
Drought is a recurring phenomenon in the arid and semi-arid regions of Southern Africa. In fact, there is 100%...
Poultry houses for broilers
Poultry raised for meat production are called broilers, and a broiler house is the structure used for growing them. Proper planning of broiler housing...
Strategy to regain South Africa’s FMD-free status
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
South Africa still has a long way to go before it can regain its foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) free status,...
Black quarter targets especially growing animals
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Clostridium bacteria are responsible for diseases such as black quarter, malignant oedema, uterine gangrene and gas gangrene. The infection...
Milk a goat … and pay it forward!
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
You cannot grow in business, if you do not share your good fortune with others. The words of Rina...
Prevent botulism from crippling your herd
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Producers are constantly faced with managing a wide range of animal diseases, of which botulism is one of the...
Boschveld chickens tick all the right boxes
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
It is no secret that the African climate can be very unforgiving, especially when it comes to farming. Luckily...
Climate-smart livestock farming (Part 4):
Livestock that efficiently convert veld into profit
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
The first three articles in this series focussed on the optimal use of...
Emerging cattle farmers tackle challenges through co-operative
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
The challenge of making genetic progress in beef cattle breeding in a communal area where hundreds of cows and...
Tetanus: Deadly, but highly preventable
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
While most animals can contract tetanus, or lockjaw as it is commonly known, the disease is especially prevalent in...
The other three Ps of (weaner calf) marketing
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
The harvest period for cattle producers has finally arrived with weaning that generally takes place from April to June...
Sheep production: Through yesteryear into the future
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Sheep farming was part of South Africa’s history long before Jan van Riebeeck arrived in the Cape. As stated...
The versatile prickly pear: Perfect for supplementary feed
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
With skyrocketing agricultural input costs and predictions that, despite ample rain, the next drought is on its way, producers...
Climate-smart livestock farming (Part 3):Radical veld improvement and recovery
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
The first article in this series explained the importance of a healthy water cycle in helping as much rainwater...
Ticks: Carriers of some nasty little friends
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
By this time, we should really admire ticks because they are so skillfully adapted to make a successful appearance...
Keep acidosis from flaring up in your flock
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
When ruminants suddenly over-consume low-fibre carbohydrates such as grains, without them having been adapted to it beforehand, it can...
