Brett Walker joined his family’s farm, Longacres, in 2010 as a seventh-generation Merino sheep and Angora goat farmer. In 2011 and 2012, the farm, which is near Jansenville in the Eastern Cape, experienced the best rainfall ever recorded there. The dam was full and the adjoining Melk River ran crystal clear.
What followed, however, could not have been in greater contrast: seven consecutive years of drought, with 2021 turning into the worst as only 70mm of rainfall has been recorded thus far this year.
“My first two years at Longacres totally misrepresented what farming in the Karoo is really like,” admits Walker.
The first action that livestock farmers take when hit by drought is to reduce their animals’ impact on the veld by downscaling stock numbers. This is exactly what Walker did, but rather than selling his animals, he retained ownership by buying and renting additional land and forming partnerships with other producers.
“The problem with selling your livestock during a drought is that prices are usually low because there’s an oversupply being sold. By the time climatic conditions return to normal, prices skyrocket as farmers are then trying to rebuild their stock numbers,” he says.
The exception was his cattle herd, which Walker sold. Now, when he has excess grass, he buys light weaners that he backgrounds.
This, he explains, is a great drought strategy, as he is never stuck with cows and calves that aren’t saleable in a drought.
FEEDLOT
When the drought started, Walker established a feedlot for his lambs. “It takes too long to grow out the lambs on the veld when it’s so dry, and getting them off the veld frees up space for more productive animals, such as ewes, which are the engine of the farm,” he says.
Esta historia es de la edición June 18, 2021 de Farmer's Weekly.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición June 18, 2021 de Farmer's Weekly.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Uncertainty over Trump's stance on AGOA
It is of vital importance that that the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) be upheld following the recent US presidential election, in which Donald Trump emerged as the winner.
Plum pollen study reveals varietal differences in pollination effectiveness
A new study undertaken near George, Western Cape, explored pollination in plum varieties, showing key differences in pollen quality. Octavia Avesca Spandiel reports on the research findings.
Study: small cuts to beef production could eliminate years of emissions
In a paper published in early November, scientists reveal that pasturelands, in particular those that were once forests, hold great potential for mitigating the effects of climate change.
Harnessing wind for cleaner energy
At the Windaba Conference and Exhibition, held in October in Cape Town, Western Cape, Niveshen Govender, CEO of the South African Wind Energy Association, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the state of wind energy in the country and the opportunities that farmers can exploit.
The Cape Grace: a Cape Town icon is reborn, and her new custodians shine
Brian Berkman has had the exceedingly good fortune of spending many nights at the Cape Grace Hotel over the years. He revisits it to find it as impressive as ever.
Cutting-edge tech aiding the agri sector
Toyota Material Handling's innovations conserve resources and reduce the environmental footprint of farming operations.
Use the correct growing medium for safe seedling production
Instead of buying expensive growing mediums for seedlings, farmers can make their own mixtures from local resources, such as manure, which are economical and produce excellent results
Optimising cherry production and quality
Growing cherries in a suboptimal climate requires manipulating trees and temperatures. But with a considerable market advantage, it is worth the effort. Lindi Botha visited ZZ2's Toscana farm, which for four weeks of the year takes prime position in the cherry market.
Biosecurity & nutrition: the foundation of pig farming success
JD Mostert, a consulting swine nutritionist at CS Vet, and Dr Stefan Steyn, a veterinarian at Afrivet, shared their expertise with Sinenhlanhla Mncwango, delving into why biosecurity and nutrition are critical pillars in establishing and maintaining a productive pig farm geared for long-term success.
The business of pig farming: practical steps for success
Running a pork farm requires knowledge and expertise. Mosele Lepheane, director of a small piggery in the Free State, spoke to Sinenhlanhla Mncwango about the structured approach needed to succeed, from drafting a business plan and managing cash flow to sourcing equipment and expanding market access.
