Stockfarm visited him to find out more about his small-stock enterprise in the Karoo. Johan believes in teamwork and sides with South Africa’s younger producers, whom he says carry an enormous responsibility on their shoulders to ensure food security. Right off the bat he says it is crucial for the country’s producers to remain positive and to believe in themselves.
“If I can give one piece of advice to anyone who wants to start a new project from scratch, it is to do thorough market research so that you can make the right decisions. For example, make sure there is a market for your product. If something works for your neighbours, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll have the same success.”
Although Dagbreek Eiers, his egg production enterprise near Plettenberg Bay, takes up a lot of his time, Johan has always been fond of small stock. As a result he runs two separate small-stock farming enterprises in the Karoo. The first is a fully automated feedlot on the farm Ouklip, about 50km from Willowmore, in which approximately 1 500 lambs are fed per month. The second is JJ Boerdery, which he operates in partnership with Johan du Pisani on Ouplaas in the Aberdeen district.
Feedlot and partnership
Johan used to operate a smaller feedlot near Plettenberg Bay, but the cold, wet weather caused too much damage. He consequently expanded to Willowmore in 2012. This feedlot is managed under the same name as Dagbreek Eiers. A large part of the feedlot consists of livestock that Johan buys at auctions, while breeding stock is also transported from the farm near Aberdeen.
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Esta historia es de la edición May 2020 de Stockfarm.
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Shongololo Boer Goat Stud: Only The Best Will Do
South African Boer goats have proven popular worldwide for their ability to improve indigenous goat breeds. In addition, Covid-19 restrictions necessitated the establishment of electronic auctions, making it easier for foreigners to acquire outstanding genetic material exported by agents via established channels.
Feed Additives: A Veterinary Perspective
In an already volatile environment, dairy profit margins vary as milk prices and feed costs shift annually. Feed costs represent the largest input cost (an estimated 35 to 70% of the variable cost) in the production of milk. As a group of feed ingredients, feed additives can cause a desired physiological response in a non-nutrient way, such as pH shift, growth or metabolic modifier, and will usually be cost-beneficial.
Guard Against Lumpy Skin Disease
Most parts of the country received good rains during the rain season and producers are generally very optimistic. Wet seasons unfortunately come with their own set of challenges and veterinarians have cautioned livestock producers to keep an eye out for elevated biting insect loads, which may lead to conditions such as lumpy skin disease (LSD).
Climate-Related Hazards: How Smallholders Can Mitigate Its Consequences
Rainfed crop production remains the main source of food security and livelihoods for rural communities in South Africa but presents the challenge of climate variability due to its high dependence on weather variables such as rainfall and temperature.
Tips for a successful AI programme
The success of an artificial insemination (AI) programme depends on several factors that are largely within the control of the producer. It is interesting that those producers who take a hands-on approach to their cattle and inspect them regularly are also the ones who achieve the greatest success. Before his passing, Stockfarm spoke to Koot Louw, a well-known reproduction technologist from Brandfort in the Free State, about his insights into and advice regarding the AI process.
Pay Attention To Orf In Your Flocks
Some of our readers may have treated or heard of sheep or goats that have been infected with orf (vuilbek).
Sanele Mbele: Where Passion And Skill Meet
Passion for farming runs strong in the Mbele family’s veins. Sanele Mbele, from the farm Rietspruit in the De Jagersdrift area near Dundee, has inherited this passion in huge dollops.
Land Reform: Case Studies In Kwazulu-Natal
Land reform in South Africa is complex. Land reform solutions are equally complex and within partnership and development models, this is no different – but there is hope. KwaZulu-Natal has several types of partnership models and the wide variation in farming systems, as well as their different needs, set each model up for different strengths and weaknesses.
Brahman Breeders In Limpopo Have A Winning Plan
Several breeders from the Bosveld Brahman Club in Limpopo are applying genetic excellence and genotypic correctness to stimulate the demand for their bulls. At several of the last auctions, the minimum standard of bulls was raised to achieve this goal.
A Brahman Dream Comes True
For as long as he can remember, JP Mlangeni wanted to be a farmer. It might have taken a few years, from being a teacher and later a businessman, but his dream finally took shape and today he runs a fully-fledged breeding and commercial Brahman farming enterprise in Mpumalanga.
