There is a need to transfer technology to emerging and smallholder cattle farmers to minimise their challenges in production. Low reproduction rates have been a problem experienced in South Africa’s communal and emerging cattle herds.
Around the world, there is increased interest in gender-preselected calves, using sexed semen straws in dairy and beef cattle livestock farming when conducting artificial insemination (AI).
In a dairy operation, female animals have greater value than bulls, as bulls can obviously not provide milk. However, for beef cattle farmers, the demand for gender-preselected calves differs depending on the type of operation. Moreover, heifer calves born as co-twins to bull calves have a high rate of freemartins, which are genetically female but have many characteristics of a male. (Freemartins are also infertile.)
Unfortunately, due to emerging cattle farmers’ lack of knowledge of modern advanced reproductive protocols/management techniques available to improve production, they are currently unable to produce the desired gender of calves.
In an attempt to correct this, Dr Masindi Mphaphathi of the Agricultural Research Council’s Animal Production Institute collaborated with the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to conduct a project that targeted to benefit emerging dairy and beef cattle farmers in Gauteng. This was done as part of its germplasm conservation and reproductive biotechnologies programme.
Esta historia es de la edición Farmer's Weekly 10 March 2023 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 Farmer's Weekly 10 March 2023 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
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.
A bright future awaits SA's Boran
Hurwitz Farming has become synonymous with Boran cattle in South Africa. But it hasn't always been plain sailing. Simeon Hurwitz spoke to Janine Ryan about the increasing popularity of this breed.
Get calves' feed exactly right
Give calves dry feed from two to three weeks. Milk alone isn’t enough, said this dairyman.
Syngenta Seedcare celebrates a decade of innovation
Syngenta's ambition is to enable their customers' investments to grow in healthy soil from treated seeds to young plants through innovation and collaboration, writes Magda du Toit.
Agri workers shine at Western Cape awards
Lindie-Alet van Staden, a garden and olive orchard manager at L’Ormarins Wine Estate in Franschhoek, was crowned as the Western Cape Prestige Agri-Worker of 2024 at a gala event recently held near Paarl.
Small and large farmers recognised at grain awards
The annual Grain SA/Syngenta awards ceremony bears testimony to the quality of farmers in the grain industry.
Growing partnerships: Fedgroup's flexible and innovative approach
Janine Ryan spoke to Warren Winchester, general manager of impact investing at Fedgroup, about why the company became involved in agriculture, and what it offers farmers and their immediate communities.
Why fish farms fail, and how to avoid becoming a statistic
The popularity of launching fish farms is not matched by their success. Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions, explores the factors that cause most of these businesses to go under.
