The Royal Drakensbergers Of Lesotho
Farmer's Weekly|28 April 2017

Lesotho’s royal grazing land is remote and harsh, at an elevation of 2 275m and with temperatures sometimes dropping to -12°C. Despite these unforgiving conditions, the 580 Drakensberger cattle that run on this land thrive. Annelie Coleman spoke to Lesotho’s King Letsie III about this remarkable herd.

Annelie Coleman
The Royal Drakensbergers Of Lesotho

Lesotho’s reigning monarch, King Letsie III, succeeded his father, King Moshoeshoe II, in 1996. The latter had introduced Drakensbergers into his royal herd in the early 1970s, but the majority of the current Drakensberger herd is primarily made up of the progeny of a bull and 10 heifers donated to King Moshoeshoe by the South African Drakensberger Breeders’ Society later that decade. The 580-strong herd is kept on the royal grazing grasslands at Semonkong (‘Place of Smoke’) located in the Maseru district of the country.

The grazing land is called Mphatsoenyane, after the stream that flows through it. It is harsh, mountainous terrain and cattle herders monitor the herd on foot or on horseback. In winter, temperatures can plummet, but the herd remains hardy and strong, according to King Letsie.

“Snow occurs regularly in June, July and August, with very little or no effect on the animals,” he says.

A WELL-ADAPTED BREED

The Drakensberger’s history in Africa is long, and its genetics have been perfected over hundreds of years. The breed excels under the widest Southern African conditions – from alpine Lesotho to arid Namibia. Indeed, Carel Nel, South African Drakensberger breeder and advisor to King Letsie, highlights the breed’s survival during the Great Trek, a time during which no vaccines, antibiotics and tick remedies were available.

The breed does well on Semonkong’s relatively unpalatable sourveld, with its high fibre content and reduced nutritional content. The animals do not receive supplementary feed but do receive a summer lick and winter protein lick.

“The breed’s exceptional walking abilities and indiscriminate grazing habits are of the essence, because the animals must be able to maintain themselves on the veld through the winter,” says Nel.

この記事は Farmer's Weekly の 28 April 2017 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

この記事は Farmer's Weekly の 28 April 2017 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

FARMER'S WEEKLYのその他の記事すべて表示
Review: the Toyota Hilux 2.8GD-6 DC 4×4 GR-Sport III
Farmer's Weekly

Review: the Toyota Hilux 2.8GD-6 DC 4×4 GR-Sport III

The third iteration of the Hilux GR-Sport has finally achieved a sense of presence and style befitting its raceinspired branding. But is this the ultimate modern Hilux? Car Magazine takes a closer look.

time-read
3 分  |
September 20, 2024
Why maize prices soar in Kenya and Malawi but not Tanzania
Farmer's Weekly

Why maize prices soar in Kenya and Malawi but not Tanzania

Namhla Landani, an economist at the Centre for Competition, Regulation and Economic Development, University of Johannesburg, and Arthur Khomotso Mahuma, economist and researcher at the Centre for Competition, Regulation and Economic Development, University of Johannesburg, analyse the issue.

time-read
4 分  |
September 20, 2024
Wet carcass syndrome: a scourge in SA sheep farming
Farmer's Weekly

Wet carcass syndrome: a scourge in SA sheep farming

Wet carcass syndrome continues to take a huge financial toll on South African sheep farmers. Octavia Avesca Spandiel spoke to two experts about the ongoing genetic research aimed at addressing this issue.

time-read
4 分  |
September 20, 2024
Pollination innovation
Farmer's Weekly

Pollination innovation

Bee-Tech Group is transforming South African agriculture with pollination technologies that boost crop yields and enhance sustainability. Founder Michiel Bruggeman spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel.

time-read
5 分  |
September 20, 2024
The valuable addition that makes this farm tick
Farmer's Weekly

The valuable addition that makes this farm tick

Owning the value chain provides farmers with far more control over their produce. However, it requires a fine balance between production and ensuring there is a strong and steady market. Lindi Botha visited Rosemary Hill to find out how this essential oil producer leverages hospitality to make the farm viable.

time-read
6 分  |
September 20, 2024
The benefits of recirculating aquaculture systems
Farmer's Weekly

The benefits of recirculating aquaculture systems

A powerful set of attributes has established recirculating aquaculture systems as a cornerstone of global temperate fish farming, writes Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions.

time-read
3 分  |
September 20, 2024
Minister has big plans for emerging and commercial farmers
Farmer's Weekly

Minister has big plans for emerging and commercial farmers

DA leader and Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen spoke to Glenneis Kriel about his priorities for his department over the next five years, including an increased focus on biosecurity.

time-read
4 分  |
September 20, 2024
New study aims to make wheat more disease resistant
Farmer's Weekly

New study aims to make wheat more disease resistant

A recent international study explains how bread wheat has helped to transform the ancient world on its path to becoming the iconic crop that today helps sustain a global population of eight billion.

time-read
4 分  |
September 20, 2024
Conservation farming and biodiversity boost soil health and sustainability
Farmer's Weekly

Conservation farming and biodiversity boost soil health and sustainability

A recent academic event focused on research into the links between soil biodiversity, soil health and sustainable agriculture

time-read
3 分  |
September 20, 2024
What has led to the unparalleled rice shortage in Japan?
Farmer's Weekly

What has led to the unparalleled rice shortage in Japan?

Japan is facing a rice shortage amid concerns about a potential 'megaquake', several typhoons and an annual week-long holiday, which has led to an increase in panic buying.

time-read
1 min  |
September 20, 2024