Back in 1981, when brothers Ian and Rob Butt established their Butt Farming business in KwaZulu-Natal's Kamberg Valley, they could scarcely have imagined that their initial commercial pig production operation of 200 breeding sows and mostly ownbuilt infrastructure would grow to become a trend-setting piggery of 3 100 high-performance Topigs Norsvin breeding sows.
Now semi-retired, Ian and Rob have left the top management of their present-day 2 000ha business spread across the Kamberg and adjoining Hlathikhulu valleys in the capable hands of their sons.
Ian’s son, Stephen, does the administration and finance, and Rob’s son, Joshua, is responsible for the cropping, and a herd of 550 breeding cows.
Not a blood relative, but “very much” part of the family, is piggery general manager Colin Heyman, who leads a team of assistant managers.
“Following Ian and Rob’s example, Josh, Colin and I are very much hands-on managers,” says Stephen Butt. “We keep a close eye on the implementation of both long-term planning and the day-to-day activities in the business to ensure that our vision of having a modern, efficient and profitable pig operation is met.”
A STRONG FOUNDATION
Joshua uses 1 300ha of Butt Farming’s arable lands to produce 80% of the on-farm piggery feed mill’s maize requirement.
His efforts are an essential supporting role to the key business of farrow-to-finish, namely producing piglets for fattening and slaughter.
Butt explains that the business has undergone continual evolution since 1981, with a number of significant expansions and adaptations having taken place over this time.
The latest of these saw the piggery’s total capacity increase to 40 000 pigs at any one time.
Denne historien er fra September 13, 2019-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra September 13, 2019-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
New farmers' seedling pitfalls
Inexperienced farmers may be tempted to grow seedlings from seed themselves, but they have much to gain by trusting a seedling grower at a nursery to perform this task for them instead
South African avocado production: a success story
Avocado production in South Africa has expanded markedly since the industry's humble beginnings over 80 years ago. From a small grove planted in 1938 in what was then Nelspruit, the industry has blossomed to seven million trees planted on 20 000ha. Dr Guy Witney, project manager at Great Brak Avos, spoke to Annelie Coleman about the country's avocado production.
Unlocking value through livestock exports
Exporting livestock might sound like a daunting business that's better left for big companies, but Gerrie Ferreira, who farms near Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape, has been doing it successfully for almost 30 years, sometimes in partnership with other breeders. He spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the huge potential this market holds, and offers some advice for farmers who are contemplating going this route.
An agribusiness's dedication to community upliftment
For agribusiness NWK, located in Lichtenburg, North West, corporate social investment is an important part of creating a positive influence alongside financial returns. Johan Bezuidenhout, NWK’s group manager of corporate marketing and communication, spoke to Annelie Coleman about why the company chooses to invest millions of rands in the area it operates in every year.
Empowering dreams, transforming lives
Since its launch in 2013, the Agri's Got Talent competition has revolutionised the lives of many farmworkers by unlocking their hidden talents and fostering a culture of empowerment. Glenneis Kriel spoke to various finalists about how the contest has changed their lives.
Foreign investment: agriculture maintains its appeal
South Africa remains a popular destination for foreign investors, despite an often negative outlook from its citizens. It is a gateway to Africa, and with its counterseasonal production to the Northern Hemisphere and favourable weather, local agriculture is especially well placed to attract foreign interest, bringing with it hope for rural communities
The real value and message of COP29 for SA agriculture
While the 2024 Conference of the Parties may have disappointed those who hoped for real progress, it's more important for South African agriculture to highlight its role in carbon mitigation
Improving efficiencies in feed and grain milling
Bühler, a Swiss-based company that provides solutions and equipment for various industries, including food and animal feed processing, has pledged that by 2025, it will deliver scalable solutions that will reduce energy, waste and water by 50% in the value chains of its customers.
Tips for better olive production
At an SA Olive Association field day in November, industry experts shared ways to improve olive production efficiencies, from soil preparation to harvesting.
More effort needed to protect vulnerable cheetah
On International Cheetah Day, commemorated every year on 4 December, emphasis was placed on the vulnerability of the species.
