Mecki and Brigitte Schneider manage a large-scale farming operation based mostly in the Grootfontein and Okahandja districts in Namibia. The home farm, Okamutombe, near Grootfontein, has been in the Schneider family for 103 years, with Mecki the third generation to run the farm.
The Schneiders run a Grey Brahman stud herd of more than 1 000 animals, a smaller Simmentaler stud herd and a large commercial beef herd. They breed a Manso type Grey Brahman and built the stud using top genetics from famous herds in the US, South Africa and Australia.
“It’s important to be linked to the commercial sector and not only the stud industry,” Mecki explains. “A stud breeder must breed what the commercial sector wants and what is relevant to it. There’s no point in breeding classy show winners when the market needs profitable and productive breeding stock.
“We’re living in very challenging times, with the worst drought in 50 years. It’s not going well economically in the livestock industry. The meat price is stagnant and input costs are skyrocketing. Research shows that cattlemen have to be 8% more efficient every year, which means 80% more efficient than 10 years ago for the same profit margin.”
Mecki has used the Breedplan and Herd Master programme for more than 15 years. After expanding the gene pool and their Brahman herd, the Schneiders concentrated on estimated breeding values (EBVs) from 2007 onwards to effect change, with very positive results. The herd’s vast genetic improvement resulted in some of the older, previously top performing cows relegated to the bottom of the list.
THE BREED
Denne historien er fra 27 January 2017-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
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Denne historien er fra 27 January 2017-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.
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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.
Where history and modernity meet in a luxurious setting
Brian Berkman kept his eyes peeled for ghosts in the oldest continuously run hotel in South Africa, but all he found was a fabulous two-night stay.
THE HITCHING POST
I'm a stylish elderly lady with a radiant glow and a good sense of humour that keeps me young at heart.
Cutworms: check the weeds on your fields!
Zunel van Eeden explains why understanding the ecological interplay between cutworms and weeds is crucial for effective pest management. Producers should disrupt the life cycle of cutworms to minimise crop damage.
Does high-density grazing mimic grazing patterns of game?
In their paper on high-density grazing in Southern Africa, professors Angelinus Franke and Elmarie Kotzé from the Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences at the University of the Free State say high-density grazing systems may not accurately reflect natural ecosystems. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Global grain outlook: 2024/25 marketing season
In its latest summer crops report, the Crop Estimates Committee says South African farmers intend to plant 4,47 million hectares of summer grains and oilseeds in the 2024/25 season, up 1% from the previous season. As South Africa exports maize and soya bean, Annelie Coleman reports on the latest trends in the international grain and oilseed markets, amid fluctuations in weather conditions and ongoing armed conflicts.
