Breeding Boerboels is a passion and joy for Beverli Katz, owner of Klein Sandfontein Boerboels, which operates from the family farm nestling in the Western Cape’s Overberg. She says that her love for animals stems from her early years and the influence of her late father, Phillip Katz, and grandfather, Morris Katz.
“On the farm, we had an Arabian horse stud and then a Welsh pony stud. For 10 years, we also had a dairy, where I was in charge of record-keeping and attending to the calves. When my children were still small, I bred and showed budgies for a few years. I also farmed Dohne Merinos and got my Springbok Head for wool classing.”
In 1992, Beverli opened a boarding kennel for dogs, cats and birds on the farm.
“This is where I met my first Boerboel puppy in 1999. I swore that one day, I’d wait for her to have pups and own one too,” she recalls.
That day never came, but Beverli started doing her homework on the breed and visited various Boerboel breeders in search of a puppy. Eventually, she came home with two bitches.
Unfortunately, her stud got off to a poor start, as these two animals failed to develop into top-rate breeding dogs. A year later, once she had done all the health testing, she realised that she had started wrongly and needed to go back to the drawing board.
She also struggled to find a mentor, but then her path crossed with those of top Boerboel breeders George Fritz, owner of Maranata Boerboels, and Stoffel Bloem, owner of the Ysterberg and Mouzer Boerboel Stud, and this proved to be a breakthrough for her.
Denne historien er fra March 19, 2021-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
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Denne historien er fra March 19, 2021-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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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
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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.
