The Droughtmaster, a cattle breed that was developed in Australia, is still relatively new in South Africa. The first Droughtmaster genetics was brought to South Africa in the early 1990s, and in 1999, the first live animals were imported from Australia. Since then, the breed has become well established in South Africa, and according to breeders Carl and Niël Durow, it is gaining popularity amongst commercial and stud breeders due to its hardiness and high fertility. The FC Durrow Trust Droughtmaster stud forms part of a family farming business run by brothers Freddie, Eksteen and Carl, and Carl’s sons, Niël and Carl.
The family farms crops, cattle and sheep on Skeefkop, near Clocolan in the Free State. Maize, sunflower, and soya bean are grown in rotation on about 1 200ha. The livestock component is run on 2 800ha of veld and includes a 600-breeding ewe SA Mutton Merino flock, the Droughtmaster stud, and a Sussex commercial and stud herd of roughly 800 and 240 breeding female animals respectively.
“We bought our first Droughtmasters in 2017. At the time, we were only breeding with Sussex cattle. A farmer in the Eastern Cape, Trevor Stötter, who was retiring, wanted to sell his Sussex stud. When we went to view the animals, he told us that he was also considering selling his Droughtmaster stud. We were impressed by the animals so we decided to buy them as well,” says Carl.
BREEDING AND SELECTION
Denne historien er fra Farmer's Weekly 20 August 2021-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
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Denne historien er fra Farmer's Weekly 20 August 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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Syngenta Seedcare celebrates a decade of innovation
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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.
