“Sheep and cattle graze grass from the bottom upwards. They start grazing everything at ground level, and then move on to shrubs and trees when there’s nothing left. Boer goats, on the other hand, graze from the top down. They pull off the topmost leaves, pods and seeds from trees or shrubs, often stretching up to 1,8m to reach the desired vegetation. This means they don’t compete for grazing. For that reason, I think Boer goats are an ideal asset for livestock farmers.”
In his experience a farmer following a grazing programme can combine one Boer goat with six sheep and two Boer goats with one head of cattle in camps where the grazing consists of a tree, shrub and grass combination, without one compromising the other’s feed supply.
Basic principles
Stephan Louw, technical advisor at Veekos in Upington, says the basic principles of nutrition for Boer goats and sheep are similar. “Boer goats are ruminants, just like sheep. Natural grazing is the cheapest and most complete diet for these animals.”
He explains that, just like any other animal, Boer goats have different requirements during different stages of their lives. “It can be divided into four production stages, namely reproduction, lactation, growth and finishing. Producers often use self-mixed concentrates, but I advise them to rather use lick concentrates to balance the animals’ diet when raw materials aren’t available. Make sure they receive the correct amount of trace minerals and protein.”
Ewe nutrition, he says, needs to ensure high milk production in order to provide lambs with good immunity. Good creep feed for lambs must have a high grain and protein content, with sufficient macro and micro-minerals and vitamins to support growth and development.
Combined farming enterprise
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Denne historien er fra October 2019-utgaven av Stockfarm.
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
Shongololo Boer Goat Stud: Only The Best Will Do
South African Boer goats have proven popular worldwide for their ability to improve indigenous goat breeds. In addition, Covid-19 restrictions necessitated the establishment of electronic auctions, making it easier for foreigners to acquire outstanding genetic material exported by agents via established channels.
Feed Additives: A Veterinary Perspective
In an already volatile environment, dairy profit margins vary as milk prices and feed costs shift annually. Feed costs represent the largest input cost (an estimated 35 to 70% of the variable cost) in the production of milk. As a group of feed ingredients, feed additives can cause a desired physiological response in a non-nutrient way, such as pH shift, growth or metabolic modifier, and will usually be cost-beneficial.
Guard Against Lumpy Skin Disease
Most parts of the country received good rains during the rain season and producers are generally very optimistic. Wet seasons unfortunately come with their own set of challenges and veterinarians have cautioned livestock producers to keep an eye out for elevated biting insect loads, which may lead to conditions such as lumpy skin disease (LSD).
Climate-Related Hazards: How Smallholders Can Mitigate Its Consequences
Rainfed crop production remains the main source of food security and livelihoods for rural communities in South Africa but presents the challenge of climate variability due to its high dependence on weather variables such as rainfall and temperature.
Tips for a successful AI programme
The success of an artificial insemination (AI) programme depends on several factors that are largely within the control of the producer. It is interesting that those producers who take a hands-on approach to their cattle and inspect them regularly are also the ones who achieve the greatest success. Before his passing, Stockfarm spoke to Koot Louw, a well-known reproduction technologist from Brandfort in the Free State, about his insights into and advice regarding the AI process.
Pay Attention To Orf In Your Flocks
Some of our readers may have treated or heard of sheep or goats that have been infected with orf (vuilbek).
Sanele Mbele: Where Passion And Skill Meet
Passion for farming runs strong in the Mbele family’s veins. Sanele Mbele, from the farm Rietspruit in the De Jagersdrift area near Dundee, has inherited this passion in huge dollops.
Land Reform: Case Studies In Kwazulu-Natal
Land reform in South Africa is complex. Land reform solutions are equally complex and within partnership and development models, this is no different – but there is hope. KwaZulu-Natal has several types of partnership models and the wide variation in farming systems, as well as their different needs, set each model up for different strengths and weaknesses.
Brahman Breeders In Limpopo Have A Winning Plan
Several breeders from the Bosveld Brahman Club in Limpopo are applying genetic excellence and genotypic correctness to stimulate the demand for their bulls. At several of the last auctions, the minimum standard of bulls was raised to achieve this goal.
A Brahman Dream Comes True
For as long as he can remember, JP Mlangeni wanted to be a farmer. It might have taken a few years, from being a teacher and later a businessman, but his dream finally took shape and today he runs a fully-fledged breeding and commercial Brahman farming enterprise in Mpumalanga.
