DF Fyfer farms 50km northwest of Vryburg in the Louwna area of the Kalahari thornveld. In addition to the grass species, camelthorn trees, raisin bush and wild sage the area is known for, Vryburg, and Louwna specifically, is regarded as one of the best areas in South Africa in which to rear cattle.
A new approach to farming
The area receives around 500mm of rainfall each year, but over the past few years, it has been well below average. This prompted DF to take a critical look at his farming enterprise; his conclusion was that he needed a new approach.
DF attributes his interest in regenerative agriculture to his father and while studying the ins and outs of the system, he realised that instead of being just a grass farmer, the health of the soil should also receive attention.
Farming entails the entire ecosystem – not just cattle. It is very important to understand that if it isn’t in the soil, it cannot be transferred to the grass and, ultimately, the cattle. Healthy soil and cattle are interrelated.
The major difference between this system and the traditional way of cattle farming is that production on a conventional farm is usually measured in the kilograms of meat produced by each animal. DF has a different approach; he measures kilograms of meat produced and profit per hectare.
Stocking rate and fertility
The two most significant contributors to a sustainable and profitable beef enterprise are the stocking rate (the number of animals that can be accommodated on the grazing) and fertility of the cowherd. “I therefore try to carry as many animals as possible on the grazing without compromising fertility. But achieving this is quite tricky,” says DF.
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Denne historien er fra October 2020-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.
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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.
