Brandwater is a family farming business based in the Free State. The business is headed by third-generation farmer Linde du Plessis, who has been farming in the Fouriesburg region for more than 40 years. He was joined on the farm in 2003 by his son Chris. His other son, Koos, joined the business in 2008, and the team was complete when Linde’s son-in-law Francois Hamman, who is married to his daughter Adele, joined them a couple of years ago. The Brandwater farming business is well diversified and includes livestock, crops, and apples. The business is operated from properties around Fouriesburg, Clarens, and Bethlehem in the Free State. The cattle component, which includes a Brahman and Droughmaster stud, as well as a Merino sheep stud, is predominantly based in the Fouriesburg region. The business’s commercial livestock branch produces weaners for the weaner and feedlot markets. From time to time, they also use some of the maize they produce to round off cattle for slaughter on the farm. The crop component comprises sugar beans, maize, and wheat.
The livestock farm is situated in a sour veld region, and it experiences very cold winters with night temperatures dropping to -12°C, and averaging -6°C.
Even in summer, the nights are cold with temperatures dropping to around 6°C overnight. Daytime temperatures are mild, rising to a maximum of about 15°C in winter and 28°C in summer.
“It is a tough environment for the livestock to live in and grow,” says Chris du Plessis.
GRAZING MANAGEMENT
This story is from the October 22, 2021 edition of Farmer's Weekly.
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This story is from the October 22, 2021 edition of Farmer's Weekly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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