With the high rainfall South Africa has been experiencing, producers have had to face a number of unexpected challenges. If we, as humans, struggle with seasonal challenges, imagine how our animals must feel – they are exposed to all the elements throughout the seasons. The big question is: How can producers help their animals resist…
22
Jun
Jun
Minerals are important in the body for growth, reproduction, and maintenance of health. In a way, the body can be seen as a camera, with minerals as the focus button. While you can still take pictures without using the focus button, they will probably not come out very well. The body needs minerals to function…
09
May
May
As producers, we tend to forget that weaning is a stressful event for lambs and kids. Abruptly removing young animals from their mothers may lead to a period of decreased feed intake and growth, as well as impaired immunity. Helping lambs and kids overcome weaning shock will not only help the animals, but will also…
02
Sep
Sep
We are all familiar with the concept of chickens starting out on a farm and ending as a piece of meat on our forks, but what about everything occurring in between? The short cycle of broiler production renders the chain from farm to fork exposed to severe stressors that trigger oxidative stress. The main goal…
05
Aug
Aug
Precision farming holds the key to the future. The future of a dairy herd lies with the heifers that will replace your existing herd. There needs to be a continuous drive to improve fertility on-farm, to ensure that our milking cows fall pregnant. At the end of gestation, we go through one of the most…
14
Apr
Apr
Farming with breeding beef cows is a constant balancing act. You need to know what a cow needs in all stages of her reproductive cycle, what resources you have available on the veld, and the deficit that you need to make up for in supplemental feed in order to maximise health, growth efficiency, production, and…
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