Farmers with small livestock warned about cold and wet weather

19 July 2023

By: Vida Booysen

There is a danger that freshly shorn goats and sheep may suffer from exposure in wet, windy and cold conditions between now and the weekend.

Perceived temperatures will be very low, with minimum temperatures well below freezing point, cloudy days, and strong, icy winds.

Wool and angora goat farmers are particularly vulnerable to livestock losses at this time of the year when shearing takes place, says Johan van den Berg, an independent agricultural expert. 

He has issued an urgent warning to small livestock farmers in the Eastern Cape, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal to take precautions from Wednesday night, but especially between Thursday and Saturday, to prevent livestock losses.

“Initially, the cold and wet conditions will start with snow over the inland and northern parts of the Eastern Cape on 19 July, then spread to the southern and eastern Drakensberg and adjacent areas of the Free State, further north along the border between the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal around Thursday 20 July. There is also a possibility of snow in these areas,” says Van den Berg.

Rain is expected on Friday over the eastern parts of the Northern Cape, the entire North West, Free State, southern parts of Gauteng, western parts of Mpumalanga, and northern and north-western parts of the Eastern Cape. 

“Currently, predictions show amounts of less than 20mm of rain that will fall mainly on Friday in these areas, but it is possible that there are areas that may receive more rain, especially in the Eastern Cape.”

By Saturday, the system is expected to move eastward, says Van den Berg. The major danger is very strong winds blowing from the east. Predictions indicate that 50-60km/h gales will affect places such as Barkly East, Trompsburg, Bethlehem and Cradock from Thursday.

With daytime temperatures below 10°C expected in places such as Barkly East and Trompsburg, and minimums below freezing, the perceived temperature will be very low. Furthermore, mostly cloudy conditions on Thursday and Friday mean there will be a lack of heat from the sun.

Dangerous conditions for livestock can be expected on Thursday and Friday, especially in areas within about 20km of the Drakensberg, says Van den Berg.

While cold conditions affect livestock, especially freshly shorn small animals, the major danger arises when wet and windy conditions coincide with the cold. “The combined effect of cold, wet, and windy conditions requires the sheep or goat to produce much more heat to maintain body heat compared to just cold conditions. The lack of energy or energy-rich feed is often the primary cause of losses.”

There won’t be much respite before the next cold front arrives. “Rain is possible again from around 26 July, but currently it appears that it will be more over the southern inland. There is also a frontal system expected in the first week of August that needs to be monitored,” says Van den Berg.

<box> Why is shearing done at the coldest time?

The cold and poorer grazing conditions cause a weak spot to develop in the wool fibre, explains Johan van den Berg, an independent meteorologist.

“So, when shearing is done in winter or shortly thereafter, the weak spot is at the tips of the fibre, and the rest of the fiber is of good quality with good tensile strength.”

If shearing is done in summer, the weak spot is in the middle of the fibre, lowering its quality