24 August 2023
In this week’s episode of African Farming (Honey, channel 173, Tuesdays at 17:00) the viewers meet 2023 Sernick Farmer of the Year, Maria Tswai. She farms with Bonsmara’s, sheep and goats in Hertzogville in the Free State. Animal nutrition plays an important part in her way of farming.
The saying goes: what you put in is what you get out. That is definitely true for animal nutrition. Gert Cronjé from AFGRI Animal Feeds gave some helpful information during this episode.
Supplementary feeding is indeed more important during certain seasons, because during different times of the year the farmer will experience either wet or dry conditions on his farm.
“In the wet season, naturally your pastures and grasses are lush and grow better. In those times there’s ample feed available for the animals to eat. However, during dry seasons, it’s not the case. Then the supplementary feeding is very important.”
Don’t cut back on supplements!
Economic times are tough for everyone. Farmers are feeling the pinch financially; therefore, some may hope that natural grazing is sufficient and will try to cut costs on animal feed. Gert says this is not advisable. If you look at all the nutritional requirements of an animal, grass alone won’t suffice.
“To make sure the animal gets everything it needs, we must provide supplementary feeding so that your animal reaches its full potential. When we supplement with protein during dry seasons, we get more out of grass in the sense that we feed the bacteria in the rumen of cattle. This helps to break down and digest grass. That way, you get better performance out of the animal. If you must cut back, don’t make foolish decisions, always give your animals a supplement.”
AFGRI services
AFGRI Animal Feeds provide on-the-farm services and have feed consultants that are able to assist farmers on their farms.
“We have 14 technical advisors that work in the field almost all over the country. They are well equipped to answer all the farmer’s questions. We also do deliveries in all the provinces, and we have factories in five of the provinces.
For more information, visit afgri.co.za
