11 October 2023
By: Lebogang Mashala
The final leg of the African Farming livestock farmers’ day 2023 series was a resounding success. Nearly 100 KwaZulu-Natal farmers gathered at Vryheid Agricultural High School on October 5 to learn more about livestock farming.
One of the speakers was Brigadier JZ Luvuno, a retired police officer who now farms about 450 Bonsmaras, Beefmasters and Brahmans in Vryheid. He spoke to the farmers about the importance of food security and how he retired from his previous role to take on this new responsibility.
Luvuno believes farming is an industry that requires patience and passion, and cannot be used as a get-rich-quick scheme. He began his farming journey many years ago by buying cattle one at a time, and by the time he retired he had just over 200. Luvuno says farming is a journey of endless learning and discovery, and one should always be open to learning as no information is unimportant.
Sanele Dlamini, an agri-business specialist at Standard Bank, spoke about the essentials for accessing finance through financial institutions. He emphasised the importance of having a good financial history, as this plays a significant role in eligibility for funding. He also noted that banks cannot lend to people who have not shown responsibility in handling debt, no matter how small.
Espee Olivier from Molatek explained various supplementing strategies to maintain a healthy and productive herd. He emphasised that supplements should not be used as a substitute for grass, which is the main feed. “Only use supplements strategically to maintain herd productivity, not to replace natural grazing.”
Other speakers included Khomotjo Mashiloane from the Red Meat Institute for Transformation and Enterprise Development (RMI-TED), Willem Kleyn from Elanco and the legendary Dr Faffa Malan, who highlighted the importance of biosecurity on farms.
The day concluded with a live cattle demonstration by Olivier. Farmers were able to closely observe the practical selection of animals and feeding techniques to keep their livestock healthy and productive, even during the dry winter season.
Olivier showed them different animals in various conditions and provided tips on how to assess the body condition score and improve it.
Thank you to our sponsors: Standard Bank, Molatek, Ford SA, Elanco and RMI-TED
