The world is undergoing profound transformations. Climate change continues to destabilise ecosystems, the global demand for food is rising because of population growth and the pressure on natural resources and famers is intensifying. At the annual Beef Cattle School at the 2025 Thabazimbi Show experts gave advice on how to survive these difficult times.
By Charl van Rooyen, Senior Journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad
Climate change poses significant challenges to livestock production, from altering feed quality and availability to increasing disease prevalence and heat stress. Yet, it also presents opportunities for innovation, adaptation and resilience-building.
This was the insight given by Cedric Mojapelo, director of animal science at the Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, when he officially opened the 2025 Beef Cattle School at the Thabazimbi Show. The event was co-hosted by the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) and the Bushveld Kalahari Afrikaner Cattle Study Group. Farmers from Limpopo and other provinces attended the school.
“These shifts compel us to reimagine our food systems, especially animal agriculture, so that they are not only productive but also sustainable, ethical, inclusive and resilient,” Mojapelo emphasised. “Together we can build a more resilient and sustainable livestock sector, supporting the livelihood of farmers, rural communities and the environment. Also, together the different role players can foster an environment that encourages collaboration, innovation and mutual benefit, by identifying pressing agricultural challenges, developing targeted research initiatives, leveraging resources and expertise, and scaling up impact and adoption. I urge researchers, farmers and industry stakeholders to explore and utilise the government resources available to them.”
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Higher Temperatures will Challenge Farmers
Climate change is a reality that will result in higher temperatures and more extreme conditions such as droughts, floods and heatwaves, Prof. Michiel Scholtz, specialist researcher at the ARC Animal Production at Irene, told the farmers.
The consequence for South Africa is an increase in average temperatures of 1.5 to 2°C (at seaboard) and 3°C in eastern Namibia and western Botswana. In general, it will be drier in Southern Africa, except for the central region and Eastern Cape, where it will be wetter. A significant reduction in rainfall of more than 40mm per year is forecast for the eastern parts of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, the southwestern Cape and the Cape south coast.
The effect on livestock production will be significant. Less rain will lead to increased water intake, reduced reproduction because of lower fertility in both bulls and female animals, and reduced growth of the veld, which will affect pre- and post-weaning. It will also influence meat colour and tenderness, which are important to consumers.
Forage will be of a lower quality because of a decrease in nutrients, and more pests and diseases will emerge, affecting animal health negatively.
He explained that higher ambient temperature will lead to heat stress in animals. In beef cattle the threshold temperatures are 30°C with a relative humidity of below 80%, and 27°C with a relative humidity of above 80%. Heat stress leads to reduced feed intake, increased water intake with some breeds, reduced growth rate and reduced fertility.
Also read: Combating heat stress in dairy cows: New findings and future directions
Heat stress on bull fertility is a common cause of reproduction inefficiency. Semen quality decreases and does not return to normal for about eight weeks because of the carry-over effect. Just one day of heat stress can influence bull fertility.
The effect on female reproduction is also significant. The oocyte growth is compromised by altering hormone dynamics during the oestrus cycle. In early pregnancy embryo development is impaired and this leads to higher embryo mortality.
Research at the Vaalharts research station showed up to 42% of variation in weaning weight. The average daily gain (ADG) of Angus and Simmentaler types was decreased by 17% because of heatwaves, and ADG decreased by 9% in Sanga types (Afrikaner and Nguni). Heat stress also affected the meat colour and tenderness in some breeds.
Prof. Scholtz told the meeting that the ARC is currently measuring the feeding behaviour of growing beef bulls with feed stations in a preliminary study at Irene. The bulls consumed slightly less feed but tended to weigh more, probably because they drank more water. The Nguni bulls had a higher intake of water, but the Afrikaner bulls did not drink more water.
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