Ask the Experts

Earlier this month, a farmer in Mpumalanga was arrested for shooting and killing a suspect who allegedly hunted illegally on his farm. Legal expert Butch van Blerk shares the following about legislation on firearms for self-defence and the use of lethal force.

Farmers should not simply accept spraying equipment manufacturers’ recommendations when applying fungicides to crops.

Question: I have Boer goats and they are developing a hard swelling under the jaw. It looks like bottle jaw, but it is not internal parasites. Two ewes have died. Antibiotics do not help with the swelling. This is the first time I have encountered this and I have been farming with Boer goats for more than 10 years. Do you know what it could be and what might prevent more deaths?

Karan Beef, through the The Karan Beef Academy, has published an excellent educational video series designed to provide essential cattle farmer training to the future commercial farmers of South Africa.

During a farmers’ event hosted by Duncan Serapelwane, Riaan Dames, a seasoned pasture specialist with more than three decades of experience in veld management, imparted valuable grazing management advice. The event took place at farm Taylor Span, just outside Heuningvlei village near the Botswana border in North West.

Bulls are an essential investment for livestock farmers, but they can also be a costly one. During a Kgalagadi farmers’ day organised by his brother, Duncan Serapelwane, at Taylor Span farm in Heuningvlei, Tebogo Serapelwane, the chief research technician at Vryburg bull testing station, spoke to farmers about the critical role of managing their investments for long-term profitability.