Experts

market; fresh; produce; storage; exporting; quality

Fresh produce: Success doesn’t come easy

  14th June 2019

The fresh produce market as a channel offers producers several options and opportunities. These benefits drastically decrease, however, in the absence of careful planning. This article was written by Prof. A. Leonard and Dr. J. Range. Planning around marketing options realise a higher level of success, provided it’s done in…

pigs

Pork production: Buying pigs

  7th June 2019

Question: I’ve decided to take up pig farming to supplement my pension when I retire. I want to start with two females and a male and to aim for quality rather than quantity. Where should I buy the pigs and what should I look out for to make sure they’re…

houses; poultry; Zimbabwe; rodents; broilers; feathering; broiler

Poultry production: Broiler basics

  6th June 2019

Question: I would like to start a broiler operation on my cattle farm. I have 4 broiler houses measuring 120 m x 12 m, with a slope of 1.5 m down the side of each. The size of your broiler houses leaves you with 1 440 m², which can accommodate…

bats

Organic farming: Let bats fight for you

  3rd June 2019

These small mammals have a massive appetite for insects and can consume more than their body weight in a single night. They should be part of every integrated pest management system. A colony of bats can devour more than a million insects a night. This makes them an invaluable partner…

weeds; tillage; soil

Crop production: Take a good look at your soil

  27th May 2019

Managing the soil on your farm is just like stocking a grocery cupboard – so before you set off to buy fertilisers, you should know what your soil already contains. Otherwise, you could use the incorrect fertiliser which will lead to poor crops and could cost you a lot of…

cow

Cattle production: A layman’s guide to helping a cow g...

  24th May 2019

Many farmers have had to help out when a cow is unable, or struggling, to deliver a calf. Here are some tips. Resolving some cases of difficult calving can only be attempted by an experienced veterinarian, but the average farmer can tackle some simple cases and assess when veterinary help…

cattle; brucellosis; antagonists; livestock

Cattle production: Keep cows in shape with supplements

  23rd May 2019

Many cattle herds take a knock in winter when forage quality declines in the summer rainfall areas. Here are some strategies to improve forage utilisation and ensure maximum production efficiency. A cow should produce a calf every year (365 days) and conceive again within 90 days after giving birth. To…

cows; weaning; calves

Cattle production: Your calves and parasites

  22nd May 2019

Question: The rainfall was exceptionally high in my area during late summer and autumn. The grazing looks good, and the cows are in a good condition, but my calves are not growing too well. What could the problem be? Most parasites flourish under wet and warm conditions. Roundworms and tapeworms,…