Hot topic – Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development and Land Reform

Dealing with enzootic abortion

Apr 11, 2017DenverFitzpatrickHot topic

Enzootic abortion (chlamydiosis) is generally caused by Chlamydia psittaci germs. It occurs countrywide and the germs may be found in the intestines of healthy sheep.

They can even cause miscarriages in pregnant women who handle sick sheep or lambs.

The disease usually spreads among sheep during lambing. Sheep pick up the germs by mouth when they graze in an area contaminated by infected afterbirth or infected uterine fluid of lambing ewes. Lambs can be infected at birth too.

Chamydial infection can remain dormant in the ewe lamb until it aborts during the first pregnancy. Outbreaks usually occur within a year or two of bringing infected sheep onto the farm.

Developing and Managing Small Herd of Beef Cattle

May 11, 2016DenverFitzpatrickHot topic

Introductions

Beef production is a large and important segment of South African farming. Beef farming works well with other agricultural enterprises like grain (in particular), orchard, vegetable, or other crop operations. Cattle can make efficient use of feed resources that have little alternative use, such as crop residues, marginal cropland, and land not suitable for tillage, or land that cannot produce crops other than grass.

For people who own land but work full-time off the farm, a beef enterprise can be the least labour-intensive way to utilize their land. A cattle enterprise can use family or surplus labour. Calving, weaning, vaccinations, castration, and weighing can be planned for times when labour is available.

Consider your resources, the land available, and your level of interest and capabilities before deciding to engage in the cattle business. Identify why you want to raise cattle and set goals to achieve the most constant economic return or personal satisfaction. Your goals must be clearly defined, firmly fixed, achievable, and have a realistic time frame. Otherwise, your operation will lack focus.

Barbery Sheep? Question finally Answeard

Jun 5, 2013DenverFitzpatrickHot topic

1. INTRODUCTION As far back as 2005 a question was raised about wild, free-roaming mountain sheep or bergskaap in the Carnarvon, Vosburg, and Vanwyksvlei areas and whether they contribute to the persistent presence of Psoroptes ovis communis, Sheepscab, in these areas. There were two paramount questions: Is it really a sheep or goat specie and

Veld Fires

Feb 23, 2012DenverFitzpatrickHot topic

FIRE FIGHTING AND FIRE SAFETY Fires do the following • Fires destroy lives and property;• Fires has no respect for class or status;• Fires has no respect for the time of day / night;• In general – fires destroy and needs to be prevented and combated … Veldt fire AWARENESS 90% of all unwanted fires