Table of contents for 21 April 2017 in Farmer's Weekly

A lot has happened during the past seven days. South Africa lost a trusted and respected finance minister, our sovereign debt rating has been reduced to junk status, and there was an earthquake in Botswana that caused tremors felt as far away as Bothaville. The mood in South Africa is gloomy and uncertain. For the first time in my life, I hear my friends exchanging rumours about civil war. This is without a doubt the ‘New South Africa’s’ darkest hour. The damage has been done. But South Africa could still recover – it just has to! However, this will not happen within the space of a few weeks or months. The good news is that neither the Cabinet reshuffle nor the downgrade caused as big a shock to our financial…

One of the questions asked in the letter (see pg 8) is what research is being done on climate change in South Africa. The referenced World Meteorological Organization’s (WRC) research report can be accessed under the knowledge hub on the website wrc.org.za. In general, the findings of this research are that climate change will require timeous adaptation by farmers. This includes changing farming systems, such as cultivar choices and rotation of perennial and annual crops, or changing production practices, such as water conservation and related investments. More specialist advice can be given by Dr Peter Johnston at the University of Cape Town (on climate change modelling); Prof Roland Schulze at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (on climate change impacts and hydrology); and Dr Hamman Oosthuizen at Optimal Agricultural Business Systems (on…

Currency volatility made trading difficult during the third mohair sale of the 2017 summer season in Port Elizabeth, according to Deon Saayman of Mohair SA. Only 91% of the 157 551kg on offer was sold leaving the market indicator unchanged at R184,74/kg. The auction started sluggishly but improved later in the day, although one of the buying houses could not compete due to unforeseen circumstances, said Saayman. Compared to the previous sale, prices were: kid’s (summer), up 1%; young goats (summer), down 3%; fine adults, unchanged; strong adults, up 1%. “The sale presented a mixed bag of results,” said CMW’s Pierre van der Vyver. “On the positive side, a new seasonal record price for a bale of super style, summer kid’s, was achieved when the bale of John de Jager,…

There has been a pronounced decline in the quality of the South African wool clip. This was according to Guillau du Toit, chairperson of the National Wool Growers’ Association (NWGA). Du Toit said that reports by members of the South African Wool and Mohair Buyers’ Association alleged that the increased contamination by baling twine and plastic, among other issues, caused the decline in quality. This problem could, in part, be ascribed to inadequate skirting and incorrect labelling. “It’s vital that wool from crossbred sheep [be] separated and labelled properly,” Du Toit said in a statement. Producers needed to take these issues seriously and improve on shearing processes, he said. “This responsibility cannot only be left to the shearing contractors and classers,” said Du Toit. Indeed, according to NWGA general manager,…

Eastern Free State farmers are making a difference through community development programmes. This was revealed during the recent Free State Agriculture media tour. In Clocolan, Jannie Groenewald, owner of Imla Farms, which initiated the Lethoteng Community Centre (LCC), said that farmers had a responsibility to support and uplift their communities through job creation and equipping young people with skills. “The skills development programmes help discover the child or individual’s talents, so that they can be nurtured, enabling people to do something with their lives,” said Groenewald. “Entrepreneurial skills are important and that’s one of the skills we would like to put more focus on.” As part of the LCC initiative, the Lethoteng Learning Centre focused on empowerment through educating children who were unable to attend schools. Imla Farms also supplied…

Many South Africans were still reeling from shock following President Jacob Zuma’s recent cabinet reshuffle. According to Zuma, the objective was to “improve effectiveness and efficiencies.” Godrich Gardee, general secretary of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), said that the party rejected the reshuffle, because it was not to the benefit of the country. “The reshuffle will enable Zuma to continue his looting of public funds, so that less money will be available for poverty upliftment and land reform. There will also be less funds available to help new and small farmers get on their feet, and food security will also be affected negatively.” Responding to a question about whether the reshuffle would help Zuma accelerate land reform by making land available to previously disadvantaged individuals, Gardee said: “this reshuffle has…

WHATEVER FARMERS WANT DONE, THEY MUST DO THEMSELVES Recent months have seen an increase in farm attacks and violent crime in general. There’s a very real risk that people will get used to this state of affairs and accept the abnormal as the normal, especially those not directly affected. This happened to me. I became used to buying the Beeld every morning and briefly scanning the front-page story about the latest murder before moving on to the business section. That changed one Saturday morning when the person killed was Randfontein farmer, Koos van Rooyen, whom I knew well. Then, some time later, agricultural economist at the University of Pretoria, Dr Frikkie Liebenberg, was shot in his house near Hartbeespoort. The third shock came when my daughter called me from the…

LOWER DOMESTIC OILSEED PRICES HAVE BROUGHT WELCOME RELIEF FOR CRUSHERS TRYING TO ENSURE THEIR FACTORIES’ SURVIVAL Last year was a particularly tough year for oilseed and oilcake crushers in South Africa, due to the extremely high prices of soya beans and sunflower seed as a result of the drought. Low domestic volumes, combined with relatively low international prices for cake meal and oil, placed crush margins under pressure. Above-average growing conditions and higher planting levels in South Africa, and 38 000t of imported sunflower seeds, led to a decline in sunflower prices, from a high of R6 862/t in June 2016 to R4 490/t in March 2017 (see Graph 1). On 20 March, the domestic sunflower seed price decreased 2,6% week-on-week from R4 500/t to R4 385/t. These lower domestic…

IF HUNTERS WERE NOT PREPARED TO PAY FOR GAME TO BE HUNTED, SA WOULD HAVE BEEN POORER IN WILDLIFE SA Hunters and Game Conservation Association Consumptive hunting (biltong hunting) contributes an estimated R8,6 billion annually to the South African economy, according to research conducted by North-West University and Absa in 2015. There are approximately 30 known hunting associations in South Africa. Some of these are accredited by the South African Police Service as hunting associations for the purpose of the Firearms Control Act. SA Hunters is the largest hunting association in South Africa, with at least 40 000 active members serviced by no fewer than 76 branches throughout the country. At SA Hunters, we pride ourselves on being responsible hunters who care about the future of wildlife. We want our…

The Jacre Limousin Stud’s connection to France dates back to 1987 when 11 heifers were imported from that country. “They came in by Boeing,’’ says Pierre van Niekerk (67). Three of the 11 heifers were then incorporated into the fledgling Jacre Limousin Stud, where they all made significant genetic contributions. Over the past three decades, the Jacre herd has been built up to a total of 140 females, using artificial insemination (AI) and embryo transfer programmes, in which French genetics were utilised in conjunction with selected local genetics. THE FRENCH CONNECTION Pierre initially farmed Bonsmara-Shorthorn crosses along with Merino sheep and Angora goats on the 3 000ha Klipfontein farm between Bedford and Cookhouse in the Eastern Cape. To add value to his beef herd, he introduced Limousin bulls in the…

MORE EXTENSIVE FRACTURES NEED TO BE TREATED SURGICALLY Fractures of the lower jaw (the mandibular bone or mandible) often occur in two-year-old colts playing roughly with each other in a herd and getting kicked as a result. Injuries also occur if a horse falls, runs into a tree or fence, or catches its lower teeth on a sharp projection and struggles to get loose. The fracture can occur vertically, between the two bars of the mandibular; across the body of the bone, on one or both sides; or at the joint between the jaw and skull. Discussions on websites mention that even experienced vets have misdiagnosed jaw fractures as ulcers in the mouth or colic, and it’s not unusual for a horse to survive the injury without treatment. WHAT TO…

Dear Jonno I would like your assistance with a plan for a house I intend building in a rural setting in the Western Cape. The site is north-facing with a 15° slope, and has a great view of the mountains. The internal dimensions should be about 200m2 , and it should have a mono-pitched IBR sheeting roof. I would like the house to have two king-sized bedrooms, both en suite with showers and toilets (no baths). It should also have a farmhouse kitchen with separate larder and scullery, and open up into a spacious dining room. A large, separate lounge with a fireplace is a requirement, as well as a guest bathroom, a medium-sized study/sewing room, three garages on the same level as the house, and an enclosed veranda with…

THE WHISTLER by John Grisham (Hodder & Stoughton, R315) The accusations of fraud, corruption and miscarriage of justice against Florida judge, Claudia McDover, seem to bear investigating, but achieving this is another matter. The trail soon turns deadly and the investigators’ inexperience becomes glaringly obvious as they struggle to find strong enough evidence to nail the gang involved behind the scenes. A realistic and intriguing thriller from Grisham. THE SOUTH AFRICAN MILK TART COLLECTION by Callie Maritz & Mari-Louis Guy (Human & Rousseau, R280) Sister-and-brother team Mari-Louis Guy, judge on TV’s Koekedoor, and Calli Maritz cover these SA favourites, both the heritage versions and fresh takes on them. They even take an international approach to the milk tart phenomenon, including the delightful Portuguese pasteis de…

“Important signs of resolve and commitment to sustainable development and food security emerged during 2016. Yet increasing uncertainty was also evident as a result of stagnant global economic growth, expanding income inequality, worsening refugee crises, increased polarisation between major donor countries, rising populism, and rapid changes in the political landscape. This uncertainty and persistent challenges will prove to be major tests for whether the momentum created will propel the new sustainable development agenda forward. A GLIMMER OF HOPE In 2016, the global economy stagnated for the sixth year in a row. Despite this, certain positive signs emerged of better things to come. World Bank analysis suggests that last year, for the first time in history, the number of people living in extreme poverty fell to below 10% of the global…

COURSES & TRAINING 18 TO 19 APRIL Cattle Stockman’s Course, Krugersdorp. Phone Lily Isidoro on 078 546 7985, or visit rltsafrica.com. 20 TO 21 APRIL Commercial Gourmet Mushroom Cultivation, Port Elizabeth. Phone Adriaan Smit on 082 749 8553, or visit mushroomacademy.com. 22 APRIL Winter Garden Preparation, Fordoun Garden, KwaZulu-Natal. Phone 083 429 2867. 24 TO 26 APRIL Cattle: Artificial Insemination, Krugersdorp. Phone Lily Isidoro on 078 546 7985, or visit rltsafrica.com. 27 APRIL Cattle Pregnancy Awareness, Krugersdorp. Phone Lily Isidoro on 078 546 7985, or visit rltsafrica.com. 28 APRIL Calf Rearing, Krugersdorp. Phone Lily Isidoro on 078 546 7985, or visit rltsafrica.com. SHOWS & FESTIVALS 10 TO 12 APRIL SA Boerperd Highveld Regional Championship, Ermelo. For more information, visit saboerperd.com. 28 TO 30 APRIL SA Cheese Festival, Sandringham, Stellenbosch. For…

SOUTH AFRICA IS SET TO BE A NET EXPORTER THIS SEASON Africa is not a major player in global soya bean production yet, with total output averaging 2,4 million tons – 90% of which is produced by SA, Nigeria, Zambia, Malawi, Benin and Zimbabwe. However, Africa’s total production makes up a mere 1% of the global soya bean production of 341 million tons. Some of the aforementioned countries, particularly SA, have seen tremendous growth in area and output over seven decades. Area planted has increased from 6 000ha to 573 950ha, while production increased from 1 500t to 1,2 million tons. The 2016/2017 crop is set to be the largest on record. Underpinning this growth are improved seed varieties, as well as better farming practices, particularly at the turn of…

Farming has moved from the 8th most dangerous profession in the US to the 6th position. This was according to financial services company, Bankrate’s, latest list of the 10 most dangerous jobs in the US. Bankrate said that farmers were more at risk of having an accident than iron and steel workers, truck drivers and those that worked on power lines. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ most recent figures showed that there were 4 821 fatal occupational injuries in 2014, 239 (5%) more than in 2013. The fatality rate for US farmers was 26,7 per 100 000 workers. “Long hours and close, consistent contact with heavy machinery and equipment causes the bulk of injuries and fatalities on the job,“ said Bankrate. In South Africa, the Health and Safety Act…

South Africa’s pomegranate season was off to a shaky start, with early varieties, namely Akko and Hershkovitz, producing smaller than average sized fruit. According to Kobus Louw, CEO of Sapex, a fresh fruit importer/exporter company, this was a concern as the export market demanded bigger fruit. This would therefore, affect prices, despite these varieties making up in quality what they lacked in size. According to Louw, the stronger rand was another challenge. If the current exchange rate remained fairly unchanged at R13,51 to US$1, farmers could receive 20% to 30% less for their produce, Louw said. However, Louw also said that the current exchange rate was more realistic than that of the previous year. While the climate was partly responsible for the smaller fruit produced this season, Louw said that…

The NGO Association for Rural Advancement (AFRA) recently launched Pathways Project, which it hoped would facilitate negotiations between farm dwellers, landowners and others affected by the Extension of Security of Tenure Act No 62 of 1997 (ESTA). Jointly funded by AFRA and the EU, the project would undergo a trial in KwaZulu-Natal, in the local muncipalities of Umshwathi and Richmond in the Umgungundlovu district. Ways in which to secure farm dwellers’ rights, while protecting those of landowners, would be discussed. While government and the courts had made important progress in defining the respective legal rights of landowners and farm dwellers, “the absence of an institutionalised and neutral system to administer ESTA and labour tenant rights on commercial farms means that adjudication occurs on a case-by-case basis, with the courts often…

Avocado fruit quality is affected by physical damage caused by high temperatures, wind and hail during production. An increase in fruit surface temperature and higher solar radiation, for example, can result in sunburn damage and affect the pack-out rate and marketability of the fruit. Researchers at the Tshwane University of Technology in Pretoria, under the leadership of Prof Dharini Sivakumar, conducted a study during the 2015/2016 season to investigate the effect of various photo-selective shade nets on marketable yield, sunburn, wind damage, ripening patterns and postharvest quality of ready-to-eat Hass avocados. SUN DAMAGE Red and pearl Leno nets, as well as blue and white Knittex nets, all providing 20% shading, were used in the field trials, which were conducted on a farm outside Tzaneen, Limpopo. The trials showed that the…

ANY MONEY OWED TO SARS BY THE TAXPAYER WILL NEGATE THE ALLEGATION As noted last time, a KwaZulu-Natal farmer contacted me recently to complain that he was having endless problems with SARS regarding VAT refunds. In an overview of the legal solutions included in the various statutes, I pointed out that the Tax Administration Act contains no time limit in terms of the payment of refunds. However, common law does contain remedies that might be applied to the problem. POSSIBLE ACTIONS TO TAKE One right that the taxpayer has under the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act is to obtain written reasons for a decision (or lack of a decision) from an administrator. However, this has its limitations. Although the demand can be used as a way of attempting to change…

Jozua du Plessis Grain SA 2016 Producer of the Year What do you think of the suggestion that instead of planting maize this season, farmers buy maize futures contracts on Safex instead? The drought has resulted in a large debt burden for many farmers, who need to pay their debt by August, and therefore cannot afford to store maize until the market recovers. They have to sell at least some of their maize at export parity prices to enable the surplus to be exported, thereby improving their cash flow. If I were in this situation, I’d also buy maize futures contracts or options as soon as the price reached rock-bottom, because it’s cheaper to buy these contracts or options than retain your maize. This makes sense, because you don’t have…

ALL SPECIES ARE UNIQUE AND REACT DIFFERENTLY WHEN WOUNDED Tracking is the art of following a spoor, which may include tracks, scents, blood spatter, scat and broken foliage. Patience, practice and a good understanding of your quarry’s behaviour are needed according to our experts, an experienced tracker with HPG security group, who often tracks rhino poachers, and professional hunter, Willem van der Merwe. Do different species react differently when wounded? Willem van der Merwe: Absolutely! When a buffalo realises it is being pursued and is wounded, it will start circling downwind while looking for a wooded area to lie down. In this way, it smells a hunter before the hunter finds it. It usually waits for the hunters to have nearly passed before charging them. I would recommend at least…

Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) was the first virus discovered. In 1889, Martinus Beijerinck, found that ‘tobacco mosaic disease’ was caused by a pathogen able to reproduce and multiply in the host cells of the plant. He called it ‘virus’ (from the Latin virus, meaning poison) to differentiate this form of disease from those caused by bacteria. Tobacco yield losses due to TMV are currently estimated at only 1%, because resistant tobacco varieties are routinely grown. However, TMV affects other crops, and losses of up to 20% have been reported in tomatoes. TMV can be a major problem because, unlike most other viruses, it does not die when the host plant dies and can withstand high temperatures. Thus, the virus can survive on implements, trellis wires, stakes, greenhouse benches, containers and…

A GOOD FARMER LOOKS AND LEARNS, THEN ADAPTS TO CIRCUMSTANCES When trying to predict how a crop will respond to various situations, remember that all cultivated crops originated from wild ancestors growing in competition with many other species. The mechanisms that enabled them to survive under these circumstances remain in their genetic make-up. GROWING TOMATOES Take the tomato plant, for example. In its wild state, it has to first grow through the foliage of other plants to gain access to sunlight in order to produce fruit and seeds that ensure its survival. So initially, the plant uses all its resources for the vegetative growth needed to establish this dominance. Then it switches to flowering and produces as much seed as possible. When we grow tomato seedlings, we protect them from…

SEALED BEAM HEADLAMPS WERE A MAJOR IMPROVEMENT On many of the first cars, the headlamps were an optional extra. Few people travelled at night, and the first acetylene units were troublesome and cast weak, unfocused beams. The light was produced by dripping water onto calcium carbide to produce acetylene gas that was fed to a burner. They produced caustic lime and required frequent cleaning. The reflector and flame was open, and rain or a strong wind would extinguish the light. The first electric headlamps, which were powered by their own batteries, were also feeble. They drew a heavy current, and since the batteries could not be charged on board, this meant frequent battery charging at home or a workshop. Ignition was often by a batteryless magneto. This changed in 1912,…

I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THE POWER OF PRAYER WILL CHANGE THE SITUATION Faith-building in our beloved South Africa is of the utmost importance. “The mutual faith both of you and me” can be encouraging, as Paul says in Romans 1:12. It is crucial to get alongside positive people who believe in a new beginning, a new sunrise, a new day, and a new hope for this country. It’s especially important for young farmers to seek out positive, faithful farmers and others who see potential in this country. The drought has been broken and we thank God for that! Now we believe that corruption, violence and the lack of respect for human life can also be broken by men and women of faith. GOOD FRIDAY Remember that on Good Friday, the…

Farmers use numbers every day for a variety of tasks, from measuring and weighing to land marking. Mathematics enables farming to be more economically efficient, and increases productivity. Maths also helps farmers utilise their time effectively and manage their money better. Mathematical equations enable farmers to make decisions about which crops to plant in which lands, in a system commonly referred to as linear programming. Livestock producers also use linear programming when making feed for cattle. Here, a variety of ingredients is mixed together and producers create the most nutritious combination at the lowest cost. Another example of mathematics at work takes place with lucerne. Before baling it, a farmer uses formulas illustrating the relationships between relative humidity, time, and moisture content to estimate drying time. Thanks to the Photomath…

Academics, government and farmers must join forces Clearly the concern about climate change is grave, and I can assure you that it is being taken seriously by academics, government and agricultural organisations. Firstly, while the increase in the number of extreme events is likely a consequence of global warming and thus climate change, such events are part of the natural variability and their frequency varies greatly throughout history. However, they are of major concern when they occur in areas that previously have not experienced such conditions. Our research concurs that temperatures have risen almost everywhere in SA, often disproportionately more than elsewhere in the world. This will have an impact on crops, not only as the average, maximum, and minimum temperatures increase, but also the derived effects, such as the…

HOW TO CREATE 16 MILLION JOBS BY 2050 There are three demographic trends that South Africa’s agricultural policy ought to take into account – the youth bulge, aging farmers and a declining rural population: • The youth bulge Some 30% of SA’s population is below the age of 15. Over the next two decades, 16 million young South Africans will enter the labour market. This means the national workforce could double by 2050. Under optimistic scenarios, the SA economy could add 3,4 million jobs by 2030, against an estimated 10,6 million youngsters who would have already entered the job market by then. This means an economic growth of 1,1%/year – and a consensus forecast of 4,7% by 2030 – will only absorb a third of this young population into formal jobs.…

An innovative futures trading platform on the JSE would soon allow South Africa’s Merino wool producers and buyers to eliminate the financial risks associated with future market fluctuations. This was according to Cape Wools, which, in partnership with the JSE, developed the platform. The weekly auctions held in Port Elizabeth during the shearing season would continue to play an important role in the physical trading between wool producers and buyers; however, wool futures contracts could now be purchased three to nine months ahead of time, said Cape Wools CEO, Louis de Beer. “Both parties can also take speculative positions, where they take on risks with the purpose of benefiting from a directional move in the derivatives market,” said De Beer. “Parties who have no direct exposure to wool can take…

The recent announcement by the Minister of Mineral Resources, Mosebenzi Zwane, that the use of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) for shale gas mining and exploration in the Karoo was to go ahead, has been met with negative responses from farmers in the Richmond area. A sheep farmer from the Carnavon area, Sybrand Venter, said that producers in the area were concerned about the news. “If the US cannot even make a success of fracking without [polluting the environment], how will we be able to do it?” Venter asked. “There is so little water in the area that centre pivots on 4ha to 5ha lands dry up boreholes. The Karoo does not have enough water for fracking,” he explained. The area in which the planned fracking would be carried out covered more…

Heavy rain in Peru and a cyclone in Australia have opened a bigger gap in the EU for local avocado producers, said Nico van Staden, managing director of avocado exporter Core Fruit. “The producer price in foreign currency will be better than last year, but the advantage is countered by the strengthening rand,” he told Farmer’s Weekly. New ripening technology has also stimulated consumption as consumers find ripe avocados convenient, said Van Staden. Producers should not be reliant on the weak rand for their income, warned Clive Garret, marketing manager at ZZ2. “In the avocado industry it’s all about productivity – yield per hectare,” he said. Currently the demand for avocados worldwide exceeds supply – and if there are fewer avocados produced in Peru there will be an increase in…

Anti-biotechnology NGOs have again criticised the herbicide, glyphosate, claiming that it could “cause cancer”. The allegations that GM maize and glyphosate had caused cancer in rats, and that glyphosate was discovered in breast milk, were debunked a year ago by the European Food Safety Authority, seven EU biosafety agencies, and many other food safety institutions. Recent findings that glyphosate is “a probable cause of cancer” by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a unit of the World Health Organization (WHO), incited these recent allegations. This triggered research reviews and new studies on glyphosate by food and chemical safety organisations. Here are the results: • The European Food Safety Authority found “no evidence of carcinogenicity”. • The European Chemicals Agency’s Committee for Risk Assessment (ECHA) said that glyphosate was…

THE PROGRAMME WILL FOCUS ON IMPROVING INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS Agricultural research in its many forms is crucially important to this country, so it’s encouraging to read about the launch of the Macadamia Protection Programme (MPP) at the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute. The MPP aims to help develop biological control solutions to pests and diseases faced by macadamia farmers in South Africa, and it’s a clear sign that the industry has matured and is investing in its own future. The programme is the result of a collaborative research partnership between the Southern African Macadamia Growers’ Association (SAMAC) and the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI). WORLD LEADER IN MACADAMIAS South Africa is the second-largest macadamia nut producer in the world and the industry is arguably the fastest-growing tree crop…

Rugged Boerboel wear While the first impression of Boerboel’s Kalahari shirt (left) is that it is extremely durable, thanks to the thick, 65/35% 190g poly/cotton blend material, it also appears rather hot to wear. However, after slogging away behind wildebeest for hours on end in the heat and humidity of Pongola, KwaZulu-Natal, I found that the material ‘breathed’ well and was comfortable. The design stirs memories of military shirts, with epaulettes, brass buttons and sleeve pockets, and the shirt would be suitable for work, hunting, and casual wear. It’s available in four two-tone colour schemes. Boerboel’s camo softshell jacket (right) is made from 100% polyester fabrics and is, of course, water-resistant. The fact that it’s fairly thin makes it ideal for cooler days in summer; at the same time it…

I recently attended a number of meetings to discuss the possible establishment of a representative body for the vegetable sector. We already have a number of very good organisations in the fruit sector and a few in vegetables catering to specific grower groups, such as Potatoes SA. But there is no umbrella body for vegetable farmers. Despite good intentions, previous efforts to set up such an organisation have failed. One of the main reasons has been the lack of uniformity created by the wide diversity of crops within the vegetable industry. However, this does not mean that producers should sit back and do nothing. Quite the contrary. Times have changed and continue to do so. Vegetables remain a large component of the horticultural sector, and opportunities for growth and development…

IF KEPT AS A FAMILY DOG, THE STRONG-WILLED RIDGEBACK REQUIRES TRAINING FROM A YOUNG AGE A reader recently emailed me to ask why I had not included the Rhodesian ridgeback in a piece I wrote on popular guard dogs. I explained that my suggestions had been partly based on the fact that the other breeds are more prevalent. This said, the ridgeback is indeed a very faithful, bold animal that makes a good guard dog, and I’d like to take a closer look at the breed this week. BIRTH OF THE BREED It is generally believed that a portion of the seed stock of Rhodesian ridgebacks dates back to the hunting dogs used by the Khoikhoi, who inhabited the Cape Colony in the 17th century. These had a ridge running…

To make eight huge spicy buns, you will need: 250g white bread flour (+100g for decoration) 250g white cake flour 5g sachet of yeast 5g salt 120ml water (+175ml for decoration) 120ml milk 1 egg 50g caster sugar 50g butter Zest of one orange 120g raisins 5g mixed spice (or make your own mixture) 20g peach or apricot jam Preheat the oven to 200°C. Sieve the cake and bread flour, as well as the salt, into the mixing bowl of your stand mixer. Add the yeast and caster sugar and stir to distribute the ingredients evenly. Pour in the milk and water, add the egg and butter, and mix at low speed with the dough hook attachment, if available, to produce a stiff dough. (If you do not own a…

Bones can become weak at any age, but ageing puts you at higher risk for fractures and/or osteoporosis. Yet strong, healthy bones can be yours with the right exercise and the right nutrients. Lunges or stair climbing strengthens hip bones (and their surrounding muscles) – so important for older people. To do lunges correctly, hold a weight bar for balance in a biceps curl position (elbows bent in towards your chest, bar close to your chest). Step forward with your right leg in a one-leg squat, bending your knee at a right angle, with your left leg stretched out behind you. Straighten up, and repeat with the left leg. Do two to three sets of 10 repetitions, alternating legs. You should feel a stretch in the inner thigh of the…

GENETIC EVALUATION PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN THE BREEDING PROGRAMME After the first Beefmaster bulls were acquired in 1992, the Sarwipi Beefmasters herd was registered as a stud with SA Studbook in 2000. Initially, most of the female animals bought in were sourced from Diadem Beefmasters. In 2004, the Trigon Beefmaster Group was formed when Sarwipi Beefmasters joined forces with two other breeders, with the objective of undertaking joint marketing. The first Trigon Beefmaster production sale was conducted in 2005. In 2006, the owners of Sarwipi Beefmasters visited the Casey and L-Bar Beefmaster herds in the US. Semen from the top bull, Casey 0-61, was imported, and the first Casey calves were born in 2007. In the same year, a Trigon delegation returned to the US, where they visited leading…