Guidelines for LivestockLivestock FarmingFarming Third edition Guidelines for LivestockLivestock FarmingFarming Published by Plaas Publishing Guidelines for livestock farming A project of: The National Wool Growers’ Association Tel 041 365 5030 / Fax 041 365 5035 PO Box 34291, Newton Park, Port Elizabeth, 6055 www.nwkv.co.za Red Meat Producers’ Organisation Tel +27 12 348 1933 / Fax +27 12 361 4430 PO Box 36802, Menlo Park, 0102 www.rpo.co.za Published by: Plaas Publishing Private Bag X2010 Lyttelton 0063 217 Clifton Avenue, Centurion Tel: +27 12 664 4793 Third edition, first print: 2014 ISBN: 978-0-620-55465-7 Copyright: National Wool Growers’ Association & Red Meat Producers’ Organisation © All rights reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, whether it be through photocopying, disk or recording, or through any other system aimed at the preservation or development of information, without the written consent of the compiler, publisher or copyright holders Project team Compiler: Bom Louw, NWGA, [email protected] Editor: Lynette Louw, Plaas Publishing, [email protected] Cover design and page layout: Karien van Wyk, Plaas Publishing, [email protected] Proofreader/sub-editor: Elizabeth Botha, Plaas Publishing, [email protected] Advertising sales: Plaas Publishing Sponsor co-ordinator: Patti Myburgh, NWKV, [email protected] SA Studbook advisor: Pierre van Rooyen Bound and printed by: Interpak Books, Pietermaritzburg CHAPTER 1: Personnel and management structures NWGA personnel and management 4 RPO personnel and management 10 Join the NWGA 17 Structures in the wool industry 18 What does the RPO do for its members? 20 Development in communal areas 22 CHAPTER 2: Farm and loss management Farm management information service 25 Strategic plan for predation 27 Practices for predation management 28 Cost comparison of predator management methods 30 The farmer’s jackal toolbox 37 Your Anatolian sheepdog 39 Stock theft in South Africa: What is the law? 42 Important numbers 44 CHAPTER 3: Animal care and health Biosecurity for small stock 47 Five-point parasite examination 54 Age determination and teeth inspection 55 Condition determination with sheep and the application of it 57 Condition score for beef cattle 58 Footrot 61 Wesselsbron disease 67 Trichomonas 69 Sheep scab 74 Vaccination programmes 77 Lambing pens for higher productivity 82 Lambing pens – types and manufacturers 88 Critical measurements for sheep farming 91 CHAPTER 4: Handling systems and dipping facilities Handling systems and dipping facilities 93 Handling facilities for cattle 103 CHAPTER 5: Grazing Feed guidelines: Cultivated pastures 106 Type of grass and cultivation methods 107 Establishment of dryland lucerne pastures 109 Dryland medics and clover pastures 111 Grazing maize – winter’s champion for sheep 112 Index Select grass pastures 115 Alternative veld management system for sweet grass veld 119 Veld management: Good short-term decisions 121 CHAPTER 6: Reproduction and breeding Reproduction and breeding calendar 122 Management during the reproductive cycle 124 The choice of a breeding bull 126 Interpretation of BLUP breeding values 132 The do’s and don’ts of BLUP 135 The meaning of genomic selection 137 Important legislation 141 CHAPTER 7: Best practices Code of best practice for wool sheep farming 142 Sheep handling 145 Vendor declaration 146 Classing, marking an packing standards for wool 148 Contamination of the South African clip 151 Interpreting the wool settlement account 152 Code of best practice for the shearing industry 155 Sketches for hand shearing techniques 156 CHAPTER 8: Information sources and research Courses and websites 157 CHAPTER 9: Production statistics RSA wool production 2001-2014 158 Wool production according to provinces/districts 160 CHAPTER 10: Carcass classification Carcass classification and cuts 167 Samic classification of red meat 171 Important contacts 175 Guidelines for livestock farming 1. NWGA PERSONNEL STRUCTURE Port Elizabeth, Tel: 041 365 5030 / Fax: 041 365 5035 Location: 41a Pickering Street, Newton Park, PE, 6045 Postal address: PO Box 34291, Newton Park, PE, 6055 Leon de Beer General manager 082 890 6625 [email protected] Louis du Pisani National manager: Production advice & development 082 773 9778 [email protected] Patti Myburgh Manager: admin and finance 082 809 3358 [email protected] Bonita Francis Communication 082 413 6416 [email protected] Riana Serfontein Secretary/marketing 084 506 6460 [email protected] Adele Rhode Secretary general manager 074 110 1353 [email protected] Nicole Miles Reception/administration 072 015 0831 [email protected] Bloemfontein, Tel: 051 447 3023 / Fax: 051 430 7312 Jan Louis Venter Production advisor 083 650 1131 [email protected] Izak Klopper Manager: Shearer training 082 446 2162 [email protected] Mariette Watson Secretary 051 447 3023 [email protected] Seuntjie Radiboke Clerk 082 439 6353 [email protected] George Manqindi Shearing instructor 071415 5217 Samuel Nkomoyi Shearing instructor 072 710 9072 Themba Khoza Shearing instructor 076 184 1362 Caledon, Tel: 028 212 3160 / Fax: 028 212 3161 Tania Lusse Secretary 073 037 7200 [email protected] Carnarvon, Tel: 053 382 3020 / Fax: 053 382 3424 Gawie van Wyk Production advisor 083 270 3161 [email protected] Lilian Maree Secretary 082 572 1961 [email protected] Grootfontein: Tel: 049 802 6763, Fax: 086 584 2670 (Juan) Fax: 086 603 5962 (Chrisna) Tel: 049 802 6734, Fax: 086 742 2066 (Lynette) Juan Venter Production advisor 079 693 1953 [email protected] Chrisna Coetsee Economist 072 178 0795 [email protected] Lynette van der Walt Secretary/ECRPO 083 664 4987 [email protected] Ermelo, Tel: 017 819 3183 / Fax: 086 643 3835 Jacques Jansen van Vuuren Production advisor 083 235 5467 [email protected] Elize Barnett Secretary 079 620 0275 [email protected] Harrismith, Tel: 058 622 1511 / Fax: 058 622 2033 Bom Louw Production advisor 082 652 2243 [email protected] Jean Visser Secretary 072 516 9589 [email protected] Training and development King William’s Town, Tel & fax: 043 642 3655 Zithulele Mbatsha Regional manager 083 660 3160 [email protected] Willem Goosen Manager: Wool production and market development 082 321 3320 [email protected] Asandile Rasmeni Production advisor 078 788 0798 [email protected] Nosiphiwo Salmani Production advisor 079 977 7983 [email protected] 4 Guidelines for livestock farming Seconded staff: DM Danga Region 23 082 669 3414 [email protected] MS Gongxeka Region23 083 535 2696 N Kwababana Region 21 073 156 6332 XL Nyamela Region 24 082 967 7099 [email protected] L Mpoposhe Region 20 083 978 0225 [email protected] W Masangwana KZN 083 369 6883 [email protected] TC Njilo KZN 083 434 7697 [email protected] 1.2 NWGA EXECUTIVE STRUCTURE: NATIONAL National president Harry Prinsloo 051 683 2148, 082 771 1103 National vice-president Guillau du Toit 023 741 8833, 083 561 6325 National vice-president SK Makinana 047 544 9193, 071 475 7214 1.3 NWGA REGIONAL EXECUTIVE MEMBERS MPUMALANGA (2014) Region no District Executive member Tel numbers Chairman Machiel Odendaal 017 712 4204 [email protected] 082 571 5864 Vice-chairman Japie Celliers 017 819 4278 [email protected] 082 388 2158 3 Volksrust, Perdekop, Danie Malan 083 792 1779 Wakkerstroom [email protected] Hano Lombard 083 630 1273 [email protected] 4 Amersfoort & Morgenzon Staff and management structures Reinhardt Arnoldi 017 753 1001 [email protected] 083 227 1233 5 Davel, Ermelo, Platrand & portion Japie Celliers 017 819 4278 of Hendrina [email protected] 082 388 2158 6 Piet Retief, Meyersklip, Janneman Robberts 073 198 9099 Nu-Scotland, Sheepmoor [email protected] Carel Hancke 017 647 0792 Bethal, Charl Celliers, Leslie, [email protected] 083 384 6771 7 Saamwerk, Standerton Machiel Odendaal 017 712 4204 [email protected] 082 571 5864 8 Carolina, Machadodorp, Rouxie le Roux 082 463 8929 Chrissiesmeer & part of Hendrina [email protected] 9 Belfast, Dullstroom & Lydenburg Jannes van Rooyen 082 826 6528 [email protected] NWGA Production advisor [email protected] 083 235 5476 Jacques Jansen Van Vuuren NWGA Secretary [email protected] 079 620 0275 Elize Barnett 5 Guidelines for livestock farming FREE STATE Region District Executive member Tel numbers no Chairman Le Roux Fourie 051 821 1985 [email protected] 083 310 3288 Vice-chairman H Archer 083 707 8065 [email protected] 1 Vrede, Memel JJP Prinsloo 058 913 2314 [email protected] 082 453 2149 2 Frankfort, Heilbron, Reitz, AJ Steyn 082 371 6940 Sasolburg [email protected] 086 560 4187 3 Harrismith, Warden C de Jager 083 584 5572 [email protected] 083 629 9611 4 Lindley, Senekal, Bethlehem, G Heyns 056 471 0846 Fouriesburg, Ficksburg, Steynsrus [email protected] 082 571 5458 5 Parys, Kroonstad, Vredefort, N Malan 059 777 2473 Koppies, Viljoenskroon, Edenville [email protected] 082 825 6635 6 Bothaville, Wesselsbron, JP Jordaan 056 343 1144 Odendaalsrus, Welkom, Virginia [email protected] 083 289 3644 7 Boshoff, Bultfontein, Dealesville, J Smith 053 444 1601 Hertzogville, Hoopstad [email protected] 083 440 3498 8 Brandfort, Theunissen, N Marx 051 821 1683 Verkeerdevlei [email protected] 082 591 3327 9 Winburg, Marquard, Clocolan, AE Durow 051 943 7131 Excelsior, Ladybrand [email protected] 083 305 1837 10 Koffiefontein, Jagersfontein,