Natural Farming

Natural Farming

Soil - our connector!

Soil - our connector!

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Aanvulling vir skape



Nie-proteïenstikstof-bevattende aanvullings blyk die mees ekonomiese aanvullings vir skape te wees, hoewel ietwat swakker massa handhawing as met natuurlike proteïen bewerkstellig word.
Die produksie van 'n hoë persentasie breekwol (tot 50 %) by skape wat die hele winter op suurveld bly, is egter 'n groot nadeel van nie-proteïenstikstof-bevattende aanvullings. Die probleem kan egter oorbrug word deur een van die volgende strategieë te volg:
Nie-proteïenstikstof-lekke kan net gedurende die eerste helfte van die winter op veld gebruik word, waama na 'n beter gehalte ruvoer soos mieliereste oorgeskakel kan word.
Vanaf middel Julie kan 'n beperkte hoeveelheid heel mielies addisioneel voorsien word, of kan geleidelik na 'n lek wat natuurlike proteïen bevat, oorgeskakel word.
Die skape kan gedurende Oktober geskeer word, aangesien die wol dan in die breuk afgeskeer word en die waarde van die vag nie noemenswaardig benadeel word nie.
Die keuse van 'n aanvulling sal dus hoofsaaklik deur die koste per kilogram ruproteïen, die beskikbaarheid van die aanvulling en die oorwinteringstrategie bepaal word.
    Wanneer ureum in winterlekke gebruik word, blyk 'n klein hoeveelheid ammoniumsulfaat (1S:10N of 1 ammoniumsulfaat:5 ureum) in vergelyking met liggaamsmassa voordelig en ekonomies geregverdig te wees.  In plaas van ammoniumsulfaat kan voergraadswael (blomswael) (1 swael:15 ureum) gebruik word, hoewel eersgenoemde verkies word.


Sunday, July 27, 2014

Veld Management Guidelines



Veld is a word used in South Africa for natural vegetation that animals graze for food. The grass, bushes, and trees in the veld provide valuable food for cattle, sheep, goats, and wild animals.

The following guidelines will contribute to a successful veld management program:
1.  Know the various grass species and their grazing/nutritional value.
2. Accept that all grasses are not suitable for grazing. Palatable perennial grasses should be utilized as the main source of feeding.
3.  Accept that good animal production can only be obtained, when animals have access to sufficient good palatable (tasty) grass.
4.    Plan the farm and make camps according to differences in veld types and animal preferences.
5.    Apply the correct stocking rate by adapting animal numbers to the current veld and climate conditions.
6.   It is essential for veld to be rested during the growing season to build up reserves and for seed production and the establishment of seedlings. Remember, rotational grazing does not imply necessarily the resting of veld and for #sweetveld a full growing season resting period is recommended.
7.      Keep record of the number of animals and the number of days a camp is grazed. 

Important:
1)         Veld must periodically rest for full growing season.
2)         Short, protein rich grass for increased sheep performance.
3)         Combine 1 & 2 in a veld management system to:
*          Maintain veld vigour and carrying capacity.
*          Increase animal performance.

Ensure sufficient roughage in a cost effective veld-based feed flow program.

Mielies as weiding en aanvulling


Oesreste vir oorwintering van vee speel op baie plase ‘n deurslaggewende ekonomiese rol. Daar is baie navorsing oor die onderwerp gedoen wat die belangrikheid van sekere bestuursaspekte onderstreep. Hier is nuttige praktiese wenke:

Aanvang van beweiding.
#Mielies kan bewei word sodra dit fisiologies ryp is en die maksimum graan opbrengs verseker is. Die mielies is dan nog redelik groen-so ook vreetbare onkruid wat mag voorkom. Die gevaar van asidose (suurpens) is dan ook baie laag.  Sulke mielies is uiters geskik vir die afronding van lammers vir bemarking.
Aanvulling van ‘n proteïenlek verhoog massatoename. Dit lei tot ń korter afrondingsperiode en ‘n verhoging in die getal lammers wat afgerond kan word.
.
As genoeg kwaliteit lammers beskikbaar is, is die afronding van speenlammers op ongestroopte mielies ‘’n  goeie alternatief. Die aanvulling met ‘ń proteïenlek lei tot verhoogde marges en is ekonomies geregverdig.  Dit geld veral by die afronding van speenlammers. Maak seker dat die lek benewens proteïen, ook die nodige minerale, spoorminerale en medikamente bevat om suurpens en blaasstene by lammers te beperk.

Die voorkoming van #suurpens (Asidose)
Suurpens kan tot groot skade ly. Die volgende eenvoudige bestuursmaatreëls het baie groot waarde:
* Aanvang van beweiding terwyl die mielies nog groen is. Oorvreet van graan is dan onwaarskynlik.
* ń Gelykmatige aanpas van skape oor 10 tot 14 dae, deur mieliegraan teen toenemende peile aan skape te voer voordat skape op mielies gejaag word.
*Die voer van lekke wat suurpens teëwerk.                                                                                                   

Mielies is ń uitstekende vierjarige herfs/winterweiding vir die afrond van speenlammers of beweiding deur lammerooie. Mielies alleen het aansienlike voordele bo mielie/groenvoer mengsels. Die gebruik van ’n geskikte proteïenlek op mielies het baie voordele en is ekonomies geregverdig. Skaapboere kan beslis weimielies ‘n normale deel van hul voervloei program maak.



Dit is altyd raadsaam om geaktiveerde koolstof of PPR poeier (G74), verkrygbaar by ‘n veearts of koöperasie, byderhand te hou vir sulke noodgevalle. Ook goed  waar diere gifplante gevreet het. Die geaktiveerde koolstof word gedoseer teen 2 gram per kilogram en aangemaak met water. Die koolstof verhoed opname van gifstof uit die rumen en dermkanaal.

In die beginstadium waar aansameling van suur in die grootpens plaasvind, kan teensuurmiddels doseer word soos bv. koeksoda (nie ideaal nie, maar help in ‘n noodgeval) of magnesiumoksied of Rumagest Antacid. 

Dit help ook om die dier in te spuit met ‘n penisillien om lewerabsesse te verhoed, asook vitamien B kompleks om die lewer te ondersteun in die verwerking van die gifstof en suur. Die normale pH van die rumen is soos volg: op grasweiding is die pH 6 tot 7.5 . Op ‘n graandieet daal dit tot tussen 5.8 en 6.5.
'n Vitamien B1 tekort ontstaan deur suurpens. Dit kan binneaars toegedien word teen 5 tot 10 ml vir kalwers, bokke en skape en 10 tot 20 ml vir beeste. Dit is raadsaam om ‘n opvolgdosis te gee 6 tot 8 ure later al lyk dit of die dier volkome herstel het.
Hou byderhand vir ‘n noodgeval  teensuurmiddels, geaktiveerde koolstof en vitamien B1 

Aanvulling:   

 





Friday, July 18, 2014

Veediefstal – wenke



Kla veediewe aan volgens die Vleisveiligheidwet,  Dieregesondheidswet en Landbouproduktewet.

Landbouer se verantwoordelikhede
* Tel vee gereeld
* Rapporteer ALLE veediefstalsake onmiddellik
* Veeregister
* Merk vee volgens spesifikasies
* Hou hekke en heinings in goeie toestand
* Laaibanke moet onopsigtelik vir publiek wees

*Veeposte so na as moontlik aan tuiste. 
* 'n Addisionele klagte van dieremishandeling kan ook gemaak word. 

Kontak jou plaaslike Polisie of die Veediefstal Eenheid         
Hoofkantoor:
Telefoon: 012 393119
Faks: 012 3931548
Epos: stuhoops@saps.gov.za




Stock Theft Hints


   VERY IMPORTANT
v      Count your livestock REGULARLY.
v      Report  ALL stock theft cases IMMEDIATELY.
v      Keep a controlled LIVESTOCK REGISTER.
v      MARK your stock accordingly.
                           

 Ø  Livestock-owners should keep all fences & gates in proper condition to protect their livestock. The employment of a specially trained employee can be considered for daily fence patrolling. He can see to it that holes in & under fences are repaired at once. Inspect these reparations yourself.

 Ø   Loading ramps in paddocks or on farms away from     direct supervision should be kept locked or obstructed  at all times.

 Ø If you consider buying an additional farm, remember, “absentee landlords gather no crops”.  Rather try & buy close to your residential farm. 

 Ø Prevent stolen animals from being hidden on your property. Stock-posts serve as ideal overnight     stopovers to hide stolen livestock. Unknown livestock found at such posts should immediately be reported to   the SAPS.

Ø    Livestock at stock posts should be counted by the livestock-owner him-/herself at least once a week.

Ø    If employees at stock posts possess their own animals, a good preventative measure against stock theft, (if involvement of employees is suspected) is to allow the animals to mix & graze together.

Ø     Many court cases are lost because of disputes regarding the proper identification of animals. If an animal is marked with a registered brand mark or tattoo, disputes will be avoided. Employees should properly mark their livestock, according to the Animal Identification Act, 2002 (Act No 6 of 2002), preferably by branding them.

Ø    Be particularly watchful during full moon, weekends & at the end or beginning of a month, or during periods that you know from your own experience, when stock thefts (slaughtering for the pot) occur.

Ø    Report unknown animals among your animals immediately to the SAPS & your neighbours.

Ø    Livestock-owners should at all times report all livestock theft cases on their property immediately. The longer the delay, the less the possibility of achieving success. An additional case of cruelty to animals can also be made.

Ø   The regular herding & counting of animals are of obvious importance. Also check up upon your employees' livestock. If it is not possible to count your livestock everyday, try counting your animals at least twice a week on irregular days. Avoid any routines, especially at stock posts, as your employees may be informers to stock thieves.  Shortages & signs indicating possible thefts should immediately be reported. The livestock-owners must count the animals him-/herself & can not leave it to his/her employees to do the counting or to lodge any complaints.  
          
Ø   When considering applicants for employment, enquiries should be made at previous employers to establish the real reason why an employee had left his previous work. Enquiries should also be lodged at the SAPS to determine whether the applicant has a criminal record.  Establish what kind of criminal record the applicant has.

Ø   Employees should be trained to pay attention to irregularities. Ask your employees to watch what they say about activities on the farm in the presence of strangers. Careless talk can lead to livestock losses.

Ø   Report immediately to your Stock Theft Unit when animal speculators & hide & bone buyers or livestock dealers from neighbouring countries are active in your area. Keep proper record of all prospective livestock buyers as soon as you enter negotiations.

Ø   The necessity of a thorough stock register cannot be emphasised enough. Commit to paper as much details as possible and keep the register up to date yourself.

Ø   Do not allow loitering on the farm or any idle & unemployed people to settle on your property. Strangers entering the farm or visiting labourers should first obtain your permission.  Implement a visitors control system, wherein all particulars of visitors to the farm are noted, whom they’re visiting & when they’re leaving.

Ø   It often happens that border livestock-owners become involved with illegal trade with citizens of neighbouring countries in some or other way like the renting of grazing pastures. There are legal steps that must be taken in this regard, but if not taken, such actions can create the ideal climate for other crimes & stock theft.

Ø   It often happens that stock theft cases have to be withdrawn due to a lack of interest or reluctance shown by some complainants to attend court proceedings. Show interest in solved cases & attend all court cases.

Ø   Cooperate with the local SAPS & Stock Theft Unit, & not against them.  Support them in their efforts to help you.


 SOUTH AFRICAN CONTACT DETAILS

Contact your local Police Station or Stock Theft Unit.        
Stock Theft Unit (Head Office)
Telephone number: 012 393119
Fax: 012 3931548

Email: stuhoops@saps.gov.za

Goeie winterkos Oulandsgras (Eragrostis curvula)


’n Mens kan van enige gewas hooi maak mits dit vinnig gedroog kan word. Hoe vinniger die gewas gedroog kan word, hoe beter is die gehalte en kleur van die hooi.

Oulandsgras (smalblaar) se hooi droog vinniger as Smutsvinger (breëblaar). Omdat dit vinnig afdroog, kan oulandsgras wat vir die maak van hooi gebruik word, op dieselfde dag gesny en gebaal word. Vir hooiproduksie kan twee snysels per seisoen daarvan verkry word. Om hoë opbrengste te behaal, is dit nodig om redelik baie stikstof (N) toe te dien.

Die voedingswaarde en smaaklikheid gedurende die wintermaande neem af sodat diere dit nie graag as staande hooi vreet nie. Dit is meer aanvaarbaar vir skape as beeste. Gedurende die aktiewe groeistadium (somermaande) bied dit egter goeie weiding.
Weiding moet nie korter as 100mm bo die grond afgesny word nie. Waar te kort (korter as 100mm) is hergroei stadig en reserwes word uitgeput.

Oulandsgras is op meeste grondsoorte aangepas en groei die beste in koel, hoëvelddele. Dit is rypbestand en ‘n neerslag van 600 mm per jaar en meer is nodig. Dagboek vir vestiging: Okt – Des of Feb.
Dit bied dan vroeë lenteweiding en is uiters geskik vir hooiproduksie en  reageer baie goed op bemesting.