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Calcium added to acidified prepartum diets for dairy cows benefits future reproduction
Achieving an appropriate calcium balance in dairy cows is critical near calving, but not only to ensure a healthy transition to lactation. According to a new study from the University of Illinois, calcium added to acidified prepartum diets can improve a whole suite of postpartum outcomes, includi...Read more -
African agriculture is ready for a digital revolution
In an editorial published by the Thomson Reuters Foundation, Akinwumi Adesina and Patrick Verkooijen explain that Africa’s food systems must become more resilient to future shocks like droughts, disease and floods. Food production must increase sustainably and counties must reduce their reliance ...Read more -
Remember proper injection sites when working calves
Many cow-calf operators are in the process of or getting ready to castrate male calves, immunize every calf against blackleg and respiratory diseases, and in some situations, booster yearlings. Correct administration of any injection is a critical control point in beef production and animal healt...Read more -
Managing Prolapses in Cows
With spring calving season approaching, many ranchers will have to deal with the dreaded uterine and vaginal prolapse. Both prolapses are closely associated with calving, but each has very distinct causes and occurs at different times. It is important to recognize what type of prolapse you are de...Read more -
Dairy Farms Biosecurity Protecting against Infectious Diseases and Antibiotics Overuse
Biosecurity is a key element in the battle against antibiotic resistance. The goals of biosecurity are focused not only on the reduction or prevention of the introduction of new diseases from outside sources but also on the reduction or prevention of the movement of infectious diseases on the far...Read more -
Watch out for epididymitis
Epididymitis, sometimes called ram’s disease, is a contagious sexually transmitted disease in sheep caused by the Brucella ovis bacterium. It leads to inflammation of the testicles in rams, and infertility. While most bulls are tested for fertility and sexually transmitted diseases, relatively fe...Read more -
Vaccine shows signs of protection against dozen-plus flu strains
That’s when the H1N1/09 swine flu emerged, eventually infecting upwards of 1.4 billion people — nearly one of every five on the planet at the time. True to the name, swine flus jump to humans from pigs. It’s a phenomenon that has been documented more than 400 times since the mid...Read more -
The importance of having a breeding season
Having a breeding (and calving) season can optimise the reproductive performance of a breeding herd and the pre-wean growth rate of calves. This, in turn, can profoundly influence the profit margin of a beef cattle enterprise. The aim of a breeding season is to get the maximum number of female an...Read more -
The fertility factor in mohair success
Paul Webber can look back on a memorable 2019 mohair season. He not only achieved the highest price of R621/kg for a bale of 24-micron good-style kid mohair in April, but ended up being awarded the Daidoh Trophy for the highest average price for a summer kid clip. Having won the same trophy in 20...Read more -
The basics of the Bapedi breed
The fat-tailed Pedi sheep arrived in South Africa between 200CE and 400CE with the Bapedi people, who migrated southwards into Limpopo and settled in the area south of the Soutpansberg. In the mid-1980s, an effort was made to ensure the survival of this indigenous breed by establishing two flocks...Read more -
The basics of foot-and-mouth disease
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is caused by a virus found in the body secretions of infected animals; these include saliva, urine, faeces and milk, and even the air breathed out by them during sneezing or snorting. Animals become infected with FMD when ingesting the virus from these secretions. In ...Read more -
Pharmacokinetics of Free Oxytetracycline and Oxytetracycline Loaded Cockle Shell Calcium Carbonate-Based Nanoparticle in BALBc Mice
Citation: The development and utilization of nano-antibiotics is currently gaining attention as a possible solution to antibiotic resistance. The aim of this study was therefore to determine the pharmacokinetics of free oxytetracycline (OTC) and oxytetracycline loaded cockle shell calcium carbona...Read more -
Research pinpoints unique drug target in antibiotic resistant bacteria
Researchers have identified a critical mechanism that allows deadly bacteria to gain resistance to antibiotics. The findings offer a potential new drug target in the search for effective new antibiotics as we face the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and infections caused by bacte...Read more -
Reduce heat stress in poultry with vitamin C supplementation
When a chicken faces extreme conditions such as excessive heat, its body’s defence mechanisms kick in, resulting in stress. Other stressors include a very low ambient temperature, a high ammonia level in the poultry house, dehydration, infection, overcrowding and rough handling. Reactions to heat...Read more -
Proper planning the key ingredient for quality stored fodder
Stored fodder is essential winter nutrition for the BG Miles Partnership stud and commercial beef and sheep farming operation in the Eastern Cape’s Cedarville area. The family business, run by Deal Miles, his father, Benny, and sister, Rown, includes about 2 200 Dohne Merino mutton and wool breed...Read more -
Poultry litter to biogas adding more value to farm waste
Smaller poultry businesses, comprising mainly broiler and egg producers and suppliers of day-old chicks, are helping address the need for job creation. But this growing industry has a problem: how to manage the environmental impact of ever-greater volumes of poultry litter. The premise of our res...Read more -
Basic chicken care how to breed and feed
The first step is to ensure that each hen has a warm, dry, protected area or nest box in which to lay her eggs. This should be near or on the ground to enable the chicks to get in and out safely. Place some grass in the nest box to keep the eggs clean and warm and prevent cracking. The hen will s...Read more -
When performance fails to live up to breeding values
Using estimated breeding values (EBVs) is crucial in animal selection. Well-adapted, genetically superior animals perform better and are more efficient. Even though the environment plays a large role, it is the genetic value of a trait that determines the true potential of the animal. Some farmer...Read more -
Weighing your cattle a crucial step towards profitable livestock production
The dairy industry is probably one of the most advanced when it comes to the weighing of livestock, with most modern commercial dairies, even in South Africa, having an electronic scale to weigh cows after milking. In these operations, each cow is fitted with a radio frequency identification (RFI...Read more -
Watch out for rabies!
Rabies is a viral disease that causes inflammation of the brain. It was previously known as ‘hydrophobia’ (fear of water) as infected mammals have difficulty swallowing and show panic when presented with liquids to drink. Rabies affects the brain, leading to acute inflammation, and is invariably ...Read more -
The importance of having a breeding season
Having a breeding (and calving) season can optimise the reproductive performance of a breeding herd and the pre-wean growth rate of calves. This, in turn, can profoundly influence the profit margin of a beef cattle enterprise. The aim of a breeding season is to get the maximum number of female an...Read more -
The fertility factor in mohair success
Paul Webber can look back on a memorable 2019 mohair season. He not only achieved the highest price of R621/kg for a bale of 24-micron good-style kid mohair in April, but ended up being awarded the Daidoh Trophy for the highest average price for a summer kid clip. Having won the same trophy in 20...Read more -
North West cattle farmer puts his trust in proven stud bulls
Kgomotso Bantsho, a cattle farmer in Vorstershoop in North West, says his aim is to produce weaners with heavy carcass weights within the shortest period possible. He does this through careful selection for proven genetics and by placing emphasis on using top bulls. Bantsho first started farming ...Read more -
Prices of Chemical Raw Material Are On The Rise
On February 27, the United States passed a new round of economic rescue plan of $1.9 trillion. The over issued US dollar has continuously pushed up the prices of bulk commodities and made the world prices soar! In particular, the prices of chemical raw materials, building materials, passive comp...Read more
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