As part of Simbra’s mission to provide quality service and leadership to both it’s members and the broader industry – on the 15th and 16th of March the Simbra Society, with the sponsorship of Plaasmedia and Molatek hosted two Beef Cattle Information Days. This was a very successful event that was attended by over 70 farmers from across South Africa, Lesotho and Zimbabwe. The overall theme of these days was centered around Management Practices that Promote Sustainable Beef Production. Industry representatives from different fields of expertise, provided very insightful lectures and a question-and-answer session after each lecture ensured that this was a value adding propositions for all of the people who attended. Some of the topics that were discussed were:
Sustainable Grazing Management Practices
Dr van der Westhuizen, who has more than 35 years of experience in natural veld research and has published over 100 papers presented valuable information on sustainable grazing management practices. He spoke about different veld types, relative soil depth, basal cover, and losses in livestock production for different veld condition classes, the effects of supplementary feeding on veld and variation in grazing capacity in relation to veld condition.
Maintaining a Healthy Beef Herd and Bull Fertility
Dr Johan Cloete, has 10 years’ experience as a mixed species vet, 25 years’ experience in the veterinary pharmaceutical industry and 18 years’ experience in livestock traceability. He presented on maintaining herd health and spoke to us about a setting a up a herd health program by using a year calendar. This covered different action groups such as when to vaccinated, dip and dose, provide antibiotics minerals and vitamins and what procedures to follow during breeding season and the importance of nutrition in a herd health program.
On the second day he presented to us about Bull Fertility and spoke about the factors that affect bull fertility such as body condition, breeding soundness exams, weather, diseases and infections, injury, dominance and bull to cow ratios.
Feeding of Bulls
Johan Mouton runs the research and development program for Molatek and specialises in feedlotting and extensive production systems. He spoke about a standard finishing ration, and a three-phase ration for growing out bulls, as well as the effects of gossypol and monensin in the rations.
Sustainabilty of Beef Production: An Economic Perspective
Prof Frikkie Maré, is an associate professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of the Free State. He presented about sustainability of beef production from an economic perspective and spoke about topics relating to what is sustainability, profit theory, the market and profit in practice.
Thanks to our sponsors Molatek and Plaasmedia, the presentations will be made available on the Simbra Youtube channel. Please like and subscribe to stay up to date with the latest Simbra news.