Cattle farming

When Cecilia Prinsloo-Van der Linde started exploring the idea of cattle farming, she was advised to farm animals that are suited to the land, so she decided on Nguni. Annelie Coleman spoke to her about the pros and cons of setting up and developing a stud in a relatively short period of time.

The Romagnola cattle breed has the inherent quality to increase beef production in South Africa markedly, according to Marnus Lessing, owner of the JML Romagnola stud near Lindley in the Free State, who succeeded in pushing up weaner weights considerably through crossbreeding Romagnolas with Brahmans.

When forensic fire investigator Zelda Greyling arrived at a farm to assess a blaze, she didn’t expect to meet a cow that would change her life. That meeting led her to purchase Mitzi, an elite Akaushi female, and launch Bizon Wagyu in Hammanskraal, Gauteng. She spoke to Hanlie du Plessis.

For more than 60 years, the Simmentaler has played a structured, performance-driven role in Southern African beef production. Jamie Berger, general manager of the Simmentaler Cattle Breeders’ Society of South Africa, spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about the breed’s performance, adaptability, and maternal strength.

Fardi Simmentalers near Wesselsbron focuses on breeding fertile, adaptable cattle that perform under real-world conditions. By prioritising functionality, strong maternal lines and balanced milk and meat production, the stud aims to deliver Simmentaler genetics that improve profitability for commercial beef producers.

Fairbridge Agri, a mixed farming operation on the slopes of the Southern Drakensberg in the Eastern Cape, has used Charolais bulls for terminal crosses since the stud’s inception in 1979. Owner Delwyn Roberts explains their approach.

What began as a way to give his sons some breathing room has grown into one of South Africa’s top-performing Bonsmara studs. Boeram Venter shares how a focus on cattle genetics and a hands-off approach to succession has helped secure the future of Venter Boerdery.

Few beef breeds match the proven track record of the Bonsmara in South Africa. David Cock of Tempevale Bonsmaras and Gawie Nel of Gawie Nel Bonsmaras give practical guidance for producing fertile, adaptable Bonsmaras for commercial and stud markets.

Free State cattle farmer Jannie Visagie spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about the resilience, adaptability, and economic benefits of the Afrikaner cattle breed. He shares valuable insights and practical advice for farmers considering this hardy breed for South African conditions.

Looking for a breed to maximise returns on animals and land? Garren Coetzee, who runs a Chianina stud near Uniondale in the Western Cape, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about why this breed is the answer.

At the 2024 Champion of the World Competition, the top Simbra cow and third-placed bull came from the Joshlin Simbra stud, located near Komga in the Eastern Cape. Mike Burgess spoke to the co-owner, Linley Jones, about how this stud of just 80 cows managed to win such a prestigious award.

Known as the mother cow of Africa, the Boran has been developed over more than 1 000 years to provide modern farmers with a hardy, cost-effective animal. Sabrina Dean spoke to Gerrit Potgieter from Komga in the Eastern Cape, a council member of the Boran Cattle Breeders’ Society of South Africa who oversees the society’s marketing portfolio, to find out more about the breed.

The Olifantsberg Boran stud may only have been established three years ago, but it’s already showing promise of becoming a name to watch in the industry. Farm managers Johan Geldenhuys and Ruanda Brink spoke to Glenneis Kriel about their breeding strategy, and why they believe the Boran is the breed of the future.

Quentin de Bruyn, who farms cattle in the eastern Free State, has spent over 15 years refining his beef production system around the Boran. He spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about how the Boran’s resilience, fertility, and low input needs are reshaping commercial beef production in South Africa.

Octavia Avesca Spandiel spoke to Wayne Porter, former president of the Brahman Breeders’ Society of South Africa, about the history of Brahman cattle in the country and their role in commercial and communal farming.