SOUTH AFRICAN EVERYTHING A SMALL FARMER NEEDS - OCTOBER 2021 - SA Smallholder
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SOUTH AFRICAN
OCTOBER 2021
EVERYTHING A SMALL FARMER NEEDS
In this edition:
Success with Boergoats
Poultry biosecurity
Grazing in spring
...and more!
SOUTH AFRICAN
Published Monthly by
(Pty)
Ltd
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Boergoat buck. Image courtesy: Patriot Boergoats
LAST MONTH ON OUR WEBSITE
Click the headline or image to read the article
FEATURE RECENT POSTS NEWS
Growing nightshades How to deworm poultry Increased rabies in SA
vegetables the natural way cause for concern
EDITOR’S COMMENT
The Cabbage Bandit
O
fficers from the Tshwane land. One would have
Metro Police clearly need thought that ensuring
an educational trip to access to food for the
Malawi where they will see first-hand poor, even cabbages and onions
how residents go about ensuring local grown on a sidewalk, should be a
food security. priority of every citizen in the
For Malawians grow vegetables in country, let alone a policy priority for
every possible available space, verges every municipal authority.
and traffic islands included. That's a One of the Tshwane Metro's
far cry from the Tshwane approach difficulties with Bra Joe's cabbage
where, it is reported, officers patch is that it forces pedestrian to
descended on a resident of Pretoria walk in the street, because the
North, Joe Nkuna (now nicknamed sidewalk is obstructed. But many
the Cabbage Bandit), who planted suburban properties have ower
cabbages and onions on the verge beds, patches of ivy, rockeries and
outside his house. Bra Joe posted that other beautification which obstruct
one afternoon no fewer than 16 of the sidewalk as well, forcing ped-
the Metro's Finest served two papers estrians to walk in the street. In Bra
upon him. One was a notice of an Joe's case, the notion of obstruction
infringement of municipal by-laws could be alleviated simply by leaving
(“thou shalt not plant stuff on the a small path between the cabbages to
sidewalk that obstructs pedestrian allow pedestrian to pass along
traffic”) and the other a spot fine of unhindered. But if keeping verges
R1 500 for the same infringement. clear to allow for the passage of
Both the fine and the infringement pedestrians is the Tshwane Council's
notice are arguable in court. responsibility it is failing miserably.
And thus Bra Joe will soon present Pedestrians tend to prefer the safety
himself before a magistrate in the of walking in the streets rather than
Wonderboom Court. risking breaking an ankle on the
So here are some points which may sidewalks.This sorry episode is a
be salient to Bra Joe's case. storm in a municipal teacup. Bra Joe
Firstly, and most obviously, Bra Joe's should be praised, and the practice
efforts are a small contribution to encouraged throughout the country.
alleviating a little of the abject Pete Bower
poverty and hunger that stalks our Editor
www.sasmallholder.co.za
NEWS
Nampo opens bookings
for 2022 exhibitors
B
ookings are open for prospec- is provision of carpets, a shell
tive exhibitors at next year's scheme, a fascia name, one light and
Nampo Harvest Day to be held one plug point.
near Bothaville from 17-20 May. Past Outdoor stands are cheaper. A
exhibitors have first option to renew 100m2 space costs R10 516,75, while
their stands for this event. Bookings a 900m2 stand costs R23 356,50. All
close at the end of January, and suc- prices include VAT.
cessful applicants for stand space will Food stalls are all reserved for
be informed in March. A 16m2 stand schools, churches and welfare organi-
in one of the exhibition halls costs sations. a
R27 258,45 and included in the price
www.sasmallholder.co.za
BEEKEEPING
Farmers must support
beekeeping industry
I n 2020 South African export of
deciduous fruit such as apples,
pears and table grapes topped
R40 million, and at the very heart of
this figures is the important and
same period.
necessary service of pollination by
There is overwhelming export
bees and the efforts of the
demand for high quality South
beekeepers.
African fruit and other agricultural
There is no doubt that the bee indus-
products.
try is suffering, being depleted as a
The latest forecast for the demand of
result of the use of insecticides,
macadamia nuts, citrus and
drought , the destruction of foraging
avocadoes will increase by more than
areas, shortage of bee forage, air
100% by 2030. The export market
pollution, urban development and
for blueberries, still in its infancy,
climate warming.
outstrips these figures by even greater
As a result, the pollination of farming
volumes. Exports of blueberries in
and garden ventures is at risk if they
2015 totalled 1 792 tons, increased
depend entirely on bee pollination.
to 15 636 tons in 2020/21, and in
It is important to overcome these
2024 the aim is to produce 62 000
problems, to support developing
tons, of which 40 000 tons will be for
farming ventures in the soft fruit
export.
industry.
It cannot be over-stressed that the
From 2011 to 2020 citrus fruit
performance of the bee industry to
exports increased by 257%, lemons
provide pollination of all crops, espe-
and limes alone by 180% over the
cially export fruits, plays a very
www.sasmallholder.co.za
BEEKEEPING
important role in the overall econ- restricts the ability of beekeepers to
omy. Due to the sparse existence of increase their hives.
indigenous bee forage plants, there Funds must thus be made available
are no natural established swarms to throughout the farming industry, and
provide the required pollination, and particularly in the fruit growing areas,
the farmer is forced to employ bee- to plant vast areas of indigenous and
keeper pollinators to provide the other supporting plants for the future
required number of swarms, just for development of the bee industry.
the owering periods. In this way a beekeeper becomes
resident, and establishes permanent
sites on these farms or nearby areas
within reach of the fruit-growing
areas for the foraging bees.
This will eliminate the need for
beekeepers to have to move their
bees after the pollination periods.
At least one major bank recognises
Bee on a fruit blossom. the importance of beekeeping in the
Because of high costs of maintaining greater economy. Nedbank, con-
hives for pollination, the beekeeper- cerned and aware of the benefits of
pollinator is forced to charge natural environments, entered into
between R700 to R1 000 per polli- an association with Bee Effect and
nating hive unit. Adding to the limita- Green-pop forests to plant 36 000
tions of the bee industry, there is indigenous trees by 2025 in the
insufficient remaining foraging areas Boland and Western Cape.
for the beekeeper to place his hives The purpose of the project is to re-
for the periods when pollination is establish the failing environment,
not required. This shortage alone reduce threatening climate change,
www.sasmallholder.co.za
BEEKEEPING
prevent water shortages and pro- uted R16 million to the economy and
vided habitat for bees and other uses provided employment for 180 000
on the environment. workers.
The Nedbank Green Trust, working However over the past decade
with Living Lands to re-establish growth of the industry has been too
fynbos and honeybee foraging, criti- slow, with the result that South Africa
cal habitat for indigenous animals, is imports 3 000 tons of honey annu-
concentrating in the Langkloof areas ally, to meet consumer demand.
of the Eastern Cape, an important q If you are interested in learning
farming area for citrus, apples and more about beekeeping, or would
pears destined for the export market. like to keep a few hives on your prop-
The initiative also helps other farmers erty, you can approach one of the
in the area connected with many regional associations in SA,
beekeeping and the production of attend their periodic meetings and
honey-related products for export. take part in their training courses,
The economic advantages of the bee exhibitions etc.
industry must not be overlooked. A list of beekeepers' associations and
In 2016 the South African bee indus- their contact details can be found
try and honey production contrib- here. a
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Curiosity got him started
with Boergoats
C
uriosity about his neighbour's
inquisitive escape-artist
Boergoats led farmer Johan
Steyn on a 30-year-plus goat farming
career that has developed into one of
South Africa's leading Boergoat farms. is to prevent one's goats from
Steyn, who has built up the Patriot escaping,” says Steyn.
Boer Goat Stud on his farm near When one puts goats into a new
Graaff-Reinet explains: “I used to camp, he observed, they often patrol
farm with cattle and horses near the perimeter looking for a way out.
Rustenburg, and also baled eragrostis “If they find one, they're gone! Only
which I sold to feed suppliers in once they have checked the bound-
Honeydew and Muldersdrift. ary will they settle down and begin
“However, I noticed that my neigh- grazing.”
bour's Boergoats were forever coming Steyn, who also runs goat farming
onto my farm, and I grew curious courses in Potchefstroom, says there
about their obvious intelligence and is a vibrant demand for goats in
wiliness. As a result I bought ten South Africa, pointing out that the
goats from him to see what they were proliferation of North and West
like to keep.” That was 30-odd years African restaurants catering for the
ago and Steyn made the switch from burgeoning immigrant community
cattle and horses, moved to the are keen buyers of quality goat meat,
Karoo and set about expanding his not to mention a healthy market
current operation. among South Africans.
“Good fencing, clearly, is vital if one But, he warns, anybody tempted to
believe goat farming is a road to
instant riches is approaching it incor-
rectly.
“Goat farming, as with most all agri-
cultural activities, is a long-term prop-
osition, and improvements in one's
ock and profitability are incremental
over many seasons, not overnight.”
He says there are three legs to
Good fencing is vital when keeping goats. successful goat farming:
www.sasmallholder.co.zaLIVESTOCK
q Genetics, multiple births. Finally, pay attention
q Nutrition, and to the overall health of the ock,
q Health. ensuring inoculations are correctly
“These are like the legs of a three- done, attending to sick or injured
legged stool: neglect any one of them animals, and making sure pens and
and the stool will fall over.” To ensure camps are free of pests, parasites,
good genetic make-up in the ock, poisonous weeds etc. Naturally, Steyn
he urges prospective farmers to buy sings the praises of the Boergoat as a
the best animals they can afford at breed. “The breed has five core
the outset, and to improve from there strengths,” he says:
by careful selective breeding. Next, q High fertility,
although Boergoats are renowned for q Good mothering instincts,
their hardiness and ability to survive q Hardiness,
on sparse, dry veld, paying attention q Adaptability, and,
to the animals' nutrition, and supple- q Rapid growth.
menting at certain crucial times in the These are the characteristics that a
breeding season, will ensure stronger Boergoat farmer should be looking to
mothers, and bigger, healthier babies, develop in his ock, says Steyn.
as well as encouraging consistent However, he sees a trend among
www.sasmallholder.co.zaLIVESTOCK
some modern breeders who have
concentrated their efforts on only
certain characteristics currently
deemed desirable by buyers, at the
expense of others, leading to animals
that no longer perform optimally All images: Patriot Boer Goat Stud
under the conditions often expected about how his animals are handled as
of the breed. He gives an example of they leave his farm and insists that
a champion buck with magnificent they are transported in safe and as-
looks and, on the face of it, a perfect stress-free-as-possible conditions. For
pedigree, that when put to work in more distant destinations he uses air
the field among the does quickly freight. He is outspoken against trans-
loses condition and under-performs portation by sea of slaughter animals
as a result. Steyn sells goats both for under often appalling conditions.
stud purposes as well as a small per- For more information on Steyn's Boergoat
centage for slaughter, and has been farming training courses visit
exporting for 15 years to countries in www.boergoats.co.za.
His stud farming website is
Africa, the Middle East, as well as,
www.patriotboergoats.co.za or email
recently, to Asia. He is very particular
info@patriotboergoats.co.za. a
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How to run a successful
goat-breeding operation
H ere are some of the key
points to successful goat
farming given by Patriot
Boer Goat Stud's Johan Steyn, who
also runs courses in Boergoat produc- foetuses until delivery, and adequate
tion in Potchefstroom. colostrum and milk through the lacta-
tion period.
Fencing As a result, Steyn embarks on a
Steyn recommends a proven combi- programme of supplementary feed-
nation for a goat-proof fence. ing, starting four weeks before the
Over a 1,2m high eight-strand does are put to the buck, and again
barbed wire fence he lays 90mm- six weeks before the kidding season
high jackal fencing, burying the bot- and running through the lactation
tom under a layer of boulders. cycle for a total of three months.
Jackal fencing is similar to common At both times the supplementary feed
diamond-mesh fencing, only with a comprises a ration of between 350
thicker, stronger wire strand and and 400 grams per head of a blend
smaller aperture. of a proprietary supplement and
In smaller camps designed to contain coarse maize meal.
very small kids and their lactating
mothers Steyn uses the smallest aper- Multiple births
ture jackal-fencing he can find, saying Twin and triplet births are the cream
that if the aperture is too large the on top of any stud farmer's activities,
kids push their heads through and and are encouraged at every step of
can't get back out. the way by a careful breeder. This is
achieved over many seasons by care-
Nutrition ful genetic selection, both of the buck
If the breeding doe is to have the and of the does. In Steyn's case,
best possible chance of producing many years of effort now see his
healthy babies she herself must be in Patriot Boer Goat Stud achieving
top shape nutritionally, must be able kidding rates approaching and
to produce multiple viable ova for exceeding 200% (for example, 206%
the buck to fertilize and must be able in 2019 and an estimated 258% this
to provide adequate nutrition to the year).
www.sasmallholder.co.zaLIVESTOCK
(The kidding rate is the number of (six tooth and beyond) and ready for
viable kids born from the breeding sale as slaughter animals. Steyn does
does put to the bucks. Thus, a rate of not recommend keeping a breeding
100% would imply the same number buck for more than three years, by
of kids born as there are breeding which time its genetics will be well-
does, while 200% would imply an bred into the ock.
average of two kids per doe, where
in reality some might be single births Record keeping
and some triplets). All of Steyn's animals are tagged, in
both ears (in case one tag is ripped
Flock composition out by accident). Initially Steyn com-
After ensuring the best possible piled his records by hand, but now
genetic makeup of the ock, the uses a locally-developed small stock
breeder needs to ensure the correct management program called
balance of age to get maximum BenguFarm. This enables him to keep
results. Bearing in mind that maiden complete control of every aspect of
(first time) breeding does may only his farming activities, from animal
carry a single kid, a good multiple identification to purchase and sale
birth rate will be achieved in does details, input costs etc, as well as
that are a bit older. However, after a enabling him to monitor individual
certain stage their multiple birth rates and ock production, animal health,
begin to decline. Thus, one should fertility rates etc.
strive to ensure that 65% of the ock “When we changed from the manual
are in full production, ie, are on to system I picked up that we had a doe
their second or later breeding sea- that had missed out on birthing for
sons. A further 15 to 20% should be three seasons. In other words she was
first-time does, and ten to 15% just costing us money, without earn-
should be coming out of production ing us any. Out she went!” a
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Learn the basics of
sheep and goat health
S
heep and goats are relatively
easy to keep healthy. Owners
need to observe their animals
regularly to ensure that they are in
good health.
Signs of an unhealthy animal include Image: Patriot Boer Goat Stud
lack of attention, isolation from the trated hard feed to ensure that they
rest of the ock, abnormal eating get the energy and protein that they
habits, depression, scours or diar- require.
rhoea, abnormal vocalization, teeth In the dry season they might also
grinding or any other abnormal need supplementary forage.
behaviour. In winter a urea-molasses block for
the animals to lick provides them
Nutrition with a good source of nitrogen and
The basis of good health lies in good energy, which helps them digest for-
nutrition and plenty of clean water. age better. Do not give limitless
Sheep and goats need to spend six to access to the lick however, as they
eight hours daily grazing or browsing. can have too much and it becomes
In addition they benefit from concen- expensive.
Buy the best quality feed that you
www.sasmallholder.co.zaLIVESTOCK
can afford and store it carefully.
Place the feed in a trough or a tyre
that has been cut in half, to ensure
that there is no wastage.
Check the amount of muscle and fat
tissue over the lower back area. If the
animal is bony, it will need supple- Dosing gun.
mentary feeding. However, they can
also get too fat, when the feed signs of worms or not.
should be cut down. A newer method is to treat animals
individually when they show signs of
Deworming not coping with the parasite burden.
Livestock become infected with This more sparing approach is
worms when they graze. Worms are thought to prevent the worms them-
present in the pasture in their imma- selves from building up immunity to
ture larval form and these are con- the dewormers.
sumed by the animals. The larvae The effect of worms on their hosts
develop into adult worms and lay will also depend on the species.
eggs inside the animal's digestive Some such as wireworm and hook-
tract. The eggs are then excreted and worm are bloodsuckers, which cause
hatch in the veld. The larvae emerge anaemia, weakness, and even death.
and the cycle starts all over again. Others, like brown stomach worm,
There are two schools of thought cause damage to the stomach lining
when it comes to deworming. The which leads to poor digestion, diar-
older method was to plan a regular rhoea and massive protein loss.
programme throughout the year, Bottlejaw is a symptom of round-
irrespective of whether there were worms and of liver uke.
Many dewormers are available and it
is best to rotate the application of
two or three different makes, ensur-
ing a good mixture of the active
ingredient among those chosen.
www.sasmallholder.co.zaLIVESTOCK
There are four classes of ingredients, ian or farmers
numbered 1 to 4 (look for these num- in your area if
bers in the top corners of the labels), you are in a
so select the dewormer based on the heartwater
different active ingredients, as listed area.
on the package insert supplied with q Pulpy
the dewormer. Kidney:
Each time you dose choose a differ- Annual inocu-
ent ingredient number. Keep records lation is rec-
of what anthelmintics you have used. ommended.
Most dewormers are administered However, Checking health of goat.
orally. This need be neither expen- unfortunately
sive not difficult. Although you can for the smallholder, the vaccine is
buy a purpose designed dosing gun, supplied in 100-dose measure,s mak-
you can also use a large plastic veteri- ing inoculation of a small ock an
nary syringe fitted with a 15cm expensive affair. Many vets will, how-
length of exible plastic or rubber ever, provide syringes containing just
tube in the place of a needle, partic- enough doses for one's ock.
ularly for a small ock. q Pasteurella 'Bont Long'
Pneumonia: The bacteria Pasteurella
Vaccinations multocida and Mannheimia
Many vaccinations apply to both haemolytica cause pneumonia when
sheep and goats. the animals are stressed and their
q Heartwater: Kids and lambs immunity is compromised.
should be vaccinated in the first q Blue Tongue: Prevention of blue
week of life. However, the ticks that tongue involves good management
carry the disease are not found in all and vaccination. Stable animals in
areas, so check with your veterinar- the late afternoon where possible,
www.sasmallholder.co.zaLIVESTOCK
and do not let them graze in the Stress
areas where midges are present. The ability of the immune system to
q Tetanus and Anthrax: Both tetanus fight and kill disease-causing agents is
and anthrax can also be vaccinated impaired by stress.
against. Stress is the effect of change on an
Anthrax is a notifiable disease. animal. It increases the susceptibility
q Enzootic abortion (chlamydiosis): to disease and decreases the vitality
This disease is caused by an organism or life force of the animal.
called Chlamydia psittaci and is one If animals aren't fed well, are too
of the biggest causes of abortions and crowded, have dirty places to sleep,
stillbirths in sheep and goats. are too pulled down from lamb-
If you have a large ock of sheep or ing/kidding or the weather is too
you are running a serious breeding stressful, then they won't be healthy.
operation, get advice from your vet- Access to food and water will also
erinarian on vaccinating against mas- alleviate stress.
titis, orf (which is also called vuilbek), How they are handled, and weaned,
redgut and botulism. parasite management and how new
Goats also need to be vaccinated animals are introduced are also
against brucellosis. important. a
www.sasmallholder.co.zaIN THE WORKSHOP
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The saws start and stop at the press of without battery, chain oil and cutting
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they can be recharged to 80% in will be available through Husqvarna
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www.sasmallholder.co.zaPOULTRY
Your birds’ feed
is medicated
M
ost smallholders or small
farmers who are growing
chickens for the table are
probably feeding them broiler feed healthy GIT microora for both
which, if it is one of the popular com- digestive and health reasons.
mercially produced brands, will con- Additives can be used that will stimu-
tain certain medications. Indeed, the late GIT development, aid digestion
SA Smallholder was unable to find or enhance the development of the
commercially prepared broiler starter microora ecology.
and grower feeds that are not medi- Small farmers and their feed manu-
cated. facturing partners are experimenting
Sometimes the label simply refers to with yeast cultures to encourage the
“stock remedies”. Stock remedies are microora in the gut, with varying
given to poultry to prevent, treat and degrees of success.
cure unhealthy conditions, as well as Some feeds contain phytase enzyme
to maintain, grow, produce and which improves feed conversion.
improve the health of the broiler. The European Union phased out all
At minimum you will find that the antibiotic growth enhancers by 2006,
feed contains a coccidiostat, which mainly to bring about lower levels of
ensures that your poultry will not antibiotic resistance in animals.
develop the common fowl disease of However, the thinking in South Africa
coccidiosis. is that antibiotic growth promoters
Where newly hatched chicks are kept help growing chickens digest their
in a confined space, there is a strong food more efficiently, get maximum
probability that in their pecking they benefit from it and allow them to
might be eating their droppings. This develop into strong and healthy indi-
can cause an infection in the gut. viduals.
This is why you will find low grade The antibiotics suppress sensitive
doses of antibiotics in starter broiler populations of bacteria in the intes-
feed. tines, which allows the bird to digest
Newly hatched chicks have an unde- all the nutrients in the feed. This in
veloped gastro intestinal tract (GIT), turn makes them grow quicker.
as well as what is essentially a sterile All this can be understood in the
gut, and they need to develop context of commercial broiler pro-
duction, which involves literally
www.sasmallholder.co.zaPOULTRY
millions of birds. But what about 1947. There are also regulations for
small scale broiler farmers? The medi- the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics & Disin-
cations are only found in starter and fectants Act. These regulations state
grower broiler feed. Medicated feeds the maximum limits for veterinary
must, according to law, be stopped medicine and stock remedy residues
seven days before slaughter. The and feed manufacturers adhere
broilers are then fed a finisher or a strictly to them. There are a few
post-finisher which is free of any smaller feed manufacturers who
medication. For consumers who are make chemical-free feed, but they
anxious that the chicken that they eat are rare. Smallholders need to check
might be affected by these medica- that they are registered feed makers.
tions, legislation stipulates maximum And the smallholder who has a cock-
residual levels of medication in meat erel and a handful of hens scratching
and commercial producers regularly around in his garden? Afgri produces
test meat and liver samples to ensure a feed called One Step, which has
safety standards. Medication for use been developed to simplify feeding,
in animal feeds is regulated by the so the same feed is fed from day old
Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural until slaughter. That does not seem to
Remedies & Stock Remedies Act of contain medication. a
www.sasmallholder.co.zaPOULTRY
How to establish a
biosecurity plan
I n your poultry production system
adequate biosecurity is your first
line of defence against disease.
Biosecurity is the preventative mea-
sures you put in place to reduce the all your staff. Ensure they are aware
risk of the transmission of infectious of all the steps required, and keep
diseases to your crops, livestock and them up to date with any changes.
poultry. If you farm free-range chickens, this
In poultry production, biosecurity system will be more complicated.
measures will be vital to ensure the Vital in free-range farming is to
health of your chickens, eggs and ensure your poultry are kept away
meat, and sound biosecurity is partic- from wild birds which may carry dis-
ularly important when large numbers eases. Your chickens' food and water
of birds are housed together in inten- should be provided indoors to ensure
sive production conditions. wild birds are not attracted to the
Your poultry management should area.
include a comprehensive biosecurity
plan, vaccine schedule, high quality Cleaning and disinfection
diet and adequate housing. Everyone entering your chicken
Biosecurity should entail a combina- houses must wash their hands thor-
tion of cleaning and disinfection, oughly before and after working on
traffic and pest control and adequate the property. This includes workers,
carcass disposal. delivery people and other visitors.
To begin with, establish a written Clean clothes must be worn in the
biosecurity plan and go over it with houses to prevent the spread of dis-
ease. This includes making use of
disposable hairnets, gloves and plastic
boots (PPE). These items must be
disposed of in a dedicated area of
your property, away from the chicken
houses and before anyone leaves
your property. This will avoid the
spread of anything from your prop-
Overalls, hairnets & gloves must be worn erty to another.
when working in your chicken houses.
www.sasmallholder.co.zaPOULTRY
If you or any of your staff live on your using a
property, you must have dedicated disinfec-
clothing to be worn in and around tant soap.
the poultry housing area. This When
includes footwear. Those staff living disposing
off the property should also have of the con-
clothing designated for farm-use, tents of
which should be removed before your Footbath.
leaving the property. footbath, do so away from your pro-
A footbath with disinfectant should duction area and water sources. Pay
be placed at the entrance to each special attention to the disposal
chicken house. Ensure that this is big instructions on the label of your disin-
enough for a set of large boots and fectant.
that the liquid is at least 2-3cm deep An alternative to a footbath is dedi-
to ensure it penetrates the grooves in cated footwear. These can be gum-
the soles of your shoe. This bath must boots hung at the door of your
be used on entry and exit, every chicken house that are put on just
time. Your footbath should be placed before you enter and removed as you
on a tarpaulin if your entrance is on a leave. This prevents the carrying of
patch of bare earth or sand. If your any harmful material away from your
bath is outside, it should be covered house. However, even these boots
with a tarpaulin as well to ensure no should be cleaned regularly with a
rainwater or other foreign matter disinfectant.
mixes with your disinfectant liquid. The equipment in your chicken
The liquid should be changed daily houses should be disinfected regu-
and the bath cleaned regularly. larly. This includes your cleaning
Cleaning should include a thorough tools. If you have purchased equip-
scrub with a strong bristled brush ment from another farm, it should be
cleaned and disinfected very well
before you introduce it to your prop-
erty.
A high-pressure washer will be vital in
your biosecurity plan. Ensure you
have a good quality one.
If vehicles are driving near your poul-
try houses, they should be disinfected
before and after.
Clean all equipment used during transport.
www.sasmallholder.co.zaPOULTRY
Delivery and transport equipment Pest Control
should be cleaned before and after You must limit exposure to rodents
each journey. This includes vans or and ies. Do this through rigorous
trucks (inside and outside), crates, rodent and y control programs.
containers and any other equipment Keep the doors to your chicken
used in your travels. houses shut and locked, and block
holes where rodents or wild birds
Isolation might enter your house. Always be
Visitors to your farm should sign a on the lookout for evidence of
book in which they indicate possible rodents or wild birds ~ rodent faeces
exposure to other birds. A 'no entry' and foreign feathers are a good indi-
sign should be posted at each house, cation. Do not allow wild birds to
preventing unauthorized entry. This nest in the eaves of your houses.
sign should be in the most commonly Outside your chicken houses, you
spoken languages in your area. must keep the grass low and the
If you suspect illness in your ock, areas clear of rubble and other debris
visit the sick ock last. that may be attractive to rats. Also
In general, your work routine should ensure your feed stores are kept
be to move from youngest ocks first secure and clear of rodents. Any feed
to oldest. accidentally dropped on the ground
www.sasmallholder.co.zaPOULTRY
should be cleaned up right away, as pets or other livestock into the
even outside. Stagnant water around houses.
your property, such as ditches
allowed to fill with rain water, can Dead bird disposal
become a breeding ground for mos- Unfortunately, you may lose some
quitoes and other insects so this birds. This is a crucial time to employ
should be prevented. In general, your adequate biosecurty measures.
poultry houses should be for poultry Remove dead birds as soon as you
only. Do not allow other animals such see them, identify the cause of death
and dispose of the carcases ade-
quately, then thoroughly disinfect
yourself and your clothing, as well as
any equipment used in the disposal.
If you suspect disease, immediately
initiate an isolation for that house
and notify your vet. When disposing
of your carcasses, do so in a way that
does not create a foul odour or
Use a high-pressure washer to clean. attract ies or rodents. a
www.sasmallholder.co.zaIN THE GARDEN
Go nuts: Try your
hand at groundnuts
T he cultivated peanut or
groundnut (Arachis hypogaea
L) is indigenous to Bolivia and
some other South American coun-
tries. However it is grown all over the the soil must be allowed to warm up.
world. In South Africa the peanut is Planting in cold, wet soil is not suit-
called a groundnut. able. Good germination takes place
Groundnuts are grown commercially at 20-30°C.
in Northern Cape, Free State, Rainfall in the region of 500 to
Limpopo and North West. Resource- 700mm per annum is required,
limited farmers, especially in the although in some areas irrigation is
northern and eastern parts of South necessary.
Africa, grow groundnuts mainly for Ploughing is required in preparing
their own consumption. the seedbeds, so as to break up the
In 2019/2020 the total production of topsoil. The correct planting depth is
groundnuts in South Africa was 5-7,5cm. Spacing between plants
54 390 tons (statista.com) should be 4-7cm between the plants,
The groundnut is a self-pollinating with the spacing between rows being
legume. The owers are formed on 50-75mm.
runners and they produce a peg Earthing up, where soil is piled up
which penetrates the ground. The around the main stem of the plant, is
fruit is a pod which forms under- not recommended.
ground at the tip of the peg, with one Groundnuts respond well to added
to five seeds. fertiliser, and adequate calcium is
This means that the soils that are very important.
suitable for growing groundnuts are The Agricultural Research Council
deep (900 - 1 200mm), with sandy (ARC) has produced a number of
loam to sandy texture in the topsoil, successful groundnut cultivars. It is
with good organic residues. suggested that the smallholder plants
Planting should take place in warm more than one cultivar, so that risks
moist soil, so from mid-to-late- of pests and diseases are lowered.
October and into November in sum- Care must be taken in handling the
mer rainfall areas. Planting should not seeds, as they are easily damaged.
take place in the early morning, as Groundnut seed is also susceptible to
www.sasmallholder.co.zaIN THE GARDEN
fungal rot in the soil, so it is recom-
mended that all seed be treated with
a fungicide before planting.
Weed control is essential, as the
weeds compete for moisture, light,
space and nutrients and might house
pests or diseases.
Diseases to look out for are early
leafspot - which shows as brown
spots surrounded by a yellow halo -
and Sclerotium stem rot, which is
identified by white fungal growth in
the stems, pegs and pods.
Time to harvest is affected by cultivar,
water conditions and diseases. It
takes roughly 90 days for groundnuts
to reach maturity. Groundnut plant.
Harvesting should take place when with a core of plants placed on their
approximately 75% of the pods have leaves with the pods facing upward.
reached maturity. The inner wall of The plants are left in the stack until
the pods usually has a dark discolour- picking can begin.
ation at maturity. When the seeds rumble when the
Harvesting can be done manually or pods are shaken, they are ready for
mechanically. If done by hand, the picking. Another sign is that the pods
taproots are cut and the plants are can be removed from the stems with-
collected and stacked in bundles of out causing long shreds to form.
10-20 plants. The stacks are formed Crop rotation with maize, small
grains, sorghum or millet is most
www.sasmallholder.co.zaIN THE GARDEN
effective.
Because groundnuts are a legume,
they fix nitrogen in the soil, so crops
grown where they have been grown
will benefit. Rotation also breaks the
disease cycle.
Groundnuts are roasted and salted
for consumption, are used in sweets
or they are used to make peanut
Stacked plants.
butter.
The seeds are also processed for their feed. The plants and shells can be
oil. used as forage.
Young leaves and tips of the plants The hulls are also used as stable bed-
can be used as a cooked green vege- ding.
table. The ARC in Potchefstroom has devel-
The oilcake that is a by-product of oped a low cost mechanical picker
the groundnut oil extraction process and a sheller. Phone 018 299-6100
serves as a high-protein livestock for more information. a
www.sasmallholder.co.zaBUSINESS
Help now available
for smallholders
R unning a small agricultural
business has never been easy,
but many smallholders and
small farmers are finding this year
particularly challenging. q Be from historically disadvantaged
Help is at hand, however, by applying groups;
for a Micro Agricultural Financial q Show ability to repay the loan;
Institutions of South Africa (Mafisa) q Be of the age of 21 and above;
loan. q Gross non-farm income to be not
To be eligible for the loan you need more than R20 000 per month;
to: q Turnover of the enterprise not to
q Be a South African citizen with a be more than the SARS tax threshold;
valid South African Identity q The enterprise should be agricul-
Document; ture, forestry or fisheries related;
www.sasmallholder.co.zaBUSINESS
q You must have a positive credit annum compound;
history. q Loans below R25 000 do not
The loan is intended to offer really require security;
practical support and can be used to q The repayment term is tied to the
purchase production inputs (fertiliz- income cycle of the enterprise;
ers, seeds, pesticides etc); for the q Loans are available for individuals
purchase of small equipment and and groups;
implements such as knapsack spray- q All applicants must meet Mafisa
ers, bird drinkers and feeders, wheel loan requirements to be considered.
barrows, spades etc; or for the pur- However, applicants might find that
chase of breeding livestock, medica- this information is not up to date.
tion, feed, branding material etc. For more information call 012 319
According to the website of the Dept 7263 / 319 6825 / 319 7216. a
of Agriculture, the terms and condi-
tions include:
q Maximum loan size is R500 000
per person;
q Interest rate charged is 8% per
www.sasmallholder.co.zaIN THE FIELD
Try no-till for next
season’s planting
A
lthough the kneejerk reaction
of a crop farmer will be to set
about his fields with a plough
and harrow, or a rotavator, there is an
alternative to breaking ground for
seeder.
planting which is easier, quicker and
q Environmental benefits include,
cheaper and which many say is
therefore, less air pollution from your
better for the soil, the environment
exhaust fumes, and a number of soil-
and the crop itself. It's no-till agricul-
related benefits. Because the soil is
ture, which is exactly that. Rather
undisturbed, the microbial activity
than ripping up the soil mechanically,
within is not disrupted by tillage, and
all one does is drill a hole for a seed
earthworms, likewise, are left
and drop it in, adding a bit of fertil-
unharmed. The roots and stems
izer if one wishes. The undisturbed
remaining from previous harvests
soil itself contains all the microbes,
allow for moisture to enter the soil to
earthworms etc that it had before, as
crop root depth, and prevent soil
well as any residual moisture, and the
compaction. Because the soil is not
stems and roots of previous crops.
broken up there is less chance of
The surface of the soil is covered by
light, soft material being eroded by
the residue of the previous season's
heavy water ows, or blown away by
crop, which provides organic matter
wind. Because the soil is not turned
for the soil as it slowly decomposes
over, loosened and exposed, less
and is eaten by worms and other
residual moisture is lost.
insects, and which provides a cooling
q Lower fertilizer costs are achieved
and moisture-retaining layer of mulch
because more nutrients are available
before it does so. The advantages of
to the growing plants through the
no-till are therefore obvious:
decomposition of the previous sea-
q Your savings in terms of time, fuel
son's residue.
and wear and tear are great. Instead
q Lower water costs can usually be
of multiple passes over the field with
achieved because the surface layer of
different implements to create a
crop residue insulates the soil from
weed-free, workable seed bed, you
heat and evaporation.
have only one pass, with a no-till
Experts point out, however, that
www.sasmallholder.co.zaIN THE FIELD
achieving good results with no-till
techniques may take some time ~ a
process, if you will, rather than an
instant solution. And there's no one-
size-fits-all method to no-till. A key to
efficient no-till is to start the previous
season, by spreading your crop resi- Using a cover crop in offseason.
due ~ or at least part of it ~ evenly in the field as cover when the new
over the ground at the time of har- crop is planted. Another key to suc-
vesting. This even layer of dry organic cessful no-till is to know beforehand
matter will inhibit weed growth, help what it is you wish to plant and
retain moisture and eventually pro- when. This means working a season
vide food for the insects and or more ahead, to enable you to
microbes in your soil below. In cer- work out plant spacing etc, and to
tain cases it may be advisable to plant ensure you have a no-till planter
an offseason cover crop, for example suitable to your crop's seed size and
a nitrogen-fixing legume, or Japanese fertilization needs, as well as row
radish, which will add nutrient to the spacing, intercropping needs etc. a
soil as it grows, but which will be left
www.sasmallholder.co.zaWE ARE
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WE ARE HUSQVARNA WWW.HUSQVARNA.CO.ZAIN THE FIELD
Overcome the challenges
of spring grazing
T he onset of rains in summer
rainfall regions will result in
tender green shoots appearing
in your pastures ~ much to the joy of
the animals who have been struggling
through the dry, brown winter graz- Grazing makes up a large proportion
ing. of livestock diet.
However the small farmer and small- However, the veld needs to be given
holder need to consciously manage a chance to recover from the harsh
the grazing at this time. There are winter that much of the country has
considerations about the growth in experienced.
the pasture and there are consider- It is important that the plants are
ations about the animals' health. allowed to develop photosynthetic
Most smallholders have relatively capacity and to restore depleted root
limited grazing resources for the num- reserves.
ber of animals that they keep. While it is tempting to take
www.sasmallholder.co.zaIN THE FIELD
advantage of the new green grass,
grazing it too early can reduce the
pasture's ability to provide nutritious
grazing throughout the summer and
autumn. Now is the time that grasses
produce two-thirds of their season
long yield.
Overgrazing is a real danger. One
solution is rotating from camp to
camp in quick succession.
Livestock owners will be all-too famil- Spring grass.
iar with spring grazing behaviour in It also means that ruminants (cattle,
their animals. The animals are so sheep and goats) are not getting
pleased to see a few shoots green enough dry matter. They need dry
grass that they only eat the new matter to provide more nutrients to
growth, ignoring the dry, brown grass. rumen microbes, which in turn pro-
This often leads to a drop in condi- vide more nutrients to the animal.
tion, as the animal is simply not get- Livestock nutritionists tell us that a
ting enough to eat. milking cow needs a dry matter
www.sasmallholder.co.zaIN THE FIELD
horses, particularly those with diges-
tive or metabolic disorders. These
grasses are high in non-structural
carbohydrates, which can play havoc
with the horse's digestive system and
metabolism. The content of highly
fermentable carbohydrates in lush
pasture can be overwhelming to the
digestive system. The relatively low
fibre content, combined with rapid
Green shoots. fermentation of the increased
intake equivalent to at least 3% of her starches results in what nutritionists
body weight. Dry matter is essential call negative biochemical reactions in
in meeting energy requirements. the horse's gut. Colic is therefore
Another problem is the relatively low more common at this time. It also
fibre content. This results in very high leads to increased risk of laminitis,
passage rates, leaving the ruminant which was described in the August
unsatisfied. edition of the SA Smallholder. a
Spring grass also poses problems for
www.sasmallholder.co.zaBOOKSHELF
New books of interest
to smallholders
A
new tree guide was pub-
lished recently, but before you
ask if we need yet another
tree book, consider Know Them by Lovegrove has brought out the sec-
Their Fruit: A guide to identifying ond edition of Living Deserts of
South African trees by A T Ankiewicz. Southern Africa. He describes four
It is often easier to identify a tree by arid biomes of South Africa, Namibia
its fruits and pods than by its shape, and Botswana: Desert, Arid Savanna,
size, leaves etc. Succulent Karoo and Nama-Karoo,
The book is published by Jacana, in and explains how and why such a
partnership with the Botanical great diversity of plants, insects, mam-
Society of South Africa. mals, reptiles and birds successfully
It contains: survive in them.
q Specially coded keys showing Anyone with an interest in earth sci-
colour and size for easy identifica- ences will value Minerals & Crystals:
tion; Morphology – Properties –
q The current botanical binomial, Identification by Terence McCarthy
recent old names (due to taxonomic and Bruce Cairncross. The book
changes) and the “best” common examines a selection of important
name; minerals, how they form, their physi-
q Notes on distribution, fruiting time cal characteristics, and how to go
and habitats are also provided; about identifying them.
q 381 beautiful illustrations of the Mineral species descriptions detail
fruiting twigs of South African trees. their gemological properties, history,
Evolutionary physiologist, Barry occurrence and uses.
www.sasmallholder.co.zaTHE BACK PAGE, BY BLOMMETJIE
SA’s hidden gems
T here's a good reason why
journalists are often to be
found leaning on the counter
of seedy pubs staring at a drink in
front of them. That's because any
South Coast, for
example, there sits one
of South Africa's oldest
surviving taverns, just off
the road where it makes its abrupt
hack worth his salt is always on the turn at the top of the pass.
hunt for a good story. And bars are an Originally built as a coaching stop
excellent place to pick up the hint of some 140 years ago, the Green
one's next best story. Lantern reects its long, unbroken
One can tell a lot about the character history and retains much of the
of a place by the nature of its pubs, character of those who have slaked
because pubs tend to take on the their thirst and regained their strength
character of the characters that within.
frequent them. Today, its walls bedecked with
South Africa is blessed with many thousands of business cards of the
pubs. patrons it has served, it boasts a well-
Even the smallest, most run-down stocked bar, and serves good, honest
platteland dorp is likely to have a pub grub.
Masonic or a Royal Hotel with, at the So next time you race down the N3
very least, a “public bar”. to Durban, break the journey at the
But it's not only the towns and cities top of Van Reenen's Pass. You'll be
that have pubs. There are also many, glad you did.
many country inns and taverns, many And who knows? You might be able
with long, illustrious histories. to swop a tale or two with a colourful
At the top of Van Reenen’s Pass on local, or even give a passing journo
the N3 between the Reef and the his next big story.
SAY YOU SAW IT IN THE SA SMALLHOLDERYou can also read
