AgriPROBE June 2007 - Department of Agriculture: Western Cape

AgriPROBE June 2007

ditorial
REdaksioneel
AgriPROBE
Quaterly newsletter of the Western Cape
Die winter skuif nader en daarmee saam
die behoefte aan ’n lekker kaggelvuurtjie, ’n
glasie dieprooi port (ek bedoel ...) en ’n bord
vol kaas en beskuitjies. Vir dié van ons wat
al ’n tydjie binne die landbousektor bedrywig
is, is hierdie prentjie maar net nog ’n landbouprentjie
met sy wyn- en suiwel- en koringprodukte.
Sonder landbouprodukte sou die
lewe nie net in die wintermaande maar bra
saai wees nie, maar sou die mensdom nie kos
op die tafel hê nie. (Ek preek nou natuurlik
vir die bekeerdes oor die belangrikheid van
landbou.)
Ontmoet drie van die Departement se
nuwe voorvatters op bladsy 0. Dudley Adolph se besigheidsbenadering
tot grondhervorming is inderdaad
verfrissend en Dr Ilse Trautmann is ’n navorser in murg en
been wat nie bang is om haar sê te sê om navorsing aan
die groot klok te hang nie. Dr Gininda Msiza, die nuwe
programbestuurder vir Veertsenydienste is entoesiasties
oor die uitdagings wat voorlê.
It’s also not too late to read Dr Philip Botha’s article
on page 6 about planning for winter pastures. On pages
4 onwards Dr Carel Muller says: ‘the genetic merit of a
dairy herd is mainly determined by the quality of the bulls.
Therefore, the selection of bulls has a direct impact on the
long term income.’ Defi nitely not to be missed if you plan
on making money with diary cattle.
Enjoy the evenings in front of the fi replace!
Charlene Nieuwoudt
Redakteur
If you need any of the articles in this magazine in
any other offi cial language of the Western Cape, we
would be happy to arrange translation for you. Please
contact the Editor on Tel. 02 808 5008.
Indien u enige van die artikels in hierdie tydskrif in een
van die ander amptelike tale van die Wes-Kaap benodig,
kan u ons gerus kontak om die vertaling daarvan
vir u te reël. Kontak die redakteur by Tel. 02 808 5008.
Ukuba ufuna naliphina inqaku elikule magazini ngolunye
ulwimi olusesikweni kwiilwimi zeNtshona Koloni, siya kukulungiselela
uguqulelo-lwimi lenqaku elo. Nceda ke uqhagamshelane
noMhleli kule nombolo yomnxeba:- 02 808 5008.
AgriPROBE Junie 2007
Department of Agriculture, distibuted free of
charge to subscribers.
EDITORIAL
Charlene Nieuwoudt (Editor)
Liesl Muller
Dr Ilse Trautmann
ADVERTISEMENTS
Gizelle van Wyk
Tel. (02 ) 808 5022
E-mail: gizellevw@elsenburg.com
ADDRESS
Private Bag X
ELSENBURG
7607
Tel (02 ) 808 5008
Fax (02 ) 808 5000
E-mail: charlenen@elsenburg.com
REPRODUCTION
CREDA
PRINTING
CREDA
Subscriptions
For free subscription to this quarterly magazine
of the Western Cape Department of Agriculture,
forward your details to Magriet de Lange at:
Tel (02 ) 808 76 3
Fax (02 ) 808 7605
E-mail magrietadl@
elsenburg.com
ISSN: 1810-9799
2
I

ndex
Inhoudsopgawe
3
Voorbladstorie
Natuurvriendelike vee-Wagter
p 8
SPESIALE ARTIKELS SPECIAL FEATURES
4 Kies bulle vir wins
6 Genetika toekenning vir Outeniqua Jerseys
8 Natuurvriendelike vee-Wagter
10 Three new leaders for Agriculture
11 Adjust concentrate feeding to pasture quality
12 Putting our thinking caps on
14 Market information to boost access
16 Beplan nou reeds winterweiding
8 Say Cheese!
BROKKIES BITS AND PIECES
15 Testing: organic or inorganic?
17 Koebeeberg kry water
18 International women in agriculture join forces
18 Antoinette Parks: my storie
19 Community service for vets?
ELSENBURG JOERNAAL / JOURNAL
2 Research performed in the Western Cape area of
South Africa on alternative plant protein sources
in pig diets
7 A review on research performed in South Africa
on small grains as energy source in pig diets
Agricultural land prices in the Western Cape
reveals its dynamic character
Partnership
success
The Tulbagh Farm Worker’s Trust
(TFT) is a representative organisation
of farms in the Tulbagh area.
The TFT owns and manages an asset
known as the D’Agen Versorgingsoord.
During 2003 the farm workers in the Tulbagh
area found themselves fi nancially strapped and
urgently required training and skills development. In
response, the TFT bought the D’Agen complex situated
outside Tulbagh on the Wintershoek road. The
complex consists of a community hall, crèche and
playground, an ablution block, a caretaker’s house
and a rugby fi eld. The TFT received funding from the
Independent Development Trust (IDT).
The crèche is registered for 60 children, but
comes under pressure during harvesting season
when more than 200 children have to be cared for.
With funding from the Department of Agriculture
and Dried Fruit Technical Services, the Cape Women’s
Forum was approached to be the facilitating
body. They performed a participative needs assessment
with staff of the crèche. 40 mothers were
trained in home and family management skills. An
empowerment programme for 4-6 year old children,
highlighting the four emotions (joy, anger, loss and
fear), and how to express these emotions in a constructive
way, and to build a positive self-image, was
also presented. Children were also given information
about HIV/AIDS, alcohol and other drugs.
‘This is an excellent example of the power of cooperation
and working in partnership with individuals
and institutions that have the same passion for
development and empowerment,’ says Danie Niemand,
director of Farm Worker Development at the
Department.
On the photograph: Mr Cobus Dowry, Drisa du
Toit (headmistress) and Jan Demas, a parent.
AgriPROBE June 2007

In die melkbeesbedryf behoort maksimum wins die doelwit
te wees. Elke produsent (en sy adviseur) het egter
sy eie mening hoe om daarby uit te kom.
Sommiges meen dat dit alleen deur die hoogste
melkproduksie per koei verkry kan word, terwyl ander
weer voel dat dit eerder teen ’n laer voedings koste per
koei moet wees. Hierdie uiteenlopende sienings impliseer
eintlik verskillende seleksie- en be stuurs doelwitte en dit
word dan ook gesien op die manier hoe bulle geselekteer
en koeie gevoer word.
Dit is waarom daar onder produsente gestry word
oor watter bulle die ‘regte’ keuse is. Verteenwoordigers
van rasgenootskappe, semenagente van verskillende
maatskappye en wetenskaplikes het elk hul eie mening.
Ongeag u benadering, vir maksimum wins moet daar ’n
balans wees tussen die inkomste en die uitgawe van ’n
melkery. ’n Wins gewende melkery staan hoofsaaklik op
drie bene, naamlik die hoogste moontlike melkproduksiepeil
en –samestelling per koei binne ’n bepaalde bestuurstelsel,
koeie wat gereeld kalf (elke 2 tot 3 maande)
en dan moet elke koei wat in die kudde opgeneem word,
so lank as moontlik lewe. Dit impliseer dus dat ’n ge-
paste seleksiedoelwit vir ’n kudde op die teeltwaarde van
bulle vir die melkproduksie, -samestelling, vrugbaarheid
en produktiewe leeftyd van hul dogters gebaseer moet
wees.
AgriPROBE Junie 2007
Waarvolgens word bulle geselekteer?
Ongeag die feit dat meer as 0% van die inkomste van ’n
melkery van die verkope van melk afkomstig is, is dit interessant
om te sien waarvolgens bulle geselekteer word.
In die eerste plek is produsente dikwels vaag wanneer
hulle hul seleksiedoelwit vir die kudde moet beskryf. Eienskap
pe waarna gewoonlik verwys word is onder andere
die volgende: die be trou baarheid van ‘syfers’ en hoe die
uiers, bene en pote van die dogters van bulle lyk. Sekere
bouvorm eien skappe soos hoë sitbene en die grootte van
koeie geniet ook aandag. Blaai ’n mens deur die joernale
van rasgenootskappe, kom uitdrukkings soos mediumraamkoeie,
voldoende lig gaams diepte, ’n goed gevormde
kruis en lende, goed geplaasde bene en draaibene, uiers
wat goed aangeheg en hoog bo die hak is, na vore. Dit lyk
dus asof die oogmerk by die meeste produsente eerder is
om koeie te teel wat aan bepaalde bouvormeienskappe
voldoen as om te konsentreer op die hoeveelheid en die
kwaliteit van die melk wat die koeie moet produseer.
Daar is nie baie eenstemmigheid oor hoeveel waarde
aan bouvormeienskappe as seleksiedoelwit geheg moet
word nie. Vir baie jare word die ideale bouvorm van koeie
deur rasgenootskappe nage streef en dit is belangrik vir
produsente wat aan skoue deelneem. Daar is geen twyfel
nie dat daar baie koeie is met hoë melkproduksiepeile
Kies bulle vir wins
4

wat ook feitlik ideale bouvormeienskappe het. Dit beteken
egter nie noodwendig dat die omgekeerde hiervan ook
die geval is nie. Om dus koeie met ’n ‘ideale’ bouvorm te
probeer teel, beteken nie dat hulle ook hoë melkproduksies
gaan lewer nie. Elke eienskap het sy eie oorerfl ikheidswaarde
en die invloed van die omgewing daarop
is vir elkeen verskillend. Wetenskaplikes het wel oor die
laaste aantal jare vasgestel dat koeie met sekere ‘goeie’
bouvorm eienskappe langer in kudde bly. As gevolg van
hierdie eienskappe is koeie beter in staat om die be stuursdruk
in ’n melkery te weerstaan. Hoewel die genetiese korrelasies
tussen produktiewe leeftyd en eienskappe soos
uiers, bene en pote positief is, is die belangrikste eienskap
wat koeie in die kudde hou steeds die hoeveelheid melk
wat hulle produseer. Niemand sal tog ’n koei met ’n hoë
melkproduksie uitskot omdat sy bouvormfoute het nie.
’n Lang lewe verseker ook nie dat koeie oor hul leeftyd
baie winsgewend of doeltreffend sal wees nie. Daar is
reeds in die vyftigerjare beraam dat die doeltreffendheid
of winsgewendheid van koeie positief beïnvloed word
deur beide die hoeveelheid melk wat hulle produseer en
hoe lank hulle lewe (Tabel ). Hiervolgens blyk dat die
doeltreffendheid van koeie toeneem met meer laktasies
asook die hoeveelheid melk wat per laktasie geproduseer
word. ’n Lae produserende koei moet baie langer as ’n
hoër produserende koei in die kudde bly om ’n
vergelykbare leeftydsdoeltreffendheid te kan
lewer. ’n Verdere probleem is die feit dat
die oorerfl ikheid van produktiewe leeftyd
by koeie laag is (8.5%). Dit impliseer
dat produktiewe leeftyd hoofsaaklik
deur omgewing- en bestuursfaktore
beïnvloed word.
In vergelyking hiermee
is die oorerfl ikheid vir
melkproduksie aansienlik
hoër, naamlik 25%,
en daarom sou dit makliker
wees om melkproduksie as
produktiewe leeftyd te verbeter.
Daar is verskillende maniere om die
doeltreffendheid of winsgewendheid van
koeie te bereken. Die beste metode sou wees
om ’n koei se totale melk-, vet of proteïenproduksie oor
haar leeftyd te verreken teenoor die totale hoeveelheid
voer wat sy oor haar leeftyd ingeneem het. Dit sluit in alle
voer wat sy as ’n groeiende vers en as droë en lakterende
koei ingeneem het. Ander berekeninge soos daaglikse
melkproduksie gedeel deur voerinname is meer ’n aanduiding
van voedingsbestuur en moet as sulks gebruik
word.
’n Teeltdoelwit vir maksimum wins
Aangesien die melkproduksie en –samestelling van
koeie so ’n groot effek op hul winsgewendheid en leeftydproduksie
het, behoort die teeltwaardes vir melkproduksieeienskappe
die basis van die seleksie van bulle te wees.
Die maklikste metode sou wees om die beskikbare bulle
van ’n bepaalde semenmaatskappy volgens teeltwaardes
vir melkproduksie van hoog na laag te rangskik. ’n Kombinasie
van die teeltwaardes vir vet- en proteïenproduksie
kan ook gebruik word. Beskikbare indekse wat
’n kombinasie is van ’n aantal eienskappe
kan ook gebruik word.
In hierdie lys moet die
5
’n Melkbeesboerdery is ’n
hoogs intensiewe besigheid
wat teen ’n hoë koste op
die been gebring moet
word, terwyl kennis van ’n
wetenskaplike en praktiese
aard nodig is om dit
suksesvol te bedryf.
afwyking van elke bul ten opsigte van vet- en proteïenpersentasie
aangeteken word. Die betroubaarheid van
die teeltwaardes asook die koste van ’n strooitjie kan ook
teenoor elke bul aangeteken word. Uit hierdie lys kan so
3 tot 4 bulle vir ’n 00-koeikudde uitgesoek word. Besluit
vooraf wat die maksimum prys is wat vir ’n strooitjie betaal
gaan word asook die maksimum afwyking vir vet- en proteïenpersentasie.
By Holsteins moet vir verse verkieslik
bulle met ’n hoë kalwingsgemak gekies word. Tydens die
kombinasie van bulle en koeie moet afwykende bouvormeien
skappe in gedagte gehou word. Dit beteken dat bulle
waarvan die na ge slag minder goeie uiers het, nie met
koeie gepaar word wat reeds swak uiers het nie.
’n Meer wetenskaplike metode van bulseleksie is om
’n kommersiële paringsprogram te gebruik. Bulle vir die
Elsenburg Holstein- en Jerseykuddes word op hierdie
wyse geselekteer. Bulle wat vir die pa rings program oorweeg
word moet aan ’n bepaalde minimum teeltwaarde
vir melkproduksie voldoen. Daarmee saam moet hul
afwykings vir vet- en proteïenpersentasie van die dogters
ook nie meer as bepaalde maksimum waardes wees nie.
Bouvorm eienskappe van die dogters van bulle word ook
in ag geneem. Die program gebruik die oorerfl ik hede van
3 bouvormeienskappe, hul ekonomiese belangrikheid en
die genetiese korrelasies met produksie-eienskappe in die
kombinasie van bulle met koeie in die kudde.
Hoewel ’n paringsprogram geriefl ik is en op wetenskaplike
beginsels berus, is baie produsente huiwerig om dit
te gebruik aangesien hulle voel dat hulle dan nie meer
‘beheer’ oor die keuse van bulle het nie.
Spesiale bulle word dikwels aan die bedryf beskikbaar
gestel. Voordat ’n aantal strooitjies van so ’n bul aangekoop
word, moet sy teeltwaarde eers met die bestaande
bulle vergelyk word om te bepaal of die bul die moeite
Tabel 1. Die doeltreffendheid van koeie soos beïnvloed
deur die aantal laktasies voltooi en melkproduksie
per laktasie
Doeltreffendheid (%) per laktasie
Laktasieproduksie (kg) 3 4 7 10
2730 4.4 5.2 6.6 7.3
3640 7.3 8.3 20.0 20.8
4545 .8 2 .0 22. 23.8
AgriPROBE June 2007

Genetika toekenning vir
Outeniqua Jerseys
Die Wes-Kaapse Departement van Landbou het
tydens die onlangse SA Jersey prysuitdelingdinee
in Bloemfontein met die trofee vir die hoogste
punte in die afdeling vir genetiese meriete weggestap. Die
kudde wat dié trotse prestasie behaal en sodoende die SA
Stamboek wisseltrofee ontvang het, is die Jerseykudde
van die Diereproduksie Navorsingstrust op die Departement
se Outeniqua navorsingsplaas buite George.
Volgens dr. Robin Meeske, spesialiswetenskaplike
(Diereproduksie) op die Outeniqua navorsingsplaas, is
Bulle vir wins
werd is om te gebruik. Ongelukkig het die verkope van
die semen van KI-bulle net soos enige ander kommoditeit
geraak. Die prys van strooitjies is baie afhanklik van vraag
en aanbod. In dien die aanvraag vir semen van ’n bepaalde
bul hoog is (soos wanneer die aantal strooitjies beperk
raak), sal die koste van die strooitjies toeneem ongeag
wat die genetiese meriete vir melkproduksie vir so ’n bul
is. Met aankoop en gebruik van semen word twee dinge
gelyktydig gedoen, die koei word beset sodat sy later weer
in melk kan kom en tydens die bevrugtingsproses word
nageslag met ’n bepaalde genetiese meriete geskep. Dit
is waar genetiese ver andering in die kudde plaasvind. Semenpryse
moet daarom nie gebruik word as ’n aanduiding
van die genetiese meriete van bulle nie. ’n Maklike manier
om hierby verby te kom is om die teeltwaarde van ’n bul
vir melkproduksie te deel deur die prys van die strooitjie.
Hiermee word ’n aanduiding gekry van die genetiese
waarde van die semen.
Met die ont wikkeling van teeltwaardeberamings is daar
’n groot aantal eienskappe waarvolgens bulle geselekteer
kan word. Hierdie eienskap pe word al hoe meer in indekse
saamgevoeg. In Suid-Afrika byvoorbeeld, gebruik
SA Jersey die sogenaamde SAINET-indeks,
terwyl in die VSA ’n indeks
’net Merit’
baie sterk
aan- aan-
AgriPROBE Junie 2007
dit die eerste jaar dat hierdie trofee toegeken word. Die
kudde se genetiese meriete is beoordeel deur die gemiddelde
SAINET (amptelike seleksie-indeks van Jersey SA)
van die volwasse koeie en verse met ander kuddes in
dieselfde groep te vergelyk soos wat vir produksie-evaluering
bepaal word. Beoordeling het ook die vordering van
die verse teenoor die volwasse koeie bygereken.
Volgens dr Meeske is hierdie toekenning grootliks
bereik deur die kundige insette van die kuddebestuurder,
Mnr Gerrit van der Merwe. Gerrit is reeds 36 jaar vir die
beveel word. Hiermee word verskillende eienskappe soos
proteïen- en vetproduksie, produktiewe leeftyd, somatiese
seltelling, uiersamestelling, bene en pote, grootte, vrugbaarheid
en kalwingsgemak van koeie in ’n indeks saamgevoeg.
Kan ’n kuddebul gebruik word?
’n Selfgeteelde bul of u buurman se bul moet ver kies lik
nie in die telingsprogram van ’n melkkudde gebruik word
nie. Behalwe vir die feit dat ’n kuddebul lewens gevaarlik
kan wees, is daar net beperkte inligting oor die genetiese
meriete van so ’n dier beskikbaar. Indien ’n bul aangekoop
word uit ’n kudde wat aan melkaantekening deelneem,
kan ’n voorspelde teeltwaarde beraam word. Daar is egter
steeds geen inligting oor die kalwingsgemak en ander
eienskappe van die bul nie. Indien stamboominligting van
die bul ontbreek, is die akkuraatheid van die beraamde
teeltwaarde ook nie baie hoog nie.
Die dekkingskoste van ’n kuddebul is elk geval nie
veel laer as die koste van KI nie. Dit is net makliker om ’n
kuddebul te gebruik eerder as om koeie te KI. Die kans is
ook meer as 80% dat die teeltwaarde van ’n kuddebul laer
sal wees as die meeste KI-bulle. Indien ’n bul wel aangekoop
moet word, moet dit verkieslik uit ’n kudde kom met
’n hoër genetiese meriete as u eie kudde. Daar moet nie
meer as 5-20% van die koeie in die kudde wees wat
na ge slag van al die kuddebulle is nie. Bulle moet ook gereeld
vervang word omdat hul genetiese waarde onseker
is.
Die genetiese meriete van ’n melkkudde word hoofsaak
lik bepaal deur die bulle wat in die kudde gebruik
word en bulseleksie is daarom gerig op die langtermyn
inkomste van ’n melkery. Die groot hoe veelheid genetiese
inligting wat vir elke bul beskikbaar is kan verwarrend
wees, maar dit is moontlik om met ’n eenvoudige
seleksiepraktyk steeds goeie genetiese vordering in u
kudde te maak. Dit is egter uiters belangrik dat produsente
aan melkaantekening deelneem sodat vorder-
ing gemonitor kan word.
Vir meer inligting, kontak Dr Carel Muller by 021
808 5228 of carelm@elsenburg.com Besoek gerus
ook milkproduction@elsenburg.com op die elsenburg.com
webtuiste.
6

Mnr Gerrit van der Merwe,
kuddebestuurder op Outeniqua
navorsingsplaas, poseer
trots met die SA Stamboek
wisseltrofee by die wenkudde.
bestuur en teling van die kudde op
Outenqua verantwoordelik. Deur sy
toedoen is beproefde bulle met ’n hoë
teeltwaarde vir bottervet en proteïen
geselekteer terwyl bulle met ’n negatiewe
teeltwaarde vir dié eienskappe
vermy is. Met sy kennis van Jersey
koeie het hy ook veral aandag gegee aan goeie bouvorm
met groot klem op die uier, uieraanhegting, hoewe en
bene. Volgens Gerrit was sy benadering om te belê in
goeie genetika. Die uitgangspunt was om goeie semen
van beproefde bulle bekom. Semenkoste word dikwels as
’n hoë koste en struikelblok vir teling gesien. Volgens Gerrit
is semenkoste in verhouding met die totale grootmaakkoste
van ’n vers, laag. Indien ’n ekstra R 50 op semen
gespandeer word om ’n vervangingsvers te verkry, is dit
slegs 3.3% van die totale versgrootmaakkoste. Hierdie
ekstra koste is ’n goeie belegging. Indien die vers oor
die eerste laktasie net 200kg meer melk produseer is die
semenkoste reeds verhaal.
Volgens dr. Meeske word die Jersey kudde op Outeniqua
vir vraaggedrewe navorsing aangewend met die
doelwit om die winsgewendheid van melkproduksie vanaf
aangeplante weiding te verhoog. Die sukses van die
navorsingsprogram op Outeniqua navorsingplaas word
7
Die Jersey kudde
op Outeniqua word
vir vraaggedrewe
navorsing
aangewend met
die doelwit om die
winsgewendheid
van melkproduksie vanaf
aangeplante weiding te
verhoog.
grootliks aan noue skakeling tussen
die weidingsnavorsing- en die diereproduksienavorsingspannetoegeskryf.
Tans word ongeveer 400 Jersey
koeie vanaf 80ha be sproeide en
50ha droëland weiding gemelk. Die
voer vloei program bestaan hoofsaaklik
uit raaigras oorgesaaide kikoe joeweiding.
Die gemiddelde daaglikse
melkproduksie is 6kg/koei en koeie
ontvang 5kg kragvoer. Die kudde
word kommersieel bedryf en neem
deel aan die Outeniqua Suiwelstudiegroep.
Die Wes-Kaap sluit twee van die ses hoof melkproduserende
areas in Suid-Afrika in en voorsien nagenoeg
’n kwart van alle melk wat in Suid-Afrika geproduseer
word. In ’n poging om navorsingsondersteuning aan die
suiwelbedryf in die Suid- en Wes-Kaap te gee, het die
Wes-Kaapse Departement Landbou twee sentrums van
voortrefl ikheid in suiwelnavorsing op sy navorsingsplase
by Outeniqua en Elsenburg gevestig. Hierdie twee sentra
is deel van die Instituut vir Diereproduksie, een van drie
navorsingsinstitute van die Departement. ‘Die Departement
se twee kuddes is van uiterste belang in ons navorsings
poging en dié toekenning is ’n bewys van die gehalte
van die dieremateriaal wat in die navorsingsprojekte gebruik
word,’ meen Volgens Dr. Ilse Trautmann, Direkteur:
Tegnologie, Navorsing en Ontwikkeling.
Navrae: Dr Robin Meeske Sel no: 082 9084110 of Mnr
Gerrit van der Merwe Sel no: 0829071132
AgriPROBE June 2007

Die gebruik van honde om vee teen probleemdiere,
rondloopbrakke en veediefstal te beskerm dateer
duisende jare terug in Europa en Asië. Oor die
eeue heen is ’n onderskeibare groep honde in Eurasië
ontwikkel, bekend as Livestock Guarding Dogs (LGDs) of
veewagtershonde.
Veewagtershonde is sosiale diere wat ’n groot behoefte
het om in ’n groep te bly - veral met individue wat hul van
kleins af leer ken het. Dit is hierdie kenmerk van veewagtershonde
wat gebruik word om hulle vanaf ’n vroëe
ouderdom met vee te sosialiseer, en wat maak dat hierdie
honde, wanneer hul volwasse stadium bereik, die trop sal
beskerm asof hulle self daarvan deel is.
Klein hondjies word so vroeg as moontlik na geboorte
aan vee blootgestel en vanaf 6-8 weke van mekaar en
hul ma gespeen en verder saam met ’n kerngroepie vee
grootgemaak. Die honde bind instinktief met die vee en
word daarna by ’n trop geplaas. Hulle leef saam met die
vee en beskerm hul trop teen verskeie bedreigings.
Dié honde het ’n bogemiddelde gehoor, sig- en reuk sin
en is uiters sensitief tot verandering in normale tropgedrag
of -roetine. Hulle sal enige indringers en bedreiging tot die
trop ondersoek en konfronteer. Hulle is teritoriaal en sal
Say cheese!
A training programme for young cheese makers from the
Western Cape started in 2005 when an agreement was
signed between the Western Cape Department of Agriculture
and the Regional Government of Burgundy, France.
AgriPROBE Junie 2007
Natuur-
vriendelike
vee-Wagter
blaf en houding inneem (‘posture’) om ander predatore af
te skrik.
Die meeste ongediertes is vinnig om te retireer van
’n blaffende hond, maar wanneer predatore steeds
naderkom en dit wel te naby waag, sal die hond oorgaan
om sy trop te beskerm. Die blaf van die hond is gewoonlik
genoeg om predatore af te skrik.
Die mees algemene veewagtershondras wat tans in
Suider-Afrika gebruik word, is die Anatoliese Herdershond.
Met ’n oorsprong en geskiedenis van oor die 6000 jaar in
die ariede Anatoliese Plato-gedeeltes van Turkye en Asië,
is hierdie honde goed aangepas vir Suid-Afrika se omgewings
toestande.
Anatoliese honde het ’n medium-lengte growwe pels
met ligte hare vir effektiewe afkoeling van die liggaam.
Reuns is gewoonlik 60+cm tot op skouerhoogte, weeg
tussen 70-75kg en kan spoed van tot 75km/h haal. Hulle
kan dae lank met minimale hoeveelhede kos en water
klaarkom.
Hulle is reeds suksesvol gebruik om verskeie predatore
soos vosse, (Vulpes vulpes), coyotes (Canis latrans) bere
(Ursus spp.) en cougars (Felis concolor) in beide natuurlike
veld sowel as uit veekrale weg te hou.
Die meeste veewagtershondeienaars in Suider-Afrika,
besit Anatoliese honde wat oorspronklik vanaf Amerika,
Australië of Turkye ingevoer is. Sommige van hierdie
honde is eintlik van Kangal-oorsprong, maar voldoen aan
die standaarde en is met hul uitvoer na Amerika as Anato-
In its third year, this agreement is still creating new opportunities
for young professionals, in particular those from
previously disadvantaged communities.
In terms of the agreement four cheese makers will
once again attend the course in June. They will undergo
practical and theoretical training in the production of
typical French type cheese at two factories. This will be
followed by a marketing module, which will focus on the
commercial aspects of the cheese industry. They will also
be exposed to the innovative uses of cheese.
The four that were nominated this year are:
•
•
•
•
Stefan Pockpas of Tantinki Bokmelkkaas, Oudtshoorn
Estalanie Marais of La Rochelle Bokmelkkaas, De
Doorns
Mario Jumat of Simonsberg Kaas, Stellenbosch
Mahlamola Moso of Kimilili Farm Cheese, Tulbagh
It is envisaged that they will act as mentors for future
cheese makers from previous disadvantaged communities.
8

e
er
Kenmerkend van
veewagtershonde is dat
hul hoogs intelligent en
onafhanklik is, lojaal tot
familielede en versigtig
vir vreemdes. Hulle is
kalm en standvastig,
maar sonder vrees
en vinnig om te op
bedreigings te reageer.
liese honde geregistreer.
Die Jagluiperd Bewaringsprojek (CCF) was een van
die eerste inisiatiewe wat Anatoliese honde na Suider
Afrika in gevoer het as ’n natuurvriendelike manier in die
bekamping van predatore op veeplase. In Namibië word
beheer oor telingstandaarde om die suiwerheid van die
ras te behou, deur CCF uitgeoefen. Riglyne word verskaf
en ’n register onderhou om die telinggeskiedenis, asook
plasing en werk van elke hond aan te teken.
Grootfontein Landboukollege het in 2002 ’n teelprogram
en navorsingprojek om die effektiwiteit van Anatoliese
Herdershonde as veewagtershonde in die beheer
van predatore in kleinvee troppe te evalueer, geïnisieer.
Heelwat suksesvolle resultate is reeds met hierdie honde
op verskeie plase behaal en dit is duidelik dat veewagtershonde
’n enorme bydrae kan lewer met ongediertebeheer
en veediefstal. Eienaars van veewagtershonde het
aangedui dat verliese as gevolg van ongediertes dramaties
afgeneem.
Ten spyte van die sukses wat sommige boere reeds
met veewagtershonde behaal het, is daar ongelukkig
heelwat gevalle van honde wat nie werk nie, rondloop, en
selfs skape byt. Daar word soms onrealistiese eise aan
hierdie honde gestel, terwyl bestuurstoestande op plase
in Amerika, Australië en Suid-Afrika ietwat verskil van
Eurasië. In Oos-Europa is daar byvoorbeeld byna altyd ’n
herder saam met die hond en vee in die veld teenwoordig.
Probleemgedrag kan dus onmiddelik reggestel en disipline
toegepas word, terwyl honde nog jonk is.
In Suid-Afrika word die werking van veewagtershonde
in die meeste gevalle totaal aan hul ‘gene’ oorgelaat as
gevolg van ’n gebrek aan voldoende kennis van hierdie
honde, hul gedrag, opleiding, bestuur en monitering. Daar
is verskeie kernfaktore wat die sukses van veewagters–
honde bepaal:
◊
◊
◊
◊
◊
uitkies van die regte hond
grootmaak en opleiding
versorging en onderhoud
bestuur van vee na aanleiding van die hond se
ervaring en ouderdom, en
monitering van die hond.
Kenmerkend van veewagtershonde is dat hul hoogs intelligent
en onafhanklik is, lojaal tot familielede en versigtig
vir vreemdes. Hulle is kalm en standvastig, maar sonder
vrees en vinnig om te op bedreigings te reageer.
Maryke Janse van Vuuren; Nagraadse student (YPP);
Instituut vir Diereproduksie; (021) 808 5376; marykejvv@
elsenburg.com
AgriPROBE June 2007

Dr Gininda Msiza
The Western Cape Department of Agriculture
recently strengthened its management core by
appointing Dr Ilse Trautmann as programme
manager for Technology, Research and Development,
Dudley Adolph as programme manager for Farmer
Support and Development and Dr Gininda Msiza as
programme manager for Veterinary Services.
Dr Ilse Trautmann, a Ph.D (Plant Physiology)
graduate from the University of Stellenbosch, is now
responsible for a staff component of 340 staff members,
7 research farms and a budget of R50 million. Under her
leadership as Head of Research, three research institutes
were established and further expanded, i.e. Animal Production,
Plant Production and Resource Utilisation. Her
extensive experience in research management gained at
the Department (as the former Deputy-Director: Research)
and previously the ARC in Stellenbosch, enables her to
guide research sustainably, ensuring that the Department
serves it clients with the latest technology.
‘In order for producers to stay competitive and produce
sustainably, cutting-edge technology is of utmost importance’,
says Dr Trautmann. Generating new, and adapting
existing technology, is the core objective of the research
portfolio of the Department, but the packaging of scientifi
c information into producer-friendly formats is equally
important.
According to Dr. Trautmann, the Department will further
expand its Centres of Excellence in the future, while its
research farms will be focal points for research projects of
importance in the region.
AgriPROBE Junie 2007
Dr Ilse Trautmann
Three new
leaders
Dudley Adolph’s
for
agriculture
appointment as head of the
Farmer Support and Development
programme seems to
be an exact fi t when considering
his previous positions.
As senior business development
offi cer at Future Bank
his main aim was assisting
small businesses. During his
turn as director in the Western
Cape Department of Economic
Development his core
business was local economic
development with a special
focus on small businesses,
and as chief executive offi cer
at Stellenbosch Municipality
Dudley focused on land use management and again local
economic development.
‘Farming is a business. The Department has to assist
farmers, whether they’re emerging or commercial,
to grow fi nancially and to become and/or stay profi table,’
says Dudley. Concerning land reform he agrees that it is
an absolute necessity. ‘But one must carefully differentiate
between people that want land for housing and those
that want to farm. This Department is there for those who
choose to farm.’
Dudley Adolph
Dr Gininda Msiza’s experience in both the
academic, government and private sectors, as well as
his business leadership qualifi cations, equip him to direct
veterinary services in a province where animal farming
and exports contribute not only to food production and
poverty alleviation, but also towards the Province’s income
through foreign exchange.
‘I have found that the Department’s Veterinary Services
programme consists of experienced, dedicated and
committed personnel who have managed to maintain high
standards over the years,’ says Dr Msiza. ‘The challenge
is to extend the service to the emerging sector while maintaining
world class standards and regulatory services.’
0

Effective pasture utilisation and optimal
pasture digestion should be aimed for
on dairy farms.
The fi ber (NDF) content of ryegrass
pasture may vary from 40% in June to 55%
in November and that of kikuyu may be as
high as 65% in March. Pasture with a higher
fi ber content takes longer to digest and pass
through the digestive tract than pasture with
a lower fi ber content.
This results in a lower pasture intake.
Rumen micro-organisms digest fi ber in the
rumen of the cow. Optimal fi ber digestion
takes place when the rumen pH is higher
than 6. If the rumen pH is below 5.8 the rate
of fi ber digestion will be reduced. When the
pH gets below 5, many of the fi ber digesting
bacteria will die and fi ber digestion comes
to a standstill. Cows stop eating and experience
acidosis.
Research done at Outeniqua Experimental
farm has shown that the rumen pH
of Jersey cows fed only 4kg of concentrate
was below 5.8 from 8:00 to 24:00 when
cows grazed high quality ryegrass. When
cows grazed kikuyu during March, the rumen
pH remained above 6.2 when 4kg of concentrate
was fed. When the fi ber content of
pasture is high, more rumination takes place
and the cow’s digestive system can tolerate
higher levels of concentrate feeding. Under
these conditions the rumen of the cow is
more buffered and higher levels of concentrate
feeding could be considered. Research
has shown the poorest milk response to concentrate
feeding when cows graze high quality
pasture and pasture allocation is high.
With the increase in concentrate cost,
farmers should ensure a good return on
concentrate feeding. Concentrate feeding to
Jersey cows grazing high quality ryegrass
should not exceed 6kg/cow/day and 4kg/
cow/day may be more cost effective. Feeding
6kg concentrate to Jersey cows grazing
kikuyu during summer and autumn will not
result in sub-optimal rumen pH levels. The
effect of concentrate feeding on milk production,
depends on pasture quality, pasture allocation,
level of concentrate feeding, quality
and composition of the concentrate, stage of
lactation and the genetic potential of the cow.
Farmers should determine the response
on concentrate feeding by monitoring milk
production when changing concenconcen- trate feeding. Pasture quality and
availability should be considered
when deciding on the level of concentrate
feeding.
Enquiries: Dr Robin Meeske
Institute for Animal Production
Outeniqua Research Farm
Cell: 082 9084110
Adjust
concentrate
feeding to
pasture quality
With the increase in
concentrate cost,
farmers should
ensure a good return
on concentrate
feeding.
AgriPROBE June 2007

A
Afarmer friend has a booklet with the title
‘How the hell does this work’ and whenever
he comes across something unexplainable,
he makes a note. When asked: ‘have you resolved
anything?’ he responds: ‘some, but it taught me that‘If
you want to do something, nothing is diffi cult, if you
don’t want to, nothing is easy’. The adjacent list
is a few ideas fl ung around to illustrate the ‘How
does it work’ questions and formulated to incorincor- porate some of the many names it is referred to. The
different colour blocks group them into themes of: Gross
geographic product (GGP), Agriculture fi nancing,
Risk & potential, Margin analysis, Knowledge/re-
Knowledge/re-
Knowledge/re-
AgriPROBE Junie 2007
Putting our
thinking cap(s) on
Contradictions/discrepancy/inconsistency/paradox/
in AGRICULTURE
’ how does it work? ’ issues
exploring the six
hats methodology*
methodology
search, and Emerging farmers.
These issues are diffi cult to resolve mainly because
of how we deal with new information regarding them.
When we receive new information, we either want to accept or
reject it. If we can’t decide the fi rst time around, it might be due to
confusion, incompleteness, discrepancies etc. It becomes a ‘How
does it work’ problem when objectiveness, understanding, logic and
alternatives fails. After a rather exhaustive perusal if these issues
are unresolved we tend to leave it until next time or try and
White Hat: Facts
South Africa’s well-developed
banking system resembles
Britain’s system rather than America’s.
It’s consists of three key elements: the SA
Reserve Bank, private sector and mutual banks.
At the end of June ‘05 there were 37 registered banks in
South Africa, as well as 44 offi ces of foreign banks. Five
major banking groups dominate, and represent about 88%
of the total assets of the sector. Most private sector banks
don’t cater for agriculture, but view other ventures such
as preserving and manufacturing of food products, beverages,
etc. as more promising. Landbank is the only bank
specifi cally geared for agriculture.
Landbank’s new funding model (Development Finance
Model) was implemented to support poor or emerging
farmers, fi nance the commercial base, and enhance the
contribution of agriculture/agribusiness to rural development
and economic growth.
Financial products include specifi c solutions for agricultural
enterprises, including wholesale and retail credit,
bond fi nance for previously disadvantaged farmers, micro-
‘How does it work’ issues in agriculture
1. Contribution to
Western Cape
GGP (5%) versus employment in agriculture (32%) in the
2. Primary industries (6% GGP ) versus secondary (27% GGP ) and tertiary
industries (67% GGP ) in terms of the Western Cape
3. ROI (6%) versus that of other sectors (30%)
4. Cost of resource versus ROI
5. Cost of financing versus ROI
6. Risk taking versus share in ROI
7. Agricultural incentives versus investment incentives
8. Innovators profit or loss versus net expendable income
9. First world financing versus third world needs
10. ‘ NASA do ’/’From down under ’ /’Made in China ’ /’ German technology ’ versus ‘ Out
of Africa? ’
11. Resource potential versus cost of the resource
12. Potentials versus risk
13. Production cost versus risk
14. Resource utilization versus sustainability
15. Production factors (Raw materials * Labour * Capitol/ Soill *
16. Management plan) versus net margins
17. Gross margin versus cost of raw materials
18. Gross margin versus labour cost
19. Gross margin versus energy cost
20. Gross margin versus irrigation cost
21. Gross margin versus mechanization cost
22. Gross margin versus security cost
23. Gross margin versus cost of soil, labour and management
24. Gross margin versus cash flow
25. Gross margin versus taxes
26. Gross margin versus production loans
27. Truth/accuracy versus reality of forecasting
28. Advice need versus advice on offer
29. Number of advisors versus number of producers
30. Consultancy services versus sustainability of consultancies
31. Consensus opinion versus fact
32. Scientific auditing versus Scientific prescription
33. Scientific explanations versus scientific discovery
34. Research rands versus outcome rands
35. Support versus subsidizing
36. Support versus sustainability
37. Support versus competitiveness
38. Redistribution of land versus maintaining production levels
39. Agricultural business versus Agricultural culture
40. Traditional believes versus business principals
41. Emerging farmers versus traditional farming
42. Gross margin versus net margin in view of 41
loans for smallholders (Step Up) without collateral, and
more.
Financial institutions must be impressed to acquire
fi nance. The gross value of production minus variable
cost yields the gross margin, the only growing seasonto-growing
season tangible. Subtracting the fi xed costs
yields the nett income. At this point the production factors
of land/environment and labour has been discounted. Nett
income minus the return on land and capital quantifi es the
fourth production factor of a business plan. Back to Nett
income minus the external factors quantifi es the profi t
or loss before own factor costs are discounted. Adding
other incomes and subtracting capital expenditure and
taxes fi nally yields disposable income essential to impress
the fi nancing institutions at the start of the next growing
season. Yet family expenditure and investments must also
be deducted before we know the capital production benefi t
of the enterprise. Please remember that the above is an
effort to summarise the white hat, and not to present the
whole hat in one article.
* Please refer to the article in the previous AgriProbe ‘From strategising to the implementing of decisions, how do we do
our home-work?’, for details on the methodology.
2

sues
‘ Out
take a short cut, only to fi nd ourselves right back at the
start.
Lets challenge the ‘Six thinking hats’ methodology by
applying it to one of the above ‘How does this work’ questions
and access it’s value/ability to look at things with new
eyes.
For the purpose of this article, lets focus on a
margin analysis issue such as #15 from our initial list:
Production factors versus net margins.
I see this as a problem because of everything impacting
on various production factors: land/environment,
labour, capital and business plan which must result in a
specifi c nett margin. The latter can only be assessed after
the growing season has gone by and all the uncertainties
associated with that particular growing season have had
its infl uence on production. The calculation of net margin
is really the only way of quantifying these impacts and it
happens at a time when the producer can’t do anything
about it anymore. Given this reality, unless they have hid-
den sources of fi nancing, the producer must compete for
fi nance according to rules set by the fi nancier and in- in-
Firstly, I think it a tragedy rather than an
accomplishment that our banking system represents
that of any fi rst world country, because we are not a fi rst
world country.
Secondly, if the so-called processing industries are
such an interesting future prospect, do banks feel importing
the raw materials is a better proposition than supporting
local producers?
Thirdly, the pressure is on to increase the national
growth rate by incentives created for foreign investors.
This makes life much tougher for the agriculture because
3
Black Hat:
critical thinking
Yellow Hat: positive thinking
The Agricultural Products Marketing Act of ’ 7 radically
changed agriculture to a free-market system, removing
subsidies and fi nancial concessions. South Africa’s
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) administers
the nation’s export market promotions, which tend to be
oriented toward the industrial sector. In South Africa, US
agricultural products now face competition from the EU,
Australia, Argentina, Canada, India, and Thailand. India
and Thailand are the main competitors in the rice market.
Canada, Brazil, the UK, and France are the principal
competitors in the poultry sector. In the wheat market,
We now have to compete
against fi rst world
countries in an open market
system according to their
standards.
fl uenced by other industries not having to deal with these
uncertainties. Can you imagine fi ghting these odds if you
are an emerging farmer?
This example pitches more on the higher end of the agricultural
spectrum, the policy makers, legislative controllers,
service providers and agri-businesses. In a follow-up
article I would like to zoom into the producers level by discussing
either one of #27: The truth/accuracy versus reality
of forecasting’ or #42: Gross margin versus Nett margin
in view of emerging farmers in agriculture and illustrate the
usefulness and application of the methodology where the
planning group is relatively small.
Until next time, when you drink the
water, remember the spring.
Dr Johann Booysen, Institute for Resource
Utilisation, can be contacted on Tel. 02 808
7723, or e-mail JohannB@elsenburg.com
we now have to compete against fi rst world countries in an
open market system according to their standards.
When the various industry specifi c charters evolved
from the Codes of Good Practice, which the Department
of Trade and Industry published, BEE consultants
noted that what makes fi nding a solution for
South Africa a rare and unique opportunity, is that it
will also be a solution for Africa. It is doubtful that the
current agricultural fi nancing fraternity will come up
with a solution if they continue to focus on
fi rst world systems that control third world
needs to death.
A unique ‘Out of Africa’ solution in
fi nancial production factors
in agriculture is needed.
Australia, Argentina, Canada, and the EU are the
main competitors. EU exports of these products generally
benefi t from export subsidies. The EU-South Africa Free
Trade Agreement, which took effect January 2000, helped
boost the EU’s access to the SA market.
The national policy goals set by the Government for
agriculture are: (1) To build an effi cient and internationally
competitive agricultural sector; (2) To support the emergence
of a set of more diverse farming systems which
facilitate the emergence of a black agricultural sector; and
(3) To conserve our natural resources and put in place
policies and institutions for sustainable production. The
Agricultural Credit Act forms the basis for action by the
Agricultural Credit Board. Financing of agricultural national
policies comes from the national budget and is run
by programs such as CASP, LRAD, PIG & DIP within the
Dept. of Agriculture with expertise in agricultural economics,
engineering and extension. These experts determine
the needs, priorities and fi nancial assistance of communal,
subsistence and beginner farmers, small farms, part time
and commercial farmers.
continued on p. 14
AgriPROBE June 2007

AgriPROBE Junie 2007
Emerging vegetable producers have always been faced with a complicated market environment,
due to factors such as lack of access to market information on where to sell their
produce, how to access particular market channels, market requirements, having to compete
against established counterparts, small produce volumes, inconsistent supply, marketing infrastructure
and number of other constraints. These factors have a direct negative infl uence on emerging
farmers to access mainstream markets.
Providing market information can help to minimise the negative impact of the above mentioned
factors. Hence the Department of Agriculture is producing quarterly vegetable market reports as a
tool to be used by farmers for better and improved decision making and market access.
General market requirements are consistent supply, high volumes, and quality products. The
advantage of continuous supply gives farmers an opportunity to secure profi table markets and
to become reliable suppliers in the market. But to attain this, it will need the co-operation among
emerging farmers who produce particular vegetable crops - sharing production, marketing and
business management skills. The production plan can also play a crucial role in assisting emerging
farmers to maintain consistency in the market. In other words, the ‘wait and see’ approach should
be abandoned in favour of a ‘plan and produce’ approach.
The success of emerging vegetable producers largely depends on their ability to produce high
value and specialty crops that are targeted at niche markets because most of the existing markets
are saturated.
It may not be easy for emerging farmers to penetrate the mainstream markets due to high levels
of competition.
Market information to boost access
Putting our
thinking cap(s)
on
Green Hat:
Creative
thinking
Consider this proposal, based on the previous
three hats. Let’s accept that fi nance models for promoting
better, more attractive and easily obtainable nett
margins do not exist currently. Secondly, let’s accept the
fact that productivity, effi ciency and global competiveness
is moving in the right direction with a free-market system,
and thirdly that banking expertise is lacking in government
efforts to promote its policy goals. Why not combine
the efforts of the Landbank with those of government in
fi nancing, administering and managing production factors
in agriculture? Why not use current government expertise,
tailored to making production happen, to advise producers
and fi nancial experts in the banking industry on what
should be fi nanced? Let the banking experts administer
CASP, LRAD, PIG and DIP (grants) funding according to
third world requirements.
Agriculture is a 6% return on investment industry; other
industries can perform at 30% and higher - fi nancial products
should therefore have more relaxed terms and conditions
and performance of both producer and the fi nancier
should be judged within the agricultural ROI context.
Red Hat: intuitive
thinking
The challenge for
commercial farmers is to
survive, given the system
as it is; the challenge for the
emerging farmer is to get into agriculture
and THEN to survive!
When servicing them why not follow a different road
from the one observed in Springbok rugby — playing people
out of their positions.
Let the extension offi cers, agricultural engineers and
economists do what they do best, let the bankers do what
they do best and develop products for the producer in collaboration
with the realities of agriculture in SA.
Blue Hat: The
big picture
Useful? For the purpose of
what should happen and how it
should happen probably not, but from illustrating
the value and ability of the methodology,
yes. There is no wrong way of working through the
hats as long as all are visited. Revisiting hats is also part
of making sure we cover all avenues.
Looking back on all the hats, isn’t it revealing and satisfying
to look at the total picture from all perspectives and
imagine what it can do for focusing, understanding, participating
and pulling forces together.
4

In addition, there are different market
channels that the producers can explore,
namely direct market (chain stores, processing
companies etc), fresh produce
markets, and informal markets. However,
the approach to these markets differ in
terms of their operation. For example, in
the retail sector, the produce is mainly
bought directly from the farm whereas in
the fresh produce markets the produce
is sold by the market agent and belongs
to the farmer until it is sold. There is a
need for good understanding of different
marketing channels in order to be able
5
to cope with the challenges that exist within
each channel. Similarly, this understanding is
necessary as the different marketing channels
also offer some benefi ts.
In conclusion, market information has a
great role to play in helping emerging farmers
understand the factors that infl uence market
access, market prices and other market related
issues. It is on this basis that the quarterly
vegetable market reports will be made
available on a continuous basis.
Modise Moloi, Agricultural Economics, can be
contacted at modisem@elsenburg.com.
Organic/Inorganic production tested
Organic farming is a way of farming that avoids
the use of synthetic chemicals as well as genetically
modifi ed organisms (GMOs), and usually
subscribes to the principles of sustainable agriculture.
The emphasis is on soil health. It is believed that healthy
soil, maintained without the use of man-made fertilisers
and pesticides, and livestock raised without drugs, yields
higher quality food than conventional, chemically based
agriculture.’ This is one of the defi nitions that one will
come across when seeking to understand the controversy
around organic farming.
According to the international organic farming organisation,
IFOAM: ‘The role of organic agriculture whether
in farming, processing, distribution, or consumption, is to
sustain and enhance the health of ecosystems and organisms
from the smallest in the soil to human beings.’
‘We are advocates or lobbyists of neither organic nor
inorganic farming’, says the new research technician,
Sheila Besten, of the Department’s Plant Production section
based at the Outeniqua Research Farm, George.
‘The various vegetables we will be looking at over a period
of time are cabbage, caulifl ower, broccoli,
sweet corn, green mielies, butternut, beans,
carrots, onion, sweet peppers and tomato.
The trials are supervised by Dr. Jacques
van Zyl.’
Resource poor or emerging farmers
are the hardest hit when it comes to
agricultural inputs such as agrochemicals,
fertiliser, irrigation
systems and seeds. They
cannot access or afford
them, and have to rely
on local resources
within their immediate
Sheila Besten , Institute
for Plant Production,
Outeniqua
Research Farm can
be contacted at 044
803 3700.
surroundings, e.g. compost making, bird or animal waste
collection, carrying water in buckets, etc.
‘During visits to community projects, I found that farmers
are divided when it came to organic vs conventional
methods of farming,’ says Besten. ‘Some preferred organic
methods as it is a system familiar to them from their
youth, while others preferred conventional methods as
this requires less labour input compared to organic farming.’
Other factors that play a major role in the production
methods used include labour/human resources (governed
mainly by age and health of farmers), fi nancial means of
the farmers as well as institutional assistance. Through
a concerted team effort the Department will be able to
provide scientifi cally gathered information based on local
conditions, pest prevalence, suitable cultivars, etc. and
technology transfer that would enable especially
resource poor farmers, to farm effectively and
effi ciently.
‘Our aim is to simply
conduct organic
vs. inorganic
trials, determine
production potential
of vegetables in the
region and see what
the outcome will be.’
AgriPROBE June 2007

Beplan nou reeds
Die lae produksietempo van somerproduserende
weidingsgewasse soos
kikoejoe en lusern gedurende die
winter (Junie, Julie en Augustus) is die belangrikste rede
waarom winter voer tekorte voorkom. Buiten die tydige
opberging van voer vir gebruik gedurende die winter, is die
aanplant van winterproduserende weidingsgewasse die
enigste ander opsie om wintervoertekorte te verlig.
Onder droëlandtoestande is reënval en hoë temperature
die belangrikste faktore wat dikwels die produksie en
tydige plant van winterproduserende weidingsgewasse
belemmer. Onder besproeiing is die risiko van watertekort
minder en kan tydig geplant word. Die belangrikste redes
vir mislukking is egter dat gewastipes geplant word wat nie
die vermoë het om gedurende die kritiese wintermaande
(Junie, Julie en Augustus) te produseer nie of dat die regte
tipes wel geplant word, maar deur te vroeg of te laat te
plant, word hul produksiepotensiaal benadeel.
Om te verseker dat landbouers die korrekte gewasse
op die regte tyd plant, is ’n navorsingprojek op Outeniqua
Proefplaas uitgevoer wat die produksiepotensiaal en
kwaliteit van verskillende belowende winterproduserende
gewasse by verskillende saaitye in skoon stande en gemengde
stande onder beweiding bepaal. Die ondersoek
was onder besproeiing op ’n Estcourt grondtipe uitgevoer.
Bemesting was gebaseer op grondontledings en daarop
gemik om die fosfor vlakke op 35 mg/kg, kalium op 80
mg/kg en pH (KCL) op 5.5 te stabiliseer. Stikstof is teen 55
kg/ha/maand toegedien.Verskillende wintergroeiende ge-
AgriPROBE Junie 2007
winterweiding
wasse was volgens die voorafopgestelde saaitye (Februarie,
Maart, April en Mei) sonder om die grond te bewerk,
met ’n Aitchison-planter geplant. Eenjarige raaigras (Energa)
is in suiwer stande teen 25 kg/ha en in ’n mengsel
saam met hawer (SSH42 ) teen 5 kg raaigras en 60 kg
hawer gesaai. Hawer en korog (Bacchus) was saam teen
onderskeidelik 50 kg/ha en 80 kg/ha gesaai.
Hierdie navorsing toon dat die winterproduksiepotensiaal
en kwaliteit deur planttyd beinvloed kan word. Hawer
of ’n mengsel van hawer en korog wat gedurende Februarie
geplant word, kan reeds gedurende die eerste week
van Mei bewei kan word, maar sal dan slegs tot Junie
produseer. Die hoogste produksie gedurende die winter
(Junie/Julie/Augustus) was behaal deur eenjarige raaigras
vanaf middel Februarie tot middel Maart in ’n suiwer
stand of gedurende middel Februarie in ’n mengsel saam
met hawer of korog te plant. Die ru-proteïn-inhoud en in
vitro organiese materiaalverteerbaarheid (IVOMV) van die
Februarie, Maart en April aanplantings was hoog (23% en
75% onderskeidelik), maar die gemiddelde
RP-inhoud van hawer en korog was by
die Mei-aanplanting laer as 20%.
Volledige inligting oor hierdie projek,
wat ook die produksie van ander
wintergroeinde gewasse insluit, is
beskikbaar.
Kontak Dr Philip Botha
Instituut vir Plantproduksie, Outeniqua
Proefplaas Tel. 044 803 3712 of
PhilipB@elsenburg.com
Navorsing toon
dat die winterproduksie
-
potensiaal en
kwaliteit deur
planttyd beinvloed
kan word
6

Koebeeberg kry water
Wes-Kaapse Minister van Landbou, Cobus Dowry,
het onlangs ’n opwindende projek op die Koebeeberg
by Vanrhynsdorp geopen waardeur
nege boere, hul plaaswerkers en vee vir
die eerste keer van drinkwater voor sien
word. Minister Dowry het sy toespraak
begin met ’n gepaste: ‘Dit is eers wanneer
jy nie water het nie, dat jy die
waarde daavan besef, of soos Benjamin
Franklin gesê het: When the well is dry,
we learn the worth of water.’
Nadat meer as 70 onsuksesvolle
boorgate deur die jare op die Koebeeberg
gesink is, het die Wes-
Johan Smit, grondeienaar van die plaas Waterval,
Minister Cobus Dowry, Klonkies van der Westhuizen,
voorsitter van die Watergebruikersvereniging en Pieter
de Lange, ’n ingenieurstegnikus van die Departement
tydens
7
die opening van die skema
Kaapse Departement Landbou in samewerking met die
Nasionele Departement onlangs ’n oplossing gevind. Teen
’n kapitaalkoste van ongeveer R2 miljoen, word water nou
deur vier pompe met ’n 8km pyplyn en ’n stelsel van 2
opgaartenks na die nege plase gepomp.
Drinkwater vir mens en dier is vir baie jare oor groot afstande
en teen hoë koste en ongerief aangery, in sommige
gevalle tot 50km ver. Johan Smith van die plaas Waterval
teen die voet van die berg, het die boorgat op sy plaas vir
die skema beskikbaar gestel. Weens die rotsagtige gebied
loop die pyplyn oor groot gedeeltes bo-op die grond, wat
eiesoortige probleme soos die skadelike ultra-violetstrale
van die son en die gevaar van brande teweeg bring.
Die plaaslike Watergebruikersvereniging het eienaarskap
asook aanspreeklikheid
vir die bedryf en instandhouding
van die skema aanvaar.
Pompstasie 1 tussen die boorgat
en reservoir. Die stelsel word
telemetries beheer en gemonitor
wat pompstasie 2 aan-/afskakel
in reaksie op die watervlak in die
reservoir.
AgriPROBE June 2007

International
women join
The hosting of the 4th World Congress of Rural
Women (WCRW) in April at the Durban International
Convention Centre had set the South African
government and our provincial departments of agriculture
into a global limelight writes Monde Dlakavu, a communications
intern at the Department, who attended the
congress.
As host nation, it was important that the declaration
had to be translated into a workable method to assist
women to rise above the shackles of history. The main issues
highlighted in the declaration were that rural women
still have less access to land, natural resources, infrastructure,
and fi nancial assistance, communication technologies,
information and HIV/AIDS counseling centers.
To address these challenges, the South African delegation
was of the view that civil society organisations,
government and departments of agriculture in particular,
should spearhead the changes in the sector. Shortage of
skills and ownership of land among rural women was a
cornerstone of their concern.
South African Deputy President, Pumzile Malambo-
Ngcuka’s address at the congress showed some glimpses
of hope that the government is indeed serious about
its mandate to provide infrastructure and accelerate skills
to women in rural areas.
The Deputy President told the delegates that the challenge
of women especially in rural areas was poverty and
powerlessness. She also stressed the need to address
these problems head-on. ‘Dealing with women’s poverty
is the biggest and most urgent business of developing
states. It has to be mainstreamed and can’t be left to
macro economic plans or helped by Gross Domestic
Product growth only.’
She further said that the ‘government and large institutions
must please engage with these issues with an
aim to link and deal with the macro and micro issues in
national policy making.’
The gathering, the biggest of its kind, attracted almost
3000 delegates from 60 countries who descended in
Durban for three days of deliberations. Prior to the World
Congress, African countries met to discuss and develop
a position paper to table at the congress.
The position paper, according to the organisers,
received a welcome reception from the international
delegation. Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs, Lulu
Xingwana, said she did not want a talk show but active
participation and conclusive plans of action to address
conditions of rural women.
Another keynote speaker, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela,
who spoke on the role of civil society encouraged
participants to share experiences on the realities of
poverty faced by rural women. There was also a general
call for women in better positions to roll up their sleeves
and contribute effectively in lowering the levels of poverty
AgriPROBE Junie 2007
forces
wome
agricu
Antoinette Parks:
my storie
Departement Landbou bied jaarliks die Vroueboer
van die Jaar kompetisie aan - eers op
provinsiale vlak, waarna die provinsiale
wenners op nasionale vlak meeding.
Antionette Parks, een van die merkwaardige vroue
wat in 2002 aan hierdie kompetisie deelgeneem het, het
destyds ’n tweede plek in die kategorie ‘produsent vir huishoudelike
gebruik’ behaal. Antoinette het haar storie self
só vir AgriPROBE geskryf:
‘Vyf jaar na die historiese optog op Augustus 56 na
die Uniegebou in Pretoria, is ek gebore. Vandag, meer as
in poorer areas of the world.
Henceforth the congress unanimously declared,
‘Women should speak for themselves about issues affecting
them.’
The Western Cape Department of Agriculture works
closely with WARD (Women in Agriculture and Rural Development),
a body established by Minister Xingwana to
raise awareness of the plight of women in agriculture and
to generate solutions for these problems.
8

en in
ulture
50 jaar later, pluk ek van die goue vrugte van die besondere
vroue wat die moed van ’n Bybelse Ester gehad het.
Hul droom en visie vir vroue in Suid-Afrika het ’n werklikheid
geword en juis daarom kan ons spog met vroue
in ons land in verskillende hoë posisies. Suid-Afrikaanse
vroue (van huishulp tot dokter) is volwaardige leiers,
opvoedkundiges, droom- en werkskeppers en moeders
vir almal. Met al die gratis opleiding en opvoedkundige
programme beskikbaar, hoef geen vrou ongeletterd of
onopgelei te wees nie.
Ek is een van die vroue wat soveel bereik het in Suid-
Afrika - iets wat vir die vroue van 56 ondenkbaar was.
Ek is ’n 45-jarige weduwee; ma van twee seuns. Na my
man se dood in Januarie 2002 het ek besluit om sy stokperdjie
voort te sit: sy perskeboerdery. My plek, Bonnie
Esperance tussen Banhoek, Kylemore en Pniel, beslaan
,46 ha en daar is 4 kultivars met 00 bome. Ek het
geen opleiding in landbou nie - wat ek ken het ek van my
oorlede man geleer wat ook nie opleiding gehad het nie.
Hy het weer leiding gekry van sy oom Norman (74) wat
nou ook my mentor is. Ek werk ook as ’n klerk in ’n gallery
in Stellenbosch, maar saans en naweke is ek besig met
Community service for vets?
A
workshop and investigatory site visits of facilities
in the Western Cape were conducted by a delegation
from the National Department of Agriculture, to
investigate the feasibility of introducing a programme of
compulsory state service by newly qualified veterinarians.
The workshop, which was recently held at Elsenburg,
was well attended by vets from the state, welfare and
private sectors.
The overwhelming message from the Western Cape
workshop was that, should community service for vets be
implemented, it should be delivered to communities which
die versorging van my bome.
DIt was ’n hoogtepunt in my lewe toe ek in September
2002, slegs sewe maande na die dood van my man, ’n
tweede plek in die Departement se Vroueboer kompetisie
behaal het. Dit was ’n wonderlike gevoel om ’n verskil
in ’n manswêreld te kan maak, ongeag my omstandighede,
pyn en hartseer. Na die kompetisie kon ek as vrou
vrymoedig ’n brief aan die destydse Wes-Kaapse Minister
van Landbou (Johan Gelderblom) skryf en om hulp
vra. Die Departement het onderseunings-programme
en projekte in plek waarvan opkomende vroueboere
ook voordeel kan trek. In 2005 het ek ’n tweedehandse
trekker, pakmateriaal, spuit- en voedingstowwe, diesel, ’n
randsnyer, ens. deur middel van die CASP-fondse gekry
wat my ’n groot voorsprong gegee het.
Ek pak self my perskes en stuur dit na Eppingmark in
die Kaap.
’n Wens-land is Suid-Afrika, want 20 000 sonskynvroue,
ongeag hul omstandighede, het in 56 dit vir
ons moontlik gemaak. Viva Lillian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph,
Sophia Williams en Rahima Moosa!’
Antoinette het verlede jaar in ’n skryfkompetisie deur
Huisgenoot, 1st for Women Trust, R50 000 gewen wat sy
goedgunstiglik geskenk het vir vaardigheidsontwikkeling
(klere-ontwerp en naaldwerk) vir 24 werklose vroue van
die Dwarsriviervallei. ‘Die idee is dat hierdie vroue na
afloop van die kursusse hul eie besigheid op die been
kan bring, of deel kan raak van die groter naaldwerkarena.’
“Ek is nou ’n
suksesvolle
vroueboer wat
deeltyds boer en
tydelike werk aan
2 tot 3 vroue
verskaf”
do not have adequate access to veterinary services. For
this purpose, close working relationships between the
state vets, private vets (in particular also the livestock
vets) and welfare organisations are essential, in terms of
infrastructural and mentoring needs of community vets.
Questionnaires on the subject were distributed to all
Western Cape vets on the Departmental distribution lists
by e-mail.
Please forward completed questionnaires to Dr. Annelie
Cloete at anneliec@elsenburg.com or fax: 02 808
5 26, or phone her at 02 808 5254 for more information.
AgriPROBE June 2007

www.elsenburg.com
AgriPROBE Junie 2007
20