The award-winning Harrobi Brahman Stud has left a noticeable impact on beef cattle production in Namibia since 1954. The stud was founded on some of the first white Brahmans to be imported from the US in that year, Annelie Coleman reports.

Stock theft, harsh veld conditions, and the demands of running a diversified farming business are constant tests for South African livestock producers. Paul and Daleen Roos of Moneymaker Meatmasters stud spoke to Henning Naudé about why they made the switch and how disciplined culling and a clear commercial breeding philosophy have helped build a young stud in just five years.

Many of the factors that limit pig growth and feed efficiency begin in the gut long before visible disease appears. Understanding how gut health affects nutrient utilisation can help producers unlock better performance and avoid costly hidden losses.

As the demand continues to grow across Africa and South Africa for impeccable Brahman cattle genetics, the Brahman is playing an increasing role in the Bos-Blanco Stud’s overall breeding strategy.

The Loriza Brahmans are specifically bred for fertility, growth, milk and equally importantly, a calm disposition. Louis Meyer, owner of the stud, told Annelie Coleman that it is a pleasure to work with animals with an even temperament, and it also adds markedly to effective management and, obviously, increased production.

As South Africa’s pig industry prepares for the transition away from gestation crates, producers will need to rethink far more than floor space. Research shows that the success of group housing depends on how housing design, feeding systems, ventilation, stocking density and day-to-day management work together to support both welfare and productivity.