ProAgri BNZ 22

ProAgri B otswa n a / N am i b ia/ ia / Zim b ab w e No 22

Improve your goat farm

Free

Botswana page 28

Namibia page 33

Zimbabwe page 40

Butchery guide part 2: Make the most of every carcass

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E

very farmer wants his farming business to expand. Whether you are a small-scale farmer that only has time to farm over weekends, or a commercial farmer who produces and sells his goods on the market does not matter.

The goal is always growth, progress, and expansion. But not all growth is positive. Sometimes farmers can attempt to do too much, too quickly, and this may lead to constraints on the cash flow of their business.

The importance of a business strategy for your farm cannot be overestimated.

Do your market research and make sure that you have a clear picture of the market that you are trying to enter. Do not over-commit yourself by trying to produce beyond your capacity. This will only lead to increased issues when you over-promise and under-deliver.

Speak to experts that can help you set up a strategic growth plan for your business. Make sure that you are aware of all the variables, expenses, and hidden pitfalls that you will need to consider. A calculated risk can work out to your benefit, but taking blind risks in

the hope of growth and expansion have seen many farmers go under.

ProAgri has always been dedicated to bringing our readers training article series in various sectors of the agricultural industry. If you require any specific information that is perhaps not in our current article series, feel free to contact us to find out more. If ProAgri’s team of experts are not able to assist you, we will be able to put you into contact with the relevant experts in the industry.

Agriculture is a dynamic business with frequent developments in technology.

Farmers should therefore realise that they cannot operate in isolation. Asking the right questions and gaining the correct knowledge by contacting relevant experts is key to your farm’s success.

Contact us on Facebook or by visiting our websites www.proagri.co.za or www.agri4all.com. You may also e-mail me on jaco@proagri.co.za.

Farm smartly!

Jaco Cilliers jaco@proagri.co.za

Cover

Letter from the Editor

Agrico shows how effective pivots can work on small scale livestock farms. You do not need a large grain farm to afford a pivot.

ProAgri B ot s wa n a/ a / N a m i b i a/ a/Zimbabwe

577 Rossouw Street, Die Wilgers, Pretoria +27 (0)79 515 8708 www.proagri.co.za Copyright © 2019. All rights r­ eserved. No m ­ aterial, text or p ­ hoto­graphs may be r­ eproduced, copied or in any other way t­ ransmitted without the written consent of the publisher. O ­ pinions ­expressed are not n ­ ecessarily those of the publisher or of the e ­ ditor. We recognise all trademarks and logos as the sole property of their r­ espective o ­ wners.

ProAgri shall not be liable for any errors or for any actions in reliance thereon.

ProAgri

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9

12

24

33

3.

Agrico plays a pivotal role in small-scale farming

7.

Reinke's warehouse in Durban has stock for Africa in Africa

9.

Starting your own vegetable garden

40

11.

Staalmeester hammer mills: Tailor made for Africa’s rugged conditions

12.

Farming with goats Part 9: Economics of keeping goats

17.

Rotary tillers are simple but effective Part 1: The self-propelled, walk-behind

Content

garden model 21.

The operation and application of medium and big square balers Part 1: Bale sizes, designs and component functions

24.

Composting and composting systems Part 5: Composting methods and structures

28.

Vegetable planting guide part 3: Carrots and green beans

33.

Butcher guide for cattle Part 2: The hind quarter

40.

Sheep farming made easy Part 4: The big five of parasite control

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 22

Editor Jaco Cilliers > +27 71-893-6477 jaco@proagri.co.za Reporters Benine Ackermann > +27 73-105-6938 benine@proagri.co.za Bianca Henning > +27 82-326-2572 bianca@proagri.co.za Specialist Writer Annemarie Bremner > +27 82-320-3642 annemarie@proagri.co.za Client Relations Manager: Carin Swartz > +27 84-233-0123 carin@proagri.co.za Marketing Manager Diane Grobler > +27 82-555-6866 diane@proagri.co.za Marketing Xander Pieterse > +27 79-524-0934 xander@proagri.co.za Johan Swartz > +27 71-599-9417 johan@proagri.co.za Tiny Smith > +27 82-698-3353 tiny@proagri.co.za Anelda Strauss > +27 76-687-4419 anelda@proagri.co.za Janine Vermaak > +27 71-872-3059 janine@proagri.co.za Creative Director Christiaan Joubert > +27 72-419-3990 christiaan@proagri.co.za Design Michelle Kruger & Lizelle Erasmus Enquiries Engela Botha > +27 12-803-0782 engela@proagri.co.za Accounts Ronel Schluter > +27 12-803-0782 accounts@proagri.co.za Business Manager George Grobler

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ProAgri BNZ 22

Agrico plays a pivotal role in small-scale farming

by Jaco Cilliers

A

common misconception is that pivot irrigation is too expensive for smallscale livestock farmers. Some farmers believe that they need to plant grain extensively in order to justify the capital investment and running costs of a centre pivot irrigation system. This is clearly not the case, and Agrico proves it.

Johan Rossouw, a sheep and goat farmer from Heidelberg in South Africa, provides the perfect example of how small-scale livestock farming can not only afford irrigation, but also greatly benefit from it.

In 2017 Johan erected an 8-hectare Agrico pivot on his farm. The pivot consists of two towers and an 18-metre overhang. It is used to irrigate a mixture of rye and ryegrass throughout the year.

Johan divides the 8 hectares into various camps that his 100 goats and 100 sheep can graze in. “With the feed mixture under irrigation, I have to take the fences down and send my cattle in from time to

time to ensure that the pasture remains short enough for the sheep and goats to graze effectively,” Johan explains.

The difference that the pivot has made to his business is remarkable. “The average weight of the sheep and goats being sent to the abattoir has increased from 16 kg on dry land to 37 kg with the irrigated pasture,” says Johan. This guarantees a return on investment and will see the pivot return every cent of the initial cost within the first few seasons. “The fact that you have access to good quality feed throughout the year means that you do not have to buy expensive bales – especially during the winter months when natural vegetation is scarce and the price of bales increase dramatically,” Johan adds.

An Agrico agent introduced Johan to the idea of erecting a centre pivot on his farm years ago. He was hesitant at first due to the fact that it was substantial capital investment. But three years later

Johan says that installing an Agrico pivot on his farm is the best investment that he could have made to boost the profit from his livestock.

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 22

The two-tower Agrico pivot that Johan Rossouw uses to keep his flocks well fed all year round.

he says: “It is the best decision that I could have made for my farm.”

Because a centre pivot irrigation system is a significant investment on your farm, you also have to make sure that the quality of the product is of a high standard to avoid expensive maintenance and high running cost. Johan is definitely impressed with the quality and after sales service offered by Agrico.

“I ensure that the gearboxes are oiled and that the centre is greased, but apart from that there is no major maintenance work that needs to be done. I check the wheels for punctures and the sprinklers for blockages, but this is normal inspection. You can tell if something is wrong by simply looking at your pivot while in operation.”

The Agrico team closest to Johan is situated in Nigel. Burtie van der Westhuizen from the Agrico branch in Nigel is always available when Johan needs him. “What I appreciate most of Burtie and his team, is that I never have to wait to hear from them, and they always provide feedback. With the quick and accurate feedback that they provide, they enable me to make better management decisions for my farm,” according to Johan. This service is rendered through a comprehensive branch network with equal enthusiasm end efficiency wherever a pivot from Agrico may be.

To find out how your livestock can benefit from an Agrico pivot, contact Agrico on +27(0)83-455-5423 or +27-(0)21 950-4111. You can also send an e-mail to sales@agrico.co.za, or visit their website on www.agrico.co.za.

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ProAgri BNZ 22

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Contact Tanya Brits on +27-82-853-0265 or visit www.zimmatic.com today!

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 22

5

WE BACK EVERY PIVOT

G I B Patrick Ellis

031 350 4525

www.reinke.com 6

OR

M S

L L A

patrickellis@reinke.com

ProAgri BNZ 22

Reinke's warehouse in Durban has stock for Africa in Africa

by Jaco Cilliers

A

n abundant harvest of healthy crops is every farmer's dream. A Reinke centre pivot makes this dream come true.

Reinke is the largest privately owned irrigation company in the world. This American company has been expanding to Africa for several years. In August 2017, the first stock arrived at their new warehouse in Durban. This warehouse is used to store stock for Reinke's clients in Africa. Since its opening, 271 pivots have found their way through the warehouse doors to satisfied farmers.

A total of 1 430 towers were erected, along with other equipment needed in a pivot irrigation system such as pumps, electric motors, flow meters, valves, pipes, sprinklers, and every other conceivable centre pivot part.

Reinke offers a turnkey irrigation solution that includes more than the centre pivot itself.

When a farmer orders a new centre pivot or needs spare parts for one of his existing centre pivots, the components are packed and transported to the farm immediately. The whole purpose of the warehouse in Durban is to get products to Africa's farmers much sooner than obtaining them from America.

"Depending on the client's requirements, we can deliver anywhere in South Africa within 24 hours," says Warehouse Manager Dhlieb Bissessar.

Waiting for stock from America can take anything between six and eight weeks depending on the weather conditions and how soon the ship can get into port. An order from African countries outside South Africa can be packed and delivered within a week.

The entire plant is staffed by a handful of dedicated and knowledgeable staff. When they receive an order, they pack the different parts in crates and send them to the farmer on a truck.

Reinke employs a network of agents and dealers who service farmers in South Africa, but also in the rest of

Reinke is well known for its solid structure. Even though the wind is strong enough to make the wind farm work, it is not strong enough to topple a Reinke pivot.

Reinke's packaging plant in Durban maintains enough stock to ensure that no farmer ever has to wait for spare parts. The plant supplies countries in Southern Africa such as Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Mauritius.

Africa, by introducing Reinke products to them. The agents inform farmers about the benefits of Reinke products and bring them into contact with the nearest Reinke dealers. The dealers then take over to design, erect and provide all after-sales services for the farmer to allow him to expand his farming operation effortlessly.

Since the warehouse opened its doors in 2017, the demand has grown so much that the Reinke team in Durban has expanded to twelve members.

Patrick Ellis, Director of Reinke South Africa, says: "We have invested intensively in the expansion and training of our staff, even throughout the ongoing pandemic and lockdowns.

We believe that expert service is the key to satisfied clients who make a business successful."

The warehouse provides for all pivot sizes. No project is too big or too small. Furthermore, they also have different size pivots in stock. Pivot sizes usually vary between about 1 ha and 85 ha. There is always about

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 22

R30 million worth of stock available in the warehouse to ensure that a farmer never has to wait for a pivot or parts.

A satisfied client, Schalk Barnard from Potchefstroom, says: "Even though the warehouse is in Durban, I never have to wait longer than 24 hours before the Reinke bakkie stops here in Potchefstroom if I need something. The service is excellent."

Part of Reinke's pride is the design of the centre pivot structure. The towers are designed in such a way that most of the weight that would normally be carried by the pipeline is now carried by the towers. This extends the pivot's lifetime and reduces maintenance on the parts.

For further enquiries, contact Patrick Ellis, Director of Reinke South Africa, at +27-(0)31-3504525, or send an e-mail to patrickellis@reinke.com.

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ProAgri BNZ 22

Starting your own vegetable garden

T

here are many advantages in producing your own food. Not everyone can keep livestock, but whether you live on a farm or in a flat in the middle of the city, you can produce your own vegetables. Some people like the idea because they can then guarantee that the vegetables they eat have not been treated with unhealthy chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides or preservatives. Whether you have a patch of land or a flowerpot, you can grow your own healthy and nutritious vegetables.

This step-by-step guide will help you through the process of setting up your own veggie-patch.

the raw garden soil. It is recommended to make a good mix of compost and potting soil. Adding bone meal is also good for vegetable growth. A sandy, fertile mixture is the optimal growth medium.

Planning Planning is the most important part of any new project and can make the difference between success and failure.

There are many factors to consider when planning a vegetable garden. The space required (and available) is probably the first to consider. Some plants, like pumpkins and creeper beans, need a lot of space to grow, while spinach, onions and carrots can be grown in smaller patches.

Irrigation Depending on the size of the vegetable garden you can decide between watering by hand and having a domestic irrigation system. Read ProAgri regularly for ideas on installing your own inexpensive irrigation system for vegetable gardens. Whatever you decide on, it is important not to allow the soil to dry out completely, neither to over-irrigate, as this can be just as bad for the plants. Vegetables grow best in moist soil instead of wet or dry soil.

Soil type It is better to prepare a proper soil bed before planting and not simply plant in

Sunlight Enough exposure to sunlight is crucial.

Without this the plants will not grow properly, no matter how fertile the soil or how often you water them. Make sure that your vegetable patch is in a nice sunny area where the plants will have enough sunlight to grow properly, preferably in the afternoon.

Seeds or seedlings If you have the space it is good to

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 22

plant seeds in small pots first and then transplant the strongest seedlings about two weeks later. If this is not an option, most good nurseries will have seedlings that you can buy in trays of six or twelve plants. These are usually quite inexpensive. When making your own seedlings, place about three seeds in each little pot and then select the strongest when transplanting to the soil bed.

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ProAgri BNZ 22

Staalmeester hammer mills: Tailor made for Africa’s rugged conditions S

taalmeester has been manufacturing hammer mills since 1951 and as one of South Africa’s pioneering agricultural machinery manufacturers, the company builds their machinery with Africa’s rugged conditions in mind.

“Staalmeester is a preferred and reliable mechanisation partner for small and medium farmers,” says Martin Coetzee, Managing Director of Staalmeester. He adds that over the course of the past seven decades the company has not only expanded its geographical reach but also its product offering. At present Staalmeester has 108 products on offer, it imports machinery and parts from 11 countries, and exports to 18 countries.

Staalmeester hammer mills

Staalmeester 6776 Pick-up Hammer Mill (PTO drive) This pick-up unit is bolted to the standard 6776 hammer mill and is designed especially for South African conditions.

The fodder is milled and treated in one process, eliminating double handling.

Material such as lucerne, grass, sugar cane, peanut hay, wheat straw and maize stalks can be picked up from the swath effortlessly and milled to your specifications. By unscrewing the gathering unit, you can use this machine as a normal mill.

Staalmeester Harvester Hammer Mill (PTO drive) This is a very unique maize harvesting hammer mill. It has a single row intake and a spacing of 90 cm and an adjustable row spacing head. Dry material is chopped using a rotary blade system.

After cutting the material from the ground it pushes it through to the intake auger that crushes the material and steadily feeds the 6776-hammer mill. The harvester hammer mill comes standard with a platform to stand on and replace the bags while milling in the field. There is also a hitch to tow a wagon behind the harvester if the user

decides on removing the bag cyclone and replacing it with a chute to discharge the material onto a wagon.

Staalmeester 6776 Heavy Duty Hammer Mill (PTO drive, 37 kW electric or 45 kW electric) This is a multipurpose heavy duty hammer mill and is regarded as being top of its class when it comes to industrial milling. This hammer mill is equipped with an in-feed auger that shreds the bale before it goes into the grinding area, allowing for increased capacity and flow. Any type of material can be processed while also accommodating the popular B70 round bales and whole square bales. Various power options are available.

Staalmeester SM 24 Hammer Mill (PTO drive, 22 kW electric or 30 kW electric) The SM 24 has a very unique design as it comes with a standard heavy duty in-feed auger that is used to steadily feed the hammer mill and 16 hardened hammers. The auger is furthermore equipped with heavy duty shredders that allows the material to be shredded before being milled. This feature has a big advantage over the competitors and the capacity is unmatched in its class. Any type of grass and grain types can be fed into this hammer mill.

Staalmeester 6116 RS Hammer Mill (PTO drive, 15 kW electric, 18,5 kW electric or 11,6 kW diesel) The RS model has an integrated blower system that optimises the milling capacity. This blower system allows the material to be automatically fed using a convection method. The cyclone has a two-spout outlet allowing you to fill one bag at a time or fill both at the same time. By removing the cyclone and fitting a chute you can discharge into a wagon or shed. The dynamically balanced rotor is fitted with eight heat treated hammers and four hardened rods ensuring superior quality. Various power options are available.

Staalmeester 6116/18 Hammer Mill (PTO drive, 11 kW electric, 15 kW electric or 11,6 kW diesel) This hammer mill is dust free and has an adjustable closing plate and a large sturdy feed tray. It outperforms any competitor in this class. The 360° milling area ensures smooth and effortless running, using 100% of its capacity.

The dynamically balanced rotor is fitted

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 22

with eight heat treated hammers and four hardened rods. Various power options are available.

Staalmeester 2121 Hammer Mill (5,5 kW electric, 6,5 hp petrol or 5,5 kW diesel) or Staalmeester 2021SP Hammer Mill (220 V electric or 3 kW electric) These hammer mills produce affordable stock feeds, are dust free and comes with an adjustable closing plate and comfortable feeding tray. The hammer mills use gravity for effective milling and the 360° milling area increases both the quality of feed and capacity.

Electric PTO Tractor for Hammer Mills (11 kW, 15 kW, 18,5 kW, 22 kW, 30 kW, 37 kW or 45 kW) Tired of using the only tractor available to operate tractor driven equipment?

If so, the Staalmeester electric tractor, which comes with an electric motor fitted to a frame with v-balls and pulleys to fit any kind of standard PTO, offers an ideal solution. Various power options are available.

JF hammer mills

JF is a Brazilian company that specialises in the manufacturing of agricultural machinery for livestock and agriculture.

These durable hammer mills combine quality, strength, endurance, and accuracy in the processing of several crop types. Their powerful and quick rotors have high resistant hammers and knives that grind grains and maize cobs for producing concentrated rations besides cutting grass, sugar cane and roots for green fodder preparation.

JF 10D Hammer Mill (PTO drive, 7,5 kW electric, 10,5 kW petrol or 10 hp diesel) JF 5D Hammer Mill (2,2 kW electric 220V, 6,5 hp petrol or 5,5 hp diesel) JF 1D Hammer Mill The JF 2D Hammer mill (2,2 kW electric 220V, 6,5 hp petrol or 5,5 hp diesel) is a small but very versatile and powerful hammer mill. The machine is ideal for the grinding of maize, any grain types, as well as corn on the cob. Other applications include sugar cane chopping, grass, lucerne, garden waste and any other green forage. The machine can also be used to chop small branches and garden waste. The rotor is designed with two blades on the side to act as a woodchipper or shredder.

For more information visit www. staalmeester.co.za.

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Farming with goats Part 9:

Economics of keeping goats I

t is important to understand your expected costs and profit based on your system. This will allow you to plan strategically for the coming seasons.

Planning ahead is a vital part of any business, and this is especially true for agricultural businesses.

Various factors influence the economics of your goat farm, such as the type of production system, herd composition, marketing and selling. This article explains the influence of each of these factors and provides some suggestions to improve your management skills.

Different production systems

You can keep goats either under intensive conditions, for example in feedlots where you provide all their feed requirements, on pastures (semiintensive systems), or you can keep them on natural veld under extensive conditions. Different systems have different management requirements and different costs.

Herd composition – How to make your herd more commercially viable

Once a farmer has decided to commercialise his goat flock, he will need to take control of the herd composition – how many rams, productive ewes, castrates and so on.

Management must focus on the ultimate marketing goals. For example, if you aim to sell castrated males, you should castrate all male kids early.

Females for breeding should be replaced after 4 to 5 years. This means that enough maiden ewes must be kept back to fill the gaps left by culled females.

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Understanding the costs, income, and profitability of your business

It is important to understand the potential profitability of your goat business. You need to be able to answer the following questions: • How many kids will be born each year?

• How many will survive until I can sell them?

• What price will I receive for them?

• What does it cost per year to keep my herd (feed, medicines, labour, et cetera)?

• What goats will I sell each year (age and gender)?

This information will allow you to start calculating how much money your business is likely to make. It depends on you as an individual, and how well you run your goat business. If you have many mortalities, you will not make money. If your costs are very high, you will not make a profit.

Value-adding and marketing Selling live goats

In Southern Africa, goats are almost exclusively sold live for ceremonial slaughter in African homes. The majority of goats visibly sold in South Africa are imported from Namibia and sold at taxi ranks or at the side of the road.

These are generally Boer goats. Large numbers of goats are sold, traded, and bartered between communities, families, and farmers.

The highest value for indigenous goats is placed on wethers of 3 years or older. They are mainly valued for their size. It is generally quite hard

ProAgri BNZ 22

to find young ewes (maiden ewes) for sale.

Generally, speculators go around the African areas buying a couple of goats from each farmer until they have enough to make up a consignment.

The other important marketing time is around October when Muslims buy goats for Eid. Goat auctions have been tried by the department and have been moderately successful albeit expensive.

The reason for live sales dominating the market Assume you have an adult goat that weighs 40 kg – you would get 16 kg of meat when you slaughter it (40% dressing percentage). But given current consumer biases, no one will pay more for goat meat than they would pay for beef or mutton.

Consider that during the following periods there is a high demand for live goats: • March/April – Easter weekend • June – Eastern Cape (slaughter of goats for circumcision ceremonies) • November – Muslim market • December – Christmas market

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 22

Demand for different colours

Breeding for colours has become a popular pastime for stud breeders of indigenous goats. Currently, dappled and spotted goats are popular. You can greatly increase the value of goats by breeding in these colours. The popularity and peculiarity of these colours are often trend driven and can change quite rapidly over time. There are also colour biases among African buyers, and these should be checked and understood in each locality.

Selling live goats in large numbers at auctions

If a number of farmers can agree to sell goats as a group, they can reach a critical mass where they can start controlling the marketing of these goats.

This is usually done through auctions or sales days. Auctions can be a particularly useful tool to set the price for goats and sell a large number of goats at market prices within a short time.

For an auction to be successful, these are points to consider: • Communities must be mobilised because auctions need to be strategically timed to occur when buyers will need goats.

• If they are marketed for meat (cull females and wethers), the best time for selling would be around November.

• If they are for breeding stock (rams and maiden ewes), the best time would be in March when they are looking their best.

• There needs to be a critical mass of goats per auction (approximately 400 to 600). If too few, buyers will not be bothered to attend, and costs may be too high.

13

• There needs to be a critical mass of buyers (10 to 20), or else the prices will be low as the buyers will not compete or will buy what they need and leave early.

• At all auctions, a percentage (known as the agent’s fee) goes to the auctioneer (usually 8%). This fee is either retained to pay for the auction or is split with the organisation (farmers’ association) that organised the auction.

• Sometimes farmers who are not members of the association can present goats at the auction, but these are auctioned last and as a result can sell for lower prices.

• Animals need to be tattooed for identification. They must also be treated for worms and ticks before the auction, and the seller must provide proof of ownership.

• Farmers need to agree on a minimum selling price beforehand with the auctioneers, or else prices may not be acceptable to the farmers and they will lose money.

• The Livestock Anti-theft Unit must be informed of the sale and preferably be present.

• The post-auction process needs to be well organised so that farmers can get paid or take their unsold goats back home without getting mixed up.

• Advertising for the auction must be done well in advance so that buyers from further away can plan to attend.

Options for financing auctions Subsidised auction

They can be paid for/subsidised externally by state or NGOs. Here an entity separate from the livestock association or farmer group carries the cost of the process and infrastructure.

Private or industry paid auction

This is the more common type. The farmers’ association or similar structure pays the auctioneer to hold the auction. In addition, the auctioneers charge a fee per animal sold (often 8%). If a minimum number of good quality animals is guaranteed, the auctioneers may not charge the livestock association anything, and will make sufficient profit from the commission charged.

What this means is that, beyond the advertising costs listed below, with at least 400 goats sold and 8% commission collected, the auction should not cost the farmers anything more.

Items that need to be considered as costs for auctions: • Advertising and informing buyers – this is being done by the auctioneer through appropriate newspapers and other publications. A text message system is commonly used to inform buyers who have a relationship or 14

history with the auctioneer. Advertising in national media outlets can be costly, but the results of advertising in ProAgri far outweigh the cost.

• Informing sellers – this is done by the livestock association.

• Sale pens – there is a need for gates that can be erected in a way that goats can be kept in separate lots, channelled to the auction arena, and then kept in separate groups belonging to different buyers. Access to a loading ramp facilitates the loading of goats after the auction.

• Staff – to mark each goat coming in, check that ownership is legitimate and agree on conditions of sale, to hold and control the goats in lots, feed and water them, and to separate and hold them for buyers.

• Food and water – for the goats.

• Financial systems – to allow transfer of money between buyers and sellers. It is preferable if sellers are

ProAgri BNZ 22

paid electronically by the buyer, but options for paying with a cheque or cash may also be required. Cash liquidity is a requirement.

• Security.

• Auctioneers – to conduct the auction.

• Transport – to transport goats to the auction and if unsold, to transport them back home.

• Tent and stands/seats for buyers – permanent structures can cut these costs.

Informal roadside sales

Informal sales are an alternative to formal auctions.

Advantages • There is no organising.

• The seller agrees on the price with the buyer.

Disadvantages • There is no assurance for the buyer that the goats are not stolen property.

• Sellers are not always informed of what their goats are worth, so often a local speculator can abuse the pricing.

• The health of the animal cannot be guaranteed.

• Farmers often sell at times when they need money, so they may be more likely to take a lower price for the sake of obtaining quick cash.

The information in this article is credited to Mdukatshani, Heifer International South Africa and the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development who published the Goat Production Handbook in 2015.

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www.agri4all.com ProAgri BNZ 22

Rotary tillers are simple but effective: Part 1

The self-propelled, walk-behind garden model •

Image: assets.kogan.com

The self-propelled four-wheel model

The self-propelled, walk-behind garden model This type of rotary tiller can do thorough, spade-deep hoeing in heavy soil (see Figures 1, 2 and 3).

This type of rotary tiller is compact and

Figure 2: The small garden model is easy to handle.

T

his month we start a new series on a very popular implement. A rotary tiller should be regarded as an alternative soil cultivation implement that can function in cooperation with other implements, for example tine implements. Some of the rotary tillers are self-propelled and some are tractor driven.

Interest in rotary tillers has been spurred because of soil compaction and the extreme amounts of weight required to develop sufficient traction with large tractors to pull big ploughs and disc harrows.

Some people refer to rotary tillage as minimum tillage because of the limited number of operations required to prepare a seedbed. But, if not properly used, rotary tillage may actually be excessive tillage that damages soil structure and results in surface puddling and crusting.

Four types of horizontal-axis rotary tillers are available for agricultural applications, namely: • The self-propelled, walk-behind garden model

Figure 3: The heavy-duty blades on the rotor can cut spade-deep into heavy soils.

Figure 1: The walk-behind garden model.

• •

The tractor drawn, or mounted model, powered by the PTO-shaft of the tractor The tractor drawn, or mounted model, with an auxiliary engine for the cultivator

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 22

light weight and is also very manoeuvrable. In some cases, the handlebar can be turned 180° to allow the operator to work in both directions. The handlebar can also be stepwise adjustable in height and width. The handlebar can be adjusted to allow the operator to walk beside the cultivator (see Figures 4 and 5).

17

Figure 4: A small two-wheel tractor can be equipped with a rotary tiller and consists of the following: 1) The rotor with its protective shield 2) The implement coupling device 3) The handlebar which can swivel 180° and is adjustable in height 4) A four-stroke petrol engine 5) The gear lever that can be switched from forward to reverse 6) Adjustable track width of the wheels for different tasks

Figure 5: The handlebar can be turned sideways to allow the operator to walk next to the machine and not in the loose tilled soil.

Typical working widths are 10 to 100 cm and gears can be switched from forward to reverse. A safety device prevents the rotor from rotating when the machine is reversed and the engine stops immediately when the handlebar is released.

18

The rotor is normally equipped with a support wheel to ensure sufficient ground clearance to prevent damage to the blades during the transport process (see Figure 6).

The required tilling depth can be adjusted between 2 and 20 cm and some of the machines have up to three different land speeds.

The rotor is independent of the land speed which makes it possible to reach an optimum tillage, even in soil with a high moisture content.

Small rotary tillers can be equipped with one or two drive wheels. The one-wheel rotary cultivator makes it easy to till between narrow rows for instance (see Figure 7).

In some cases, the small rotary tillers consist only of an engine and a rotor with blades for cultivating purposes.

No land wheels exist and the rotating action of the blades moves the machine forward. The power is transferred from the engine, through a gearbox and differential to the rotor (see Figure 8). The working depth of the rotor is controlled by adjustable skids at the bottom of the frame (see Figure 9).

Some of the small two-wheel tractors can be equipped with rotary tillers.

Some are equipped with up to 10 kW engines, with five forward and two reverse gears as well as a PTO-driveshaft. The rotary tiller is then driven

Figure 6: The support wheel is used to prevent the rotor from being damaged during transport.

Figure 7: The one-wheel rotary tiller makes it easy to till between narrow rows.

ProAgri BNZ 22

Figure 8: The rotor and blades on a small garden model without a drive wheel.

Figure 10: The movement of the rotor blades loosens the soil and can also destroy weeds.

Figure 9: The bottom of the cover also serves as skids to control the working depth of the blades. by the tractor’s PTO-shaft and can be especially useful as garden tillers.

They can also be used by a small-scale farmer that wants to cultivate a field up to one hectare in size (see Figure 10). These tillers are not only intended to loosen the soil, but to control weeds as well.

The rotary tiller produces a fine tilt because the clods, loosened by the blades, are whirled up to the top cover and are broken into smaller pieces by the impact, before they fall back onto the rotor and are chopped again. This process loosens and aerates the soil while preparing it for sowing or planting (see Figure 11).

Note that the operator can work in forward or reverse gear with the tractor. This can be done by swivelling the handlebar 180° and by turning the rotor the other way around (see Figure 12).

Figure 11: The clods are whirled up to the protective shield (top cover) and broken into smaller pieces by the impact before being chopped again.

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 22

Figure 12: The handlebar can be turned 180° to allow the operator to operate the tractor in reverse gear.

Next month we shall look at the tractor-drawn model. We thank the ARC Agricultural Engineering in South Africa who made the information on rotary tillers available to the readers of ProAgri BNZ. 19

20

ProAgri BNZ 22

The operation and application of medium and big square balers Part 1: Bale sizes, designs and component functions

by GJ Stoltz (Reg Eng Tech)

his month we start with our T series on balers with an indepth look at square balers and

their benefits for feed production.

Stationary balers were welldesigned and popular with farmers many years ago. By the 1930s, a few companies had converted stationary balers into mobile square balers by adding a pick-up attachment, but the major development came when automatic twine-tie and wire-tie mechanisms were developed.

Baling is a packaging operation and baling is better and more effective than any other hay packaging method.

Loose hay takes twice as much storage space as baled hay and baled hay makes long distance transportation more feasible.

Square balers are classified by the power source required, the size of the bale produced, end the method of binding the bales – twine-tie or wire-tie.

The tractor must be powerful enough to maintain a constant engine speed during baling, and have enough forward speeds to match crop conditions.

This article series discusses the operational features of the medium square as well as the big square baler.

Modern square balers have the flywheel mounted on the PTO drive shaft with a safety slip clutch mounted in front of the flywheel. The flywheel absorbs shocks during the baling process.

Bale sizes Hay bales are produced in four sizes, namely: • 355 x 457 x 914 mm, and weighs approximately 22 kg • 406 x 457 x 914 mm, and weighs approximately 32 kg • 406 x 610 x 1 219 mm, and weighs approximately 57 kg • 1 220 x 1 220 x 2 440 mm, and weighs approximately 908 kg The last bale size is a bale that is produced by a big square baler, also called a big pack baler. The operational features of this baler will be discussed at a later stage. (See Figures 1 and 2.)

Figure 1: A medium square baler in action.

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 22

Figure 2: A big square baler in action with its bale accumulator.

The medium square baler List of primary components: • Pick-up • Compressors • Tongue • PTO drive shaft • Pick-up lift crank • Plunger inside the bale chamber • Feeder teeth • Auger • Flywheel • Needles • Bale chute • Tension bars • Tension cranks • Bale chamber • Bale measuring wheel • Wire twister or twine knotter 21

Latest designs Nowadays there are a wide choice of square balers available that feature a straight-forward and rugged drive layout, a pick-up that rakes up the crop from the field and form bales that are densely packed and stored for long periods (see Figure 5).

Figure 3: Front view of a square baler.

Figure 4: Rear view of a square baler.

The following primary components are shown in Figure 5: 1. Adjustable drawbar to ensure correct hitching on all tractors.

2. Extended drawbar with a two-section PTO shaft.

3. Adjustable support jack for easy hitching.

4. Slip clutch on the PTO shaft, and a shear bolt on the flywheel to protect the baler. The built-in freewheel mechanism protects the tractor's transmission.

5. A heavy flywheel ensures smooth transmission and maximum power transfer.

6. Hypoid gearbox for smooth drive and resistance to wear.

7. Heavy duty plunger runs on sealed bearings for minimal maintenance.

8. Shaft drive for feeders and knotters.

9. Pick-up height adjuster via a cord from the tractor seat, but a hydraulic height adjuster is optionally available.

10. Pick-up drum with closely spaced pick-up tines.

11. A short crop baffle plate to direct the crop to the pick-up tines.

12. Rotary feed rakes to convey the crop positively to the bale chamber.

13. Device whereby the rotary feed rake can be adjusted to give an even feed under all conditions.

14. A shear bolt to protect the rotary feed rake.

15. Shock absorber to protect the rotary feed rake from peak loadings.

16. An angled stationary knife to cut the crop.

17. Knotters or wire twisters at the back of the baler.

Component functions (see Figure 3 and 4).

Pick-up The pick-up lifts hay from the windrow and carries it to the auger or feed rake.

Hay compressors on the pick-up hold the hay down for uniform feeding and prevent strong winds from blowing hay out of the pick-up (see Figures 6, 7 and 8).

Figure 5: The latest design in some of the medium square balers.

22

Auger (feed rake) An auger or feed rake delivers the hay to the edge of the bale chamber. The feed rake then delivers the hay into the baling chamber and the feeding teeth of the feed rake are timed to enter the baling chamber when the plunger is retracted (see Figures 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13).

ProAgri BNZ 22

Figure 9: An auger or a feed rake delivers the hay to the bale chamber.

Figure 6: The compressors hold the hay down for uniform feeding.

Figure 10: A feed rake consists of two sets of teeth for feeding the hay to the bale chamber.

Figure 7: The windrow must have the correct width to suit the width of the pick-up.

Figure 11: An illustration of the movement of the two sets of teeth of a feed rake.

Figure 8: Pick-up height adjusting is done via a cord from the tractor seat.

Figure 12: The stroke of the feeder teeth can be adjusted by choosing the correct hole for the pivot pin.

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 22

Figure 13: The feeder teeth must be timed in such a way that they never touch the plunger.

Next month we shall discuss the plunger, hay dogs, bale chamber, bale measuring wheel, needles and knotter.

Visit www.arc.agric.za for more information.

23

Composting and composting systems Part 5:

Composting methods and structures

by Ben Havenga

Composting methods Compost can be made by different methods. The method of composting selected will depend on when finished compost is desired, the materials to be composted, and the space available for composting.

Wire mesh compost bins These compost containers are multipurpose, cheap, and easy to build.

Compost can be made in these containers with very little effort. As the organic material becomes available, it is simply placed in the container until the container is full. Except for wetting the compost regularly, no more effort is required. The compost will be ready for use within 6 months to 2 years.

If the compost needs to be ready sooner, it will have to be given more attention. The composting process can be sped up by following the practices: • Shred the organic material into smaller pieces.

• Wet the compost regularly and keep the moisture content constant by 24

covering the structure with plastic.

• Turn over the contents of the structure regularly.

To turn over the compost quickly and easily, the following steps can be taken: • Untie the wire mesh framework at the joints.

• Remove the framework.

• Re-erect the structure right next to the compost heap.

• Place the material back into the structure from the top. The bottom layer of the heap will probably be composted already and may therefore be used in the garden.

Seen from the top, the structure may be round or pentagonal, but because the round structure is much cheaper and easier to erect, this method is recommended. The wire mesh to be used may be ordinary chicken wire or wire mesh. The ordinary chicken wire is much cheaper, but loses its shape and must be supported very sturdily on the sides. It can also be used only a few times and must then be replaced.

The measurements of the two structures are as follows:

Circular structure (Figure 1) Diameter: 1,07 m Circumference: 3,81 m wire mesh with a height of 0,9 m and mesh size of 25 mm or 12,5 mm When using chicken wire, wooden pegs or steel poles must be driven evenly into the ground around the structure for support.

Figure 1: Round chicken-wire structure.

ProAgri BNZ 22

Pentagonal structure (Figure 2) Five panels of 0,9 m long and 0,6 m high of wire mesh with a mesh size of 12,5 mm are required.

Figure 2: Pentagonal chicken-wire structure.

Construction

Round structure a. Chicken wire Cut a 3,8 m length of wire from the roll. Fold the last 75 - 100 mm at each end in order to form sturdy ends for the joint. Now join the two ends firmly with binding wire. Place the circle in a suitable spot for making the compost. Drive 4 or 5 wooden pegs, evenly spread around the circumference of the circle, into the ground, making sure that the pegs are standing firmly, but still reach the top of the structure. b. Wire mesh Cut the same length of wire as with the chicken wire, but cut the loose standing end of the wire with a pair of pliers to prevent injuries. For additional safety, the ends are filed down smoothly. Bend the wire to form a circle and join with binding wire. This structure will be firm enough to stand on its own and pegs are therefore not necessary. c. Pentagonal (five-sided) structure Cut 5 lengths of wire mesh from the roll, measuring 0,9 m high and 0,6 m wide, ensuring that the wire is cut in the middle of the eyelets in the mesh, leaving pieces of wire protruding at each side. The lengths of wire are then placed so that the loose wire ends tuck into the ground. The five panels are then joined with binding wire, and the wire ends protruding at the top are bent with a pair of pliers or a hammer, to prevent the person placing material into the structure from being injured (Figure 3). The wire ends at the bottom ensure that the structure stands firmly.

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 22

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• Place the drum, with a 12,5 mm steel axle through the centre, in the fork of the wooden structure. The axle should be long enough to protrude at least 150 mm on both sides of the drum.

Figure 3: Indication of how wire-ends are bent over.

Figure 4: Rotating drum composter.

Rotating drum composter Construction • Obtain a 210 litre drum that does not contain chemicals or poisonous substances.

• Drill a 12,5 mm hole exactly in the centre of the top and bottom of the drum. The holes are drilled to accommodate the axle through the drum.

• Cut a door of about 500 x 250 mm into the side of the drum. Bolt hinges and a latch onto the drum and the door with zinc screws.

• Cut 4 planks of 1 340 mm in length for the side crosses.

• Cut 4 planks of 580 mm in length for the legs.

• Cut 2 planks of 600 mm in length for the bottom cross supports.

• The woodwork may be put together with wood screws.

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 22

Operation Turn the drum into position with the door at the top. Fill the drum with organic material to the level where there will still be an air gap between the surface of the organic material and the top of the drum. This gap is necessary for storing reserve oxygen and to make it possible to wet the contents of the drum evenly.

As with all the other methods of composting, the organic material must be turned regularly for effective composting. The gap at the top of the drum assists in allowing the organic material to fall loosely in the drum during rotation. This will ensure that carbon dioxide that forms during the digestive process is replaced with oxygen, speeding up the composting process.

To prevent water added to the organic material from collecting on the bottom of the drum, a few holes must be drilled right across the circumference of the drum, for drainage of excess water. These holes will also help to provide the organic material with more oxygen.

To prevent rusting of the components of the composting structure, all metal surfaces must be painted with a rust resistant agent.

In next month’s issue we shall look at the concrete block composter, composting in stacked types, composting in a metal drum and underground composting.

Stay tuned for more, happy composting!

We thank the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) of South Africa for the material they provided for the readers of ProAgri BNZ. For more information visit their website www.arc.agric.za.

27

Botswana

Vegetable planting guide part 3:

Carrots and green beans Carrots Origin and distribution

Carrots are believed to have originated in Afghanistan, which remains the centre of diversity of D. carota. They were known to the Greeks and the Romans. The greatest development and improvement of the original wild carrot that had thin, long roots took place in France. Carrots are now a popular vegetable grown all over the world.

Soil and climatic requirement

Deep, loose, friable, well-drained sandy loam or loamy soils with a pH of 6,0 to 6,5 are ideal for carrot production.

The crop produced in humus-rich soils tends to increase in foliage excessively and forms forked and hairy carrots.

Brack soils should also be avoided as carrots are very sensitive to saline soils. Carrots are a cool weather crop and they also do well in warm climates.

The optimum temperature for growth is between 15 °C to 20 °C. Temperatures below 10 °C cause longer, more slender and paler roots and shorter, thicker roots are produced at higher temperatures. Extended periods of hot weather can cause strong flavour and coarse roots. Development is also slower in winter than in spring and summer.

Uses

The use of carrots was mainly medicinal, to cure stomach problems and

28

treat wounds, ulcers, and liver and kidney ailments. Carrots are consumed fresh as a salad crop or cooked. They are also processed either alone or mixed with other vegetables. The juice is extracted and used as a drink.

Tender roots are pickled or made into jam and sweetmeats in some countries. Carrot cake and carrot pudding can also be made.

The aromatic seeds are used as a stimulant and to relieve flatulence. The entire plant can also be used as fodder for cattle and horses.

Propagation

Carrots are only propagated by means of seeds.

Soil preparation

The soil should be well tilled and as level as possible in order to obtain a good stand. It must have a good crumbly structure and kept moist enough to allow seed germination. Therefore the soil must be ploughed deep to loosen the soil to a depth of at least 30 cm. The soil should be fumigated for nematodes.

Planting

The rows are generally spaced from 200 to 400 mm apart. In double or triple rows, the width between sets of rows may range from 400 to 600 mm.

Row spacings in baby carrot production may be 100 mm. A planting density of 150 to 160/per m2 gives good results in double rows while a density of 100 m2 is ideal for single rows. In-row spacing of about 5 cm is recommended.

The seeds are directly sown in the field on ridges or raised beds. Row planting is preferred to broad sowing. The seeding depth should be 10 to 25 mm or 40 mm in loose, light sands. Planting depth should be shallow in heavier

soils and in colder months. Slightly deeper planting is recommended in summer when the soil dries out quickly. The chance of a successful establishment of the crop will be increased if the seed is sown in moist soil and only if the soil is kept moist.

Fertilisation

Carrots have low nitrogen requirements and good yields can be obtained with applications of 80 kg/ha. Nitrogen can be applied at planting and the remainder at 4 to 8 weeks. Forty kilogrammes of phosphorus per hectare are sufficient to produce a good crop.

The crop has a high potassium requirement and half is applied as side dressing at 4 to 8 weeks after planting. The balance is applied as late dressings.

Compost or organic manure should not be applied because it results in unattractive, hairy roots, with a coarser texture.

ProAgri BNZ 22

Irrigation

The soil should never be allowed to dry out. Too much moisture causes short carrots with a light colour and a larger diameter. The field should be irrigated lightly immediately after sowing. Irrigation water should be applied once or twice a day, using a solid-set sprinkler system. Watering should be reduced gradually to prevent longitudinal splitting of the roots when the crop approaches maturity. Water stress during root development also causes cracking of the roots, which also become hard.

Weed control

Soil cultivation between the rows is carried out at an early stage merely to control weeds. Weeds should not at any time be allowed to compete with crops. Weeds can be controlled mechanically, by hand, chemically or by combining all these methods.

Pest and disease control

Pests that frequently affect carrots include: aphids, red spider mites and

cutworms. Remedies for such pests can include applying registered pesticides.

Practising crop rotation is critical.

Remove all types of weeds that will serve as hosts to these pests.

Frequent diseases include Alternaria blight and bacterial blight.

Green beans Climatic requirements

The green bean is a summer crop that is very sensitive to frost. Temperatures only a few degrees below freezing usually cause severe damage to the plants.

The optimum mean daily temperature for growth, yield and quality is 16 to 21ºC. Temperatures above 35 ºC, particularly when accompanied by dry winds, tend to cause the flowers and young pods to drop, the result being poor crops. If the night temperature often drops to 5 ºC or lower, a large percentage of hallow pods will form.

Frequent low night temperatures will also give rise to short, misshapen pods.

Green beans are grown widely as a winter crop in the relatively frost-free

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 22

areas of the Lowveld. However, it is evident that, although a certain area may be relatively frost free, it will not necessarily be suitable for winter production. The night temperatures may drop too low for normal pod formation.

Similarly, good midsummer yields cannot be expected in areas where the day temperatures often rise above 30ºC. In the Lowveld, production will therefore be limited to autumn, winter and spring.

Soil requirements

Green beans are sensitive crops with a short growing season. They require a 29

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deep, well-drained but water retaining soil that will promote rapid establishment and an uninterrupted growth period. Green beans can nevertheless be cultivated with success on soils that vary from sandy to relatively heavy clay. Soils with a high organic material content produce luxuriant growth but poor yield. The optimal pH value for green beans varies from approximately 6 to 6,5. Soils with a pH above 6,8, particularly strong alkaline soils, may cause a manganese deficiency and must be avoided. Acidic soils (below pH 5,5) can be used, provided that agricultural lime is applied prior to planting.

Uses

Fresh green beans add colour and variety to meals. Beans are also a good source of Vitamin A and C if cooked for a short time in a very small quantity of boiling water until just tender. Do not cook too long or the beans will become mushy and lose their bright green colour. The pods are cooked and eaten as a vegetable or used in tossed salads, soups or canned. Dry seeds are cooked and eaten.

Planting

It differs in the various production areas. On higher areas, planting can be started at the end of August until mid-February, however, the best time to plant is September and mid-January to mid- February to avoid bacterial blight. In the lowveld planting time is usually from February to September.

Green beans are planted in spacings of 5 cm in the row and 45 cm between the rows. The seed size of the cultivar could require a change in the planting space.

Fertilisation

The application of fertiliser should be based on test results of the soil. Fertiliser recommendations can only serve as rough guides because no two soils will have exactly the same fertility. For a correct recommendation, soil analysis is therefore a prerequisite. Green beans, like all legumes, form a symbiotic relationship with a specific soil bacterium.

Rhizobium spp. make atmospheric nitrogen available to the plant by a process called nitrogen fixation.

Irrigation

Irrigation is a necessity for beans on light, sandy soils and even on heavier soils. Adequate irrigation during flowering and pod development is needed for best yields.

Pests and their control

Major pests that attack green beans are the bean weevil, root-knot nematode, aphids and bollworms.

Control

Use registered chemicals/pesticides.

Plant only certified seeds. An integrated pest management programme can be followed.

Diseases and their control

Anthracnose and brown rust are major diseases of green beans. An integrated pest management programme can be followed. Plant early. Dust regularly with maneb/sulphur or mancozeb/sulphur. Some of the registered chemicals that can be used include mancozeb or maneb or plant only certified seeds.

Sprinkler irrigation

Sprinkler irrigation can be used to prevent the rapid exsiccation of the soil or the formation of a hard crust; it is ideal during the germination stage of the seed.

Flood irrigation

It is less labour intensive and has a more favourable effect on the structure of the soil.

Weed control

Cultivation and hoeing, which are employed primarily to keep down and destroy weeds, should start when the bean plants first appear above the soil and should be shallow, especially as the plants approach maturity. Many of the feeding roots of beans are close to the surface and are damaged easily by deep cultivation.

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 22

Photo: garden.eco

The information provided in this article is credited to the South African Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. For more information visit their website on www. daff.gov.za or contact them on +27(0)12-319-6072, or send an email to DPP@nda.agric.za.

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ProAgri BNZ 22

BUTCHER GUIDE FOR

CATTLE

Part 2: The hind quarter

by Jaco Cilliers

T

he hind quarter is usually a bit larger than the fore quarter and it is in this part of the carcass where most of the steak cuts like rump, sirloin, T-bone and fillet are found. The hind quarter is not as easy to process as the fore quarter and it is a good idea to have a skilled person with you if you lack experience. We would like to thank the Van der Merwe Broers Butchery who shared the information and allowed us to use their facilities.

Usually the tail is removed first and cut into smaller portions. The tail is an extension of the spine and the cuts are made between the vertebra. This meat is excellent for use in stew.

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 22

After the tail is removed, the next step in the process is to remove the flank shown below. The flank can be used in mince or in roulades used for roasts.

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Namibia 34

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Hind leg

T-bone steaks

Flank

T-bone

The kidney fat that can be found all along the inside of the carcass should be removed next to expose the fillet.

Once the kidney fat is removed and the fillet is exposed, the fillet can now be removed. The fillet should be cut out from the top down. Once the fillet is removed, it has to be trimmed to remove any of the kidney fat that still remains on the fillet.

Fillet

This photo above shows the T-bone steak after the fillet has been removed.

The sirloin is still attached to the bone.

After the fillet is removed, the hind leg can be separated from the rib cage, by cutting along the natural seams indicated by the pink line. This can be done with a sharp knife and you should not need a meat saw for this cut. The next step is to separate the T-bone from the short rib with a bone saw, following along the vertical blue line. The T-bone steak has a fillet steak on the one side of the bone and a sirloin steak on the other. This means that you cannot get T-bone steaks, fillet steaks and sirloin steaks from the same hind quarter. You should decide which cut you want before removing the fillet.

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This image shows a complete T-bone steak with the fillet still attached.

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The topside portion can be found where the hind leg enters the hip of the carcass.

It is a muscle that is separated from other parts by a thin membrane. You can use this membrane as a guide when removing the topside portion and prevent cutting into other sections of the meat. You can use this membrane as a guide when removing the topside portion and prevent cutting into other sections of the meat.

The topside portion is a very versatile cut that can be used for making stir fry, tenderised steak, roulades and kebabs. It is also used for the best minced meat.

After the topside has been removed, the next step in the process is to remove the rump from the hind quarter. The rump is shown in the photo below before it was removed from the rest of the carcass. It is cut off be slicing under the hip joint. The following photos show the process of taking the rump steak of the carcass.

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 22

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Once the rump is removed it can be trimmed and cut into thick steaks which are excellent for grilling.

The next portion to be removed and processed is the silverside. The silverside is a thick muscle running down from the buttock to the leg of the animal.

The silverside portion can be used for minute steaks. After the silverside has been removed, all that should be left on the carcass is the thick flank and the shin. The thick flank can be removed and used for goulash or stir fry. The shin is similar to the one that was discussed in the fore quarter.

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 22

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Zimbabwe

Sheep farming made easy Part 4:

The big five of parasite control

The FAMACHA© chart (source: flickr)

D

evastating losses can be caused in sheep flocks by parasites. In most sheep production areas, internal parasites, or gastro-intestinal nematodes, also known as worms, are the primary disease affecting sheep and lambs.

Sheep are more vulnerable to internal parasites than most other types of farm livestock for several reasons.

Their small faecal pellets disintegrate very easily thus releasing the worm larvae onto pastures.

Your animals Good nutrition, especially protein and trace minerals, is essential to support immunity. Animals cannot express their genetic potential for parasite resistance and resilience if they are not adequately fed. The importance of dietary protein has been well established. Sickly or parasite infested animals become unproductive and give birth to weak offspring; they also struggle to feed their lambs.

For your animals to develop immunity to parasites, adequate exposure 40

is needed to develop a strong immunity. The goal should not be to totally eradicate parasites, but rather to establish a balance between the host and parasites. At the same time, exposure should not be so great that it overcomes the natural ability of the animal to resist worms.

Parasites Parasites commonly found in sheep can be divided into two general categories: external (skin) and internal (organ) parasites. Because internal parasites tend to prefer a specific organ, there are multiple types.

The most common internal parasites in sheep are:

Lung worms

Lung worms irritate the bronchioles inside the lung and cause a local reaction with mucus and white blood cells (phlegm) that are trying to get rid of the parasites. The irritation and pain cause the animal to cough.

ProAgri BNZ 22

Stomach worms

Stomach worms are voracious bloodsuckers and will destroy the lining of the stomach to access the bloodstream. The destruction of the lining of the stomach can cause colic (abdominal pain), diarrhoea, anaemia, and weight loss due to the animal’s inability to digest feed completely.

Liver flukes

Liver flukes burrow tunnels in the liver, causing scarring as the body tries to repair the damage. Because scar tissue is not functional, the liver loses part of its normal function, which includes filtering the blood of toxins and waste products. The accumulation of these toxins in the animal’s blood can severely damage other organs, including the brain. Therefore, a common sign of liver fluke infestation is depression or limpness.

Coccidia

Coccidia live in the lining of the intestines and destroy the crypts that the animals need to absorb nutrients.

Therefore, the most common sign of coccidian infestation is diarrhoea (detected by dirty hind ends), and failure to thrive, or weight loss.

What are typical signs of parasitism?

• Weight loss: animals do not get all the nutrients they need.

• Diarrhoea: detected by the dirty tail and hind end (Figure 1).

• Rough hair coat: when nutrients are insufficient, the animal’s hair loses its lustre.

• Depression: animals keep their head and ears down and are not willing to stand for long periods of time.

• Weakness: animals are easier to catch or unstable when walking.

• Anaemia: the animal’s gums, perineum, and eyes appear white due to blood loss (Figure 2 and Figure 3).

• Fever or, in the late stages of the disease, cold extremities (for example ears and legs).

• Fast breathing (lung worms): animals try to get oxygen into their damaged lungs.

• Coughing (lung worms): animals cough from the irritation of their damaged lungs.

Figure 1: Sheep with diarrhoea (source: flickr)

Pastures Since pasture is the vector for transmission, pasture factors must be considered when developing a parasite control program. Pastures with good drainage carry a lower risk of severe parasite infection as compared to poorly drained paddocks (see Figure 4).

Monitoring

FAMACHA©

The FAMACHA© system was developed in South Africa due to the emergence of drug-resistant worms. The system uses an eye anaemia guide to evalu-

Figure 2: Anaemia in sheep (source: flickr)

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Figure 3: Comparison of the gums of a normal sheep (left) and a sheep with severe anaemia (right)

FAMACHA System ©

Clinical category

Eye colour

Packed cell volume (PCV)

Treatment guideline

1

Red

> 28

No

2

Pinkish red

23 - 27

No

3

Pink

18 - 22

Maybe

4

Pinkish white

13 - 17

Yes

5

White

< 12

Yes

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 22

ate the eye colour of a sheep (or goat) to determine the severity of parasite infection and the need for deworming.

Bright red colour indicates that the animal has few or no worms, or that the sheep can tolerate its worms. An almost white eyelid is a warning sign of bad anaemia; the worms present in the sheep's gut are in such numbers they are draining the animal of blood.

If left untreated, such an animal will soon die.

The FAMACHA© chart contains five eye scores (1 to 5), which have been correlated with packed cell volumes (percentage of blood made up of red blood cells, also called haematocrit).

Animals in categories 1 or 2 (red or red, pink) do not require treatment, whereas animals in categories 4 and 5 (pink-white and white) do. Animals in category 3 may or may not require treatment depending upon other factors.

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Figure 4: Life cycle of sheep worms (source: flickr)

Mature sheep in category 3 (pink colour) probably do not require treatment, whereas lambs or other susceptible animals might require (or benefit from) treatment if they are in category 3.

The frequency of examination depends upon the season and weather pattern, with more frequent examination usually necessary in July, August, and September, the peak worm season.

The FAMACHA© system results in fewer animals being treated, which slows down dosage resistance. It identifies worm infested animals that require treatment. Persistently wormy

animals, especially breeding rams, should be culled. The process of inspecting the eyes is quick and can be incorporated with other management practices. Proper handling facilities will facilitate the use of the FAMACHA© system.

Treatment and prevention It is important not to introduce resistant worms to the farm. Newly acquired animals should be properly quarantined and dewormed to prevent the introduction of resistant worms. You have to be sure to use the right deworming

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 22

treatment for your specific situation.

The FAMACHA© system should be incorporated into an integrated worm control programme that includes other management practices, such as pasture rest, good nutrition, multi-species grazing, alternative forages, zero grazing, and genetic selection. FAMACHA© should only be used by professionally trained individuals. To obtain a FAMACHA© card, the farmer must follow an approved training course. It is now possible to receive online training.

The best prevention is to reduce your animal’s exposure to parasites is by providing a clean environment (beginning at birth) and avoiding overcrowding of pens or camps. Balanced nutrition is especially important to keep animals healthy and help them develop appropriate resistance to external pathogens, especially for dams before and after lambing. Remember a happy sheep is a productive sheep!

Next month we shall look at biosecurity on sheep farms. We thank the ARC Institute for Agricultural Engineering in South Africa who made their manual on sheep production and facilities available to the readers of ProAgri.

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