Just Farming Magazine-December 2023

DECEMBER 2023

AGRICULTURE • WATER • LAND • ENVIRONMENT • LIVESTOCK • FORESTRY • WILDLIFE • EQUIPMENT • POULTRY

BATTERY CAGES FOR LAYERS

THE SECRET TO A GOOD CABBAGE CROP CHOOSING FEED FOR YOUR CHICKENS

GROWING CUCUMBERS: A BEGINER’S GUIDE

MUTTON & LAMB EXPORTS ON THE RISE

WATER SCARCITY IN AFRICA

REDISCOVERING THE MARULA FRUIT

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Growing cucumbers

A successful Cabbage crop starts here

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10

Growing Avocados

Namibian mutton and lamb exports on the increase

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15

Rediscovering the Marula fruit

NA approves livestock bill

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20

Battery Cages for layers

History of the Battery Cage

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25

27

29

Concern over SA Chicken Imports

Will The World Run Out Of Water?

Water Scarcity in Africa

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Just Farming Magazine

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16

Choosing the right feed for your chickens

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A little about us...

Just Farming Magazine is an Informative digital publication that informs and reports on all matters relating to Farming (Agriculture) i.e., Crops & Grain, Horticulture, Poultry Farming, Animal Feed, Organic Food Production, Forestry and Natural Resources, Machinery and Equipment,

Water Resources Management, Land Management, and Environmental Management issues in Namibia and the world over.

a platform and an opportunity to showcase and promote their products/services, give advice, tell their stories, and find information.

Our main driving goal is to become the premier information hub for the farming/agriculture industry, to give all stakeholders

Our secondary, but equally important goal, is to be the bridge that connects farmers with all stakeholders including retailers, and relevant ministries.

Roxy Silta Tjarukua Marketing & Editorial Cell: +264 81 432 8467 justfarmingmagazine@gmail.com

Cislla Queen Ndjitaviua Marketing & Sales Cell: +264 81 282 2069 justfarmingmagazine@gmail.com

Enquiries & Info Cell: +264 81 360 1757 justfarmingmagazine@gmail.com newmediadigital@outlook.com

Keith Mowa Tuwelo Design & Production Cell: +264 85 787 9850 justfarmingmagazine@gmail.com

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Growing Avocados Rich in protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, avocados are always in demand.

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f you are serious about producing avocados, buy your trees from a nursery. Poor quality trees will grow slowly in the orchard, regardless of how carefully you tend them.

Look out for the following: • The size of the containers in which the plants are grown.

Generally, the larger the container, the healthier the root system and the chances of successful establishment.

• Growth medium. A clay soil mix tends to clog the drainage holes in a plastic container. Lighter soil improves drainage and stimulates the development of the root system.

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• Foliage. A healthy tree has a glossy, dark-green colour with no deformed or discoloured leaves.

• Graft union. Grafting combines tissues from two plants to create a new plant. One plant – the ‘rootstock’ – is chosen for its roots. The other – the ‘scion’ – is chosen for its stems, leaves, flowers or fruit.

With avocados, excessive thickening at the union (join) or large differences between rootstock and scion thickness are signs of incompatibility, a poor rootstock or a diseased scion.

You should see a smooth union, with few or no irregularities on the stem.

Just Farming Magazine

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Choosing the cultivar The above are general guidelines.

To choose the specific cultivar, bear in mind climatic conditions.

Of the three best-known avocado races, West Indian cultivars are best adapted to continuous hot, humid conditions with a high summer rainfall.

They do not tolerate frost well.

The best temperature for growth is 25°C to 28°C (humidity above 60%).

The Mexican races originated in the country’s cool, subtropical highland forests, and mature trees can withstand temperatures of -4°C to -5°C.

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They should not be planted in areas prone to frost in August and September, as flowers can easily be damaged by frost. The optimal temperature for growth is 20°C to 24°C at a humidity of between 45% and 60%.

Guatemalan cultivars require a cool, tropical climate without extremes of temperature or humidity.

The flowers are particularly sensitive to frost. High temperatures of about 38°C, especially if combined with low humidity, could cause flower and fruit drop. A humidity level of 65% or higher is required.

The Fuerte, the most commonly grown cultivar in South Africa, is thought to be a natural

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hybrid between the Mexican and Guatemalan races and has a wider climatic tolerance (especially to cold) than the pure Guatemalan types.

Optimal growth temperature is 20°C to 24°C. High temperatures, especially during flowering, are not tolerated well.

Rainfall/wind All avocado cultivars produced commercially in South Africa are sensitive to water stress. Annual rainfall in the growing area should be higher than 1 000mm and well distributed, with the only dry period in June and July.

However, most of the suitable areas in South Africa experience dry weather during flowering, necessitating supplementary

Just Farming Magazine

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irrigation. From a climatological point of view, the best areas for commercial avocado production are the cool, subtropical parts of Mpumalanga, Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal, where the rainfall is fairly high and mist occurs frequently.

A high humidity (in excess of 50% by 2pm) is desirable as it decreases stress conditions, particularly high temperature.

This plays an important role during flowering and fruit set.

South Africa’s mist-belt areas are especially suitable.

Source: DAFF in co-operation with the ARC-Institute for Tropical and Subtropical Crops.

Issue 1 | December 2023

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Growing Cucumbers Cucumbers make an excellent and refreshing addition to salads, especially during summer months. So why not grow your own?

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ucumbers (Cucumis sativus) are cucurbits, which are members of the squash family.

There are two main varieties: English/ Dutch, which are used in salads, and the Beta Alpha cucumber, which is used to make gherkins.

The English cucumber grows to between 25cm and 30cm in length, whereas the Beta Alpha

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cucumber grows to between 12cm and 15cm when mature.

Planting Before planting, turn the soil over to about a spade’s depth.

Add organic compost and manure and mix into the soil.

The compost should have organic matter such as chopped leaves, hay or straw to enhance drainage.

While turning your soil, remove rocks, stones and clods. There are various ways to start off the cucumber seedlings. If the weather is still cold, sow the

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seeds indoors in biodegradable seedling pots or cardboard egg containers.

When planting cucumber seedlings in biodegradable boxes, cut the boxes apart, and plant each cardboard box containing its cucumber directly into the ground. Do not remove the seedling; this will damage its roots. Plant the seedlings using the same spacing as explained for the seeds below.

Seeds Seeds can be planted directly into the ground. If you use this method, plant the seeds in rows.

Make a small mound every 30cm to 40cm along the row and place two seeds in it at a depth of 2,5cm. The orientation of the cucumber seed is important: plant the seed with its radicle end (the end the roots will grow from) pointing upwards.

If you have more than one row of seeds, the inter-row spacing should be 90cm. A cucumber needs plenty of space; it is a vining plant and can grow to a length of 2m.

Trellising Cucumber plants should be trained to grow vertically up a

trellis or similar structure that supports the vines. The fruit grows best when it hangs down. A trellis also protects the cucumber from slugs.

The trellis or stake should be about 2m high. Install it before the plants germinate so as not to damage the roots while working around the plants. To obtain firm and juicy cucumbers, water them at least twice a week.

Pollination and fertilisation Like the pumpkin, the cucumber plant has both male and female flowers. The female flower has a small cucumber at its base. Male flowers produce pollen, which is normally transferred to the female flower by bees.

If you want to make sure that pollination takes place, use a cotton bud to pick up pollen on the male flower and transfer it to the centre of the female flower.

Feed your cucumber plants with 2.3.2 fertiliser every two weeks while they are growing. If the leaves turn yellow, feed the plants immediately with 2.3.2 to rectify the problem.

Harvesting The fruit is normally ready to be picked between 50 and 60 days after planting.

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At this stage, it should be firm and the skin dark green. If it turns yellow, the cucumber is overripe and will not taste good. In this case, gather the seed, dry it and use it for your next crop.

To ensure a continuous crop of cucumbers, practise succession planting: sow a new batch of seed every two weeks until the middle of summer.

Just JustFarming FarmingMagazine Magazine 9 Issue1 1| December | October 2023 2023 10 Issue

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A successful Cabbage crop starts with good Seedlings Growing your own seedlings requires experience. Mistakes are inevitable and you’ll need to adjust your system accordingly, says Bill Kerr.

B

efore the introduction of cavity seedlings, most cabbage farmers grew their own seedlings in soil. This could be successful, but required careful attention every step of the way.

There were also many hazards.

One of these was the cyst eelworm. Farmers were often left with surplus seedlings and would offer them to other farmers. This resulted in the spread of cyst eelworm to many districts.

Other diseases, such as blackleg, could also be spread if you were not careful enough. I used to sow enough seedbeds to plant 50ha to cabbage, and it took much experimentation to perfect my system.

Ultimately, I used raised beds and a home-made roller constructed from angle iron welded at the correct spacing to two old wheel hubs. I would roll it over the level beds to form grooves for the seed.

I also made a planter using perspex that could plant four rows 1m long across the bed.

This would enable me to plant 500g of seed in half an hour with precise spacing. I covered the seed by dragging a blade over the soil after seeding. I then covered the beds with shade netting and used mini sprinklers.

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The ground was fumigated before preparation to control weeds and any dangerous soil organisms.

Cavity Seedlings

For example, if you farm in an area that’s very cold in winter and you buy seedlings grown in a warm area, they are unlikely to have been hardened sufficiently to cope with your climate and may suffer frost damage.

As is obvious, all of the above involved a great deal of extra work and risk. Today, almost every Explain your seedling farmer makes use of professionally requirements to the grower so grown cavity seedlings. that he or she understands your Many farmers, however, plant their circumstances. own cavity seedlings. In this way, Weather Delays they can be sure that they get the A problem can also arise if the variety they want, because some weather proves a problem on nurseries tend to get varieties your predetermined delivery date. mixed up.

If a cold front is on the way at Experience is also needed when this time, do your best to delay it comes to irrigation, pest and the delivery by a few days so as disease control, selecting the to avoid an unnecessary hazard. growing medium, and fineThe grower will understand and tuning fertilisation. The latter is accommodate your request. often different for each growing It is also important to tell your medium used. nursery what sort of hardness you If you prefer to buy seedlings, require for your conditions. This make sure you get is likely to vary according to the the right variety season. for your growing Hot and cold periods require environment. more hardening. When conditions are favourable, virtually no hardening is required.

Just Farming Magazine

Bill Kerr is a vegetable specialist and breeder.

10 Issue 1 | December 2023

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Rediscovering the Importance of the Marula fruit in Namibia

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Ghaub farm, near Tsumeb in or thousands of the northern part of Namibia, is years, Southern the epitome of a mixed farming African communities operation. Here, the Rust family have used the bark, run a game farm, raise cattle and leaves, fruit and kernels grow vegetables and citrus. of the marula tree for oreover, they have recently their medicinal and begun capitalising on the nutritional properties. fruit of the marula trees that grow

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Martin Rust spoke to Magda du Toit about how his family is exploiting this multifaceted resource, which occurs naturally on their farm in northern Namibia.

wild on their land. Martin Rust’s parents, Joachim and Caroline, bought Ghaub in 2016.

“At the time, our primary focus was ecotourism, but we’ve since expanded into agriculture. The idea is to produce as much as possible of the food we need for our tourism operation.

“Under the label Ghaub Farm Products, we started producing beef and game meat, milk, and eggs, as well as providing braai wood for our lodges.

“Our vegetable production began in 2019, and we’re now harvesting lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, beans and carrots on a regular basis for our lodges at Ghaub and Waterberg Wilderness Private Nature Reserve.

“We also planted citrus trees and are always investigating new things to add to our product line and our guests’ experiences,” explains Rust.

The indigenous marula tree (Sclerocarya birrea) is a botanical landmark on Ghaub. The high protein and vitamin C content of the fruit make the marula one of the most important indigenous fruit trees in Southern Africa.

In fact, archaeologists have established that these trees have been a source of food for the region’s human population for millennia.

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he marula, with its scaly bark and rounded crown, can grow to between 15m and 18m in height. On Ghaub, the fruit ripens between January and March.

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ust says his mother had long wanted to put the marula trees on their farm to good use.

“We have so many, and recently started making a variety of farm products from the fruit. We’re also exploring ways to expand our product line and increase our volume.”

The trees on Ghaub In 2018, as part of the research for her master’s dissertation, and to get an overview of the marula tree population on Ghaub, agronomist Nadia Löffel, with help from Caroline, used GPS to map those trees that were within 100m or so of the roads.

In addition, she determined the gender of each and measured its circumference 1m above the soil surface. In all, 281 trees were mapped, and their average circumference was measured at 158cm.

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Back in her study, Löffel combined the mapping with an overview on the uses of the bark, wood, roots, leaves and fruits.

She also researched the flora and fauna found on and around the trees.

Finally, she conducted two tests as a side project to determine whether the juice from the fruit would be suitable for the production of fruit gums.

Marula trees are dioecious; that is, they are either male or female. The sex of each tree in the study was determined by whether it bore fruit (female) or inflorescences (male). An inflorescence is a cluster of flowers arranged on a stem.

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öffel’s research indicated that the sex distribution was more or less balanced, with 146 and 135 male and female trees respectively. Rust explains that they only make use of trees that occur naturally on the farm.

“Our farmworkers collect the fruit. Most of the time we wait for it to fall from the trees, so we only need to collect once or twice.

We have a number of antelope species on Ghaub, particularly kudu, which also love the fruit, but there’s always plenty of fruit for all, so we make sure to leave some behind for the animals.”

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ruit pulp and kernels Rust recalls that they started small, collecting the fruit in a few buckets, and experimented to find the best way to process them.

“While we do eat some of the fruit, most of our harvest is used for our product line. The pulp is processed into a range of juices, jellies and jams.

Last year, we also started using the kernels, as they’re rich in fats and oils.”

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“To ease the work process, we’re considering investing in a mechanical oil press. Our first oil yield was only 10ℓ, and we think this will increase if we use more kernels and a mechanical press.

Rust adds that if they used a mechanical press, the extraction process would not be as messy.

A machine that automatically cracks the pits would also be a great improvement.

“Marula oil is an excellent alternative to sunflower oil, which is also becoming increasingly expensive. It offers guests of Ghaub and Waterberg Wilderness a special taste experience,” he says.

Dried Marula Nuts

Marula oil

The pits are dried in the sun and cracked by hand. The kernels inside are then removed and used to make oil. They can also be roasted or eaten as is.

Oil from the kernels is also used in the lodges’ kitchens for cooking and in salad dressings. A wooden pounder is used on the kernels to extract the oil.

Processing the fruit is a labourintensive undertaking. Once it has been harvested, the pulp is separated from the pits by hand.

The pulp is then cooked until mushy, pressed through a sieve to remove any remaining impurities, and boiled with sugar to make jam or juice.

The pounder is a traditional tool used in northern Namibia for grinding millet and maize.

The pits are dried in the sun, cracked by hand, and the two or three little kernels inside are removed. These can be eaten raw or roasted with salt as a snack, and make a good addition to salad.

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The Future Rust plans to build on the opportunity offered by their tourism arm to sell marula-based farm products.

“At this stage, we don’t have enough volume to sell to the open market; we only use the produce to provide a special experience to guests in our lodges.

However, we know that we can expand. We plan to slowly grow our marula-processing facilities and hopefully, in the future, establish a central processing plant where local communities can deliver their marula harvests in order to earn a small income,” he says.

Visit ghaub-namibia.com or one-namibia.com.

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We stand on the shoulders of giants Celebrating 40 years of excellent service to Namibian farmers

“If I’ve seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.”

– Sir Isaac Newton

Feedmaster is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Since our establishment in 1983, we’ve been standing, in the words of sir Isaac Newton, “upon the shoulders of giants”. So we dedicate this message to every farmer for trusting us. And at Feedmaster, we’ve kept our promise: To deliver the best quality livestock feeds to take every farmer’s business to greater heights. In addition, we remain thankful to every to staff member, consultant, scientist, business partner and leader who helped Feedmaster become the market leader in animal feeds in Namibia ... you are all giants in your own right.

Feedmaster is invested in extensive research to continuously improve and broaden its offering of over 50 animal feed products. We are intensely involved in organised agricultural activities through SME development, training and more ... even empowering the next generation of farmers. It is our mission to create optimal and economical feeding strategies for everyone.

Feedmaster educates and strategises with farmers to regularly revisit their management practices, thereby ensuring financial sustainability for the near future. The above is aimed at increasing the carrying capacity of farms to increase financial returns and unlock agricultural efficiencies continuously.

Feedmaster provides farmers with a variety of products for cattle, sheep, goats, poultry, horses and even pet foods.

These goods are available countrywide making Feedmaster a truly proud Namibian enterprise.

USE THE SUPPORT OF OUR EXPERT TEAM OF

TECHNICAL ADVISORS Danie de Lange

081 128 8713

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081 128 1518

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081 045 0837

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081 147 4199

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Beata Auala

081 396 5383

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Frank Kanguatjivi 081 127 3029

North and South

Markus du Plessis 081 635 4061

Tel: +264 61 290 1300 | info@feedmaster.com.na BACK TO SME Development JUMP TO Just Farming Magazine 14 Issue 1 | December 2023 www.feedmaster.com.na

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National Assembly approves livestock and livestock products bill on the Meat Board website,” noted the MBN.

by Clifton Movirongo

According to the Meat Board of Namibia (MBN), the National Assembly recently approved the livestock and livestock products bill, which would result in amendments to the Meat Act. Among the amendments is the declaration of chicken, dairy, eggs, hides, and skins as “controlled products.”

This is according to the Meat Board’s latest monthly Meat Flash, released on Friday. The MBN further emphasized that all affected sectors indicated that some input from the Meat Board is expected, whether in the form of sustainable growth or additional functions.

“The funding of the functions of the sectors will be done on a similar basis to that of cattle, sheep, and goats. The proposed legislation has yet to be published in the Government

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Gazette. As soon as this happens, consultations with the respective sectors will begin in earnest,” MBN said in its latest Meat Flash.

In a related development, the Meat Board highlighted that the Directorate of Veterinary Services’ Stock Brand campaign is an attempt to clean the database.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform’s Directorate of Veterinary Services seeks to preserve and promote optimal animal health, productivity, and reproduction to guarantee that Namibian livestock and livestock products have secure access to local and global markets.

“During an investigation, it was indicated that there is a high number of unused stock brands in the database. All producers are, therefore, called upon to submit the stock brands and herd information form before 31 October this year. This form can be obtained from local state veterinarian offices and is available

Just Farming Magazine

“The information collected will be used to update the stock brand system, the traceability system (NamLITS), and the Meat Board producer system. Furthermore, the herd numbers information will be used to update and improve census data. The cooperation of producers in this regard is necessary for the success of this campaign,” the MBN revealed.

Furthermore, the MBN increased its contributions to assist the Directorate of Veterinary Services with maintaining the veterinary cordon fence, notably employing a four-person maintenance team.

The team’s goal is to help the current Directorate Veterinary teams maintain the veterinary cordon fence, specifically the electrified sections endorsed by the Meat Board.

“The Namibian elephant population has grown to such an extent that breaches of the veterinary cordon fence occur daily, and the only method to prevent the damage is to electrify the fence,” it said.

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Since its reopening in the second half of 2022, the Farmers’ Meat Market export abattoir in Mariental, Namibia, has processed payment of R10,9 m, excluding VAT, to 46 sheep producers in that country.

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ccording to the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU), the price averaged R91,60/kg for lambs weighing an average of 17,9kg. The Farmers’ Meat Market is currently the only abattoir in the country actively exporting lamb.

Roelie Venter, CEO of the NAU, said the export of lamb to Norway, Europe and China had created enormous opportunities for Namibia’s mutton and lamb producers.

“This high-value opportunity adds exceptional impetus to the country’s red meat production industry, and sustainability and profitability to sheep production in particular,” he told Farmer’s Weekly.

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From the reopening until the end of January, the sheep breeds slaughtered had comprised 68% Dorper, 32% Meatmaster and 15% fat-tailed sheep.

Venter said it was hoped that the opening of exports to China later this year would help to create a gap in the market, which would benefit producers even more.

He added that the export abattoir currently employed 82 people and the intention was to expand this to 100 in 2023.

This year would also see the delivery of 400t of bone-out meat to Norway, as well as bone-out exports to Bermuda and the EU.

Just Farming Magazine

“The China bone-in market will hopefully open by the end of 2023. Middle East bone-in markets such as Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar will kick off by the end of 2023 or the beginning of 2024.

The Meat Market is also investigating Singapore as a possible market,” Venter said.

According to the NAU, the plans for 2023 included the exportation of 50 000 carcasses, including a quota of 40 000 lambs for Norway.

Plans were also on the table to export 170 000 lambs in 2024 and 280 000 in 2025.

16 Issue 1 | December 2023

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By Annelie Coleman

Namibian mutton and lamb exports on the increase

WHAT PAYPULSE CAN DO FOR YOU With PayPulse, you can use your phone to pay anyone in Namibia, for anything, at any time.

SEND MONEY Send money to any mobile in Namibia - even if the recipient does not have a PayPulse account

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You can buy airtime for any MTC and TN Mobile number (prepaid or contract)

GROUP SAVE

The safe and easy way to save together in groups.

SEND BLUEVOUCHER

Send a BlueVoucher to anyone in Namibia, which they can withdraw at any Standard Bank ATM

ELECTRICITY

To top-up your electricity, all you need is your meter number

FUNERAL PLAN

An affordable plan that pays up to N$5,500 at N$10 per month on the Insured Person’s death to cover funeral-related expenses.

BILL PAYMENTS

Pay DStv, GOtv, BoxOffice, Invoices, Rates & Taxes and more

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PAY MERCHANT

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Pay for goods and services quickly and easily

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Whenever, Wherever. Just Pulse it with PayPulse.

BACKScan TO the QR Code to download PayPulse. Magazine To find out where you can withdraw Just Farming 1 | December 2023 17 Issue

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Dial *140*6626# to use PayPulse on any device.

cash using PayPulse USSD, visit paypulse.na

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Battery Cages for layers What is the battery cage system?

Wikipedia - Battery cages are a housing system used for various animal production methods, but primarily for egg-laying hens.

The name arises from the arrangement of rows and columns of identical cages connected, in a unit, as in an artillery battery.

The floors are made of wire

Although the term is usually applied to poultry farming, similar cage systems are used for other animals.

and are sloped to allow eggs

Battery cages have generated controversy between advocates for animal welfare and industrial producers.

system and a manual or

C

specifications.

hickens are confined in small wire cages that are in rows and

stacked indirectly one on top of the other.

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laid to roll down and out of the cages to be collected.

Most of these cages have an automated water drinking automated feeding sytem.

Deep Litter System

Each cage accommodates approximately 4 or 5 hens depending on manufacturer

Beside the battery cage system, there other different chicken production systems such as deep litter and free range.

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Free Range System

18 Issue 1 | December 2023

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Worldwide there is a rise in

Dr Cripwell Kaseke (Veterinarian)

leading to bone sterility,

farmers using the battery cage

who is affiliated with Africa

and consequent increase in

system due to its advantages

Network for Animal Welfare

fracture risk.

such as increased hygiene,

(ANAW) which has it’s

reduced feed and water losses,

headquarters in Nairobi (Kenya)

easy management, reduced

has been conducting a survey

social friction, reduced egg

on the ‘Status and prevalence of

breakages and production of clean eggs.

the use of battery cages (for egg production ) in Namibia’ said in a

On the other hand, the battery cage system has it’s disadvantages, and these are mainly associated with the welfare of birds such as lack of physical and psychological

recent interview that; “Studies show that chickens raised in battery cage systems show increased panic, aggression and high

space for the hens, fatigue,

incidents of reproductive

injuries, stress, lack of exercise

diseases associated with high

resulting in a higher incidence

egg production and lack of

of metabolic disorders, lack of

exercise eg. vent prolapse and

nesting opportunities resulting

osteoporosis.”

in severe frustration for many birds each time an egg is laid,

a systemic skeletal disorder

opportunities such as, dust

characterized by low bone

bathing, perching, mating, and

mass, micro-architectural

sun basking)

deterioration of bone tissue

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consider not only profits when chosing a chicken production system but also chicken welfare issues associated with chosen system.

In conclusion Dr Kaseke emphasized...

“A good farmer is not one who makes profits only but one who makes profits using good farming practices”

Wikipedia - Osteoporosis is

deprivation of other behavioural

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He further urged farmers to

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Dr Cripwell Kaseke Veterinarian

19 Issue 1 | December 2023

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History of the Battery Cage System

A

n early reference to battery cages appears in Milton

Arndt’s 1931 book, Battery Brooding, where he reports that

A chicken coop from the 1950s

his cage flock was healthier and

The wire floor allowed the

use throughout the country and

had higher egg production than

manure to pass through,

apparently is solving a number

his conventional flock.

removing it from the chicks’

of the troubles encountered with

environment and reducing the

laying hens in the regular laying

risk of manure-borne diseases.

house on the floor.

allowed eggs to roll to the front

Early battery cages were often

In the first edition of this book I

of the cage, where they were

used for selecting hens based

easily collected by the farmer

on performance since it is easy

and out of the hens’ reach.

to track how many eggs each

At this early date, battery cages already had the sloped floor that

Arndt also mentions the use of conveyor belts under the

with 220 pullets which were retained for one year in individual

hen is laying if only one hen is

cages.

placed in a cage.

At the end of this year, it was

cages to remove manure, which

Later, this was combined with

provides better air control

artificial insemination, giving

quality and reduces fly breeding.

a technique where each egg’s

Original battery cages extended

spoke of my experimental work

parentage is known. This

found that the birds confined in the batteries outlaid considerably the same size flock in the regular houses.

method is still used today.

The birds consume less feed than

brooders, which were cages

Early reports from Arndt about

with the increased production

with a wire mesh floor and

battery cages were enthusiastic.

made them more profitable than

integral heating elements for

Arndt reported: “This form of

the same number of pullets in the

brooding chicks.

battery is coming into widespread

laying house.

the technology used in battery

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those on the floor and this coupled

20 Issue 1 | December 2023

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A number of progressive

The practice of battery cages

2. Floor eggs are eliminated

poultrymen from all over the

was criticized in Ruth Harrison’s

3. Eggs are cleaner

United States and some in foreign

landmark book Animal

4. Culling is expedited

countries cooperated with me in

Machines, published in 1964.

carrying on experimental work with this type of battery and each and every one of them were very well satisfied with the results obtained.

In 1990, North and Bell reported that 75 percent of all commercial layers in the world and 95 percent in the United States were kept in cages.

In fact, a number of them have since placed their entire laying flocks in individual hen batteries.”

5. In most instances, less feed is required to produce a dozen eggs 6. Broodiness is eliminated 7. More pullets may be housed in a given house floor space

By all accounts, a caged layer

8. Internal parasites are eliminated

facility is more expensive to

9. Labor requirements are

build than high-density floor

generally much reduced

In 1967, Samuel Duff filed a

confinement but can be

patent for “battery cages” in

cheaper to operate if designed

They also cite disadvantages to

patent US3465722.

to minimize labor.

cages:

The use of laying batteries

North and Bell report the

increased gradually, becoming

following economic advantages

1. The handling of manure may be a problem

the dominant method

to laying cages:

2. Generally, flies become a greater nuisance

1. It is easier to care for the pullets; no birds are underfoot

3. The investment per pullet may be higher than in the case of floor operations

somewhat before the integration of the egg industry in the 1960s.

4. There is a slightly higher percentage of blood spots in the eggs 5. The bones are more fragile and processors often discount the fowl price.

Disadvantages one and two can be eliminated by manure conveyors, but some industrial systems do not feature manure conveyors.

A simple battery cage system with no conveyors for feed or eggs

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Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

21 Issue 1 | December 2023

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Choosing the right feed for your chickens The best-quality meat demands the best-quality feed, according to Dr Elsje Pieterse, senior lecturer in the Department of Animal Science at Stellenbosch University, and Brett Roosendaal, head nutritionist at Epol. They spoke to Marinda Louw-Coetzee about feeding requirements for producing chicken products.

How does a chicken’s physiology and social nature influence the choice of feed?

Dr Elsje Pieterse (EP): The chicken is a single-stomached animal, so high-fibre diets are not digested and can reduce performance. It’s not a grazer, and although it will feed on young growth on grazing, this cannot be the primary source of nutrients.

A chicken requires highly digestible, well-balanced feed with the correct balance of vitamins, minerals, energy and amino acids (proteins).

Brett Roosendaal (BR): Poultry are sensitive to temperature,

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light, access to water and feed, type of housing, and conditions that may cause stress, such as stocking density. The cornerstone of chicken nutrition is attaining high voluntary feed intake of a diet that provides the prerequisite quantities of nutrients and energy daily.

Which diseases and conditions are chickens sensitive to, and how can diet improve this?

EP: A well-fed chicken kept in a proper environment will have a healthy immune system and will not get sick as easily as a malnourished, poorly managed bird. Chickens can get respiratory infections, digestive upsets, and

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inflammation and infections associated with injuries.

BR: Diet is fundamental to the majority of these diseases, either through the addition of functional ingredients to target specific disease status, or basic construction of the diet formulation that mitigates many of the disease conditions encountered.

Many diseases lead to a reduction in feed intake, which results in underperformance.

Diagnosing a health problem accurately, together with good nutrition, is imperative for sustainable poultry production.

22 Issue 1 | December 2023

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Are growth hormones or antibiotics added to chicken feed?

EP: Growth hormones are not necessary, as chickens have the genetics to grow extremely fast, and a farmer needs to manage the environment and feed to optimise this. Alternatives to antibiotics are being researched and implemented.

It should be kept in mind that the antibiotics used in animal feeds are not similar to the ones used for humans, and that the industry is very sensitive to the possibility of resistant bacteria. Antibiotics may only be prescribed by a qualified veterinarian.

BR: Growth hormones have never been used in poultry in South Africa. The development of prebiotics, probiotics, phytogenics (natural growth promoters) and the increased use of organic acids in poultry feed over the past 10 to 15 years has offered nutritionists alternatives to improve gut health without the use of subtherapeutic antibiotics.

Does the addition of certain ingredients reduce the necessity for certain medications or growth enhancers?

consume around two litres of water for every one kilogram of feed. If the water is hot, polluted or insufficient, the birds will not drink and will therefore not feed.

Insufficient water can cause crop compaction, dehydration and death. Contaminated water is also a source of pathogens that can lead to the spread of diseases.

BR: High water intake under heat stress conditions can lead to wet litter and should be managed accordingly. Diet composition and the use of functional raw ingredients can mitigate these conditions.

BR: Feeding practices of broilers (meat) and laying stock (eggs) are different. Broilers are fed continuously, while laying stock receive a set amount, usually early in the morning.

Broilers are usually fed in pans that are height-adjusted depending on their age, whereas laying stock are fed in tracks with chain conveyors.

The feed form for broilers is crumbles or pellets, while layers receive a mash diet.

Should small farmers buy readymade chicken feed or can they mix their own feed?

EP: Ready-made chicken feed is perfectly balanced, and although What is the best way to feed the small-scale farmer will be able EP: A well-fed chicken has a better chickens? to access the main ingredients, immune system to withstand EP: Chickens should have free raw material prices fluctuate, so disease pressure. However, the access to clean food and water. home mixes can easily end up addition of some antioxidants, The best feeder is one where they being more expensive than, and vitamins, micro- minerals and cannot get into the feeder, scratch inferior to, commercially made organic compounds could add the feed out or defecate in it. feed. value.

How important is clean water in a chicken’s diet?

EP: Clean and cool water is essential. A bird needs to

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The feed should be replenished whenever it runs out, and drinkers should be cleaned and filled at least twice a day and whenever they are dirty.

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BR: For producers of broiler chickens, it’s advisable to buy commercially manufactured crumbles and pellets. You achieve higher feed intakes and faster

23 Issue 1 | December 2023

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growth, making this type of feeding economically viable. For laying hens, some feed factories produce concentrates or macro packs of ingredients, where a farmer only needs to add maize.

or food scraps can be a source of microbial pathogens.

BR: Quality control of raw ingredients is essential to prevent contaminants such as mycotoxins, heavy metals, pesticides, dioxins Please tell us more about raw or biogenic amines. Under the materials to be included in Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Seeds and chicken feed.

Remedies Act No. 36 of 1947, raw ingredients should be registered EP: Chickens need energy and through the Department of protein as well as vitamins and minerals. The proteins should have Agriculture, Land Reform and a certain amino acid composition, Rural Development. and the feed should be highly When buying ready-made food, digestible and not contain any should anything else be added to anti-nutrients or toxins. a chicken’s diet?

BR: Poultry feed comprises cereal grains, cereal by-products, proteinaceous raw materials, oil, vitamins, macro and micro trace elements, and medication. The ratios of these ingredients differ from one type of feed to another.

Are there any ingredients which should never be included?

EP: Ready-made feed is properly balanced, so it should be used as is. It should never be diluted.

BR: Commercially manufactured feed is well balanced and complete, and shouldn’t require any additional raw ingredients or additives. Most feed companies will add additional products to

their rations if requested by a farmer.

Is there pressure from consumers to supply more ‘green’ or healthconscious feeding formulations?

BR: Most definitely. Consumers are requesting alternatives to subtherapeutic antibiotics as well as anticoccidials. There are also requests for prebiotics and probiotics, as well as essential oils in combination with organic acids.

Is there a difference in the feed formulation of so-called ‘freerange’ chickens?

BR: Normally, anticoccidial and subtherapeutic antibiotics are replaced with more ‘green’ feed additives. In some cases, the free-range producers have lower stocking densities and may feed for a longer period before processing.

Email Dr Elsje Pieterse at elsjep@sun. ac.za.

EP: Mouldy, wet ingredients contaminated with herbicides and pesticides, urine or faecal matter should never be used. Raw soya bean meal and cottonseed meal contain toxins, while raw meat

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24 Issue 1 | December 2023

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Concern over continued SA Chicken Imports The Poultry Producers’ Association (PPA) has expressed concern that Namibia’s borders continue to be open for the importation of chicken from South Africa in the face of a widespread outbreak of avian flu in the neighbouring country.

Jona Musheko says the current outbreak is not new.

“We know about it and Namibia is currently importing from highly pathogenic avian influenza-free compartments in South Africa, which are under the supervision of the Veterinary Authority of South Africa,” he says.

PPA chairperson Rene Werner says the association is concerned that the disease could be imported into the country, with dire consequences for Namibia’s poultry industry.

The South African Poultry Association (Sapa) has confirmed the outbreak of avian flu, resulting in a shortage of chicken and eggs as chickens are destroyed.

“We are, however, engaging the department of veterinary services (DVS) on the way forward, because should there be an outbreak at a farm, the producer would be required to destroy all the livestock on that farm and suspend operations for three to four months,” he says.

“However, we understand the concerns of the poultry industry in Namibia and the public, and our DVS is conducting investigations on the matter to take the necessary “This strain we have seen is catastrophic in the areas of Gauteng further precautionary measures,” he and Mpumalanga. To date, we have says. lost a significant number of chickens The spokesperson of the Ministry to both strains. of Industrialisation and Trade Elijah

Werner says some big operations would be forced to get rid of as many as three million chickens should an outbreak occur on their farm.

“While closing the border for the importation of chickens could present challenges for farmers, these would be short term and more manageable than the devastating consequences an outbreak would bring to the industry,” he says.

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Sapa general manager Abongile Balarane says South Africa has been hit by a third cycle of avian flu and a new strain of the virus, called H7N6, has been discovered.

“We have lost more than 15% to 20% of the national production in South Africa,” he says.

“We will be able to restock the farms as soon the avian flu starts to diminish. Usually, it diminishes around October, closer to the warmer days.”

Allaying producers’ fears, Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform spokesperson

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Musheko says the standing agreement is that South Africa will not certify export poultry or poultry products from noncompliant establishments.

Mukubonda said South Africa can halt the export of chickens from avian influenza infested areas, meaning that chickens from such areas will not be exported.

“However, it is the importing countries like Namibia who need to ban the importation of chickens from South Africa for health or safety reasons,” he said. email: matthew@namibian.com.na

25 Issue 1 | December 2023

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26 Issue 1 | December 2023

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The world’s water woes could get very messy in the years ahead.

I

n decades to come, water scarcity is pitted to become one of the biggest problems facing the world.

Shortages of freshwater are set to spring up across the world, fueled by unsustainable use, pollution, population growth, and runaway climate change.

But could it really reach a breaking point where there’s simply no water left?

The short answer is no, the world will not run out of water. That said, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that freshwater will not always be available where and when humans need it.

There’s no risk that we’ll run out of salty seawater, which covers 70 percent of our world’s surface. The issue lies with freshwater, which we drink, bathe in, and use for agriculture.

This stock of usable freshwater accounts for just 3 percent of the world’s water and the majority of it is locked away in ice or frozen glaciers.

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Will The World Run Out Of Water?

It’s clear that climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of droughts, a major factor in the world’s water scarcity crisis.

Intensified farming is also sucking up an unbelievable amount of water, with

Just Farming Magazine

agriculture accounting for almost 70 % of all water withdrawals.

With the world’s population forecasted to rise over the next few decades, the demand for food – and

27 Issue 1 | December 2023

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therefore water – will also increase.

The crisis is already here for many. According to a 2023 estimate from the United Nations, 2 billion people globally do not have access to safe drinking water. That’s a quarter of the planet’s population.

Back in 2018, Cape Town provided a stark example of what the future might bring for many cities. After years of unsustainable water use, poor management, and climate change, the South African city was told it could potentially run out of water in a matter of months.

Amid warnings of taps literally running dry, residents

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were told to cut their water consumption, take short stopstart showers, not wash their cars, and flush toilets as little as possible.

Fortunately, “Day Zero” – the date when the city was forecasted to literally run out of water – was narrowly averted, but Cape Town’s predicament could be a sign of things to come for other parts of the world.

In recent research, a number of major cities have been identified as potential hotspots of water scarcity, including London, Tokyo, Miami, and Moscow. As ever though, it will be poorer communities and less wealthy parts of the world that will bear the brunt of the problem.

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As the world becomes more desperate for water, we’re bound to see some profound social and geopolitical changes in human life.

Researchers have noted that climate change and water scarcity are set to increase the risk of water conflicts, in which states and groups fight for access to water. Similarly, it’s estimated that 700 million people could be displaced by intense water scarcity by the end of this decade, leading to massive shifts in global migration.

While it’s unlikely to reach a point where all the taps in the world will run dry, the world’s water woes are likely to get very messy in the years to come.

28 Issue 1 | December 2023

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Water Scarcity in Africa: Causes, Effects, and Solutions

By Charlie Lai | earth.org

The problem of water scarcity has cast a shadow over the wellbeing of humans.

According to estimates, in 2016, nearly 4 billion people – equivalent to two-thirds of the global population – experience severe water scarcity for a prolonged period of time.

If the situation doesn’t improve, 700 million people worldwide could be displaced by intense water scarcity by 2030.

Africa, in particular, is facing severe water scarcity and the situation is worsening day by day.

Resolute and substantial action is needed to address the issue.

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“As the sector that relies on water the most, agriculture is already heavily impacted by water scarcity and the situation is expected to further deteriorate” Water Scarcity in Africa: An Overview.

Water scarcity is the condition where the demand for water exceeds supply and where available water resources are approaching or have exceeded sustainable limits.

The problem of water scarcity in Africa is not only a pressing one but it is also getting worse day by day.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), water scarcity affects 1 in 3 people in the African Region and the situation is deteriorating because of factors such

Just Farming Magazine

as population growth and urbanisation but also climate change. Water scarcity can be classified into two types: physical and economic.

P

hysical water scarcity occurs when water resources are overexploited for different uses and no longer meet the needs of the population. In this case, there is not enough water available in physical terms.

Economic water scarcity, on the other hand, is linked to poor governance, poor infrastructure, and limited investments.

29 Issue 1 | December 2023

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T

he latter type of water scarcity can exist even in countries or areas where water resources and infrastructure are adequate.

As reported by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa in 2011, arid regions of the continent – mainly located in North Africa – experience frequent physical water scarcity, while Sub-Saharan Africa undergoes mainly economic water scarcity.

Indeed, the latter region has a decent levels of physical water, mainly thanks to the abundant, though highly seasonal and unevenly distributed supply of rainwater.

T

his region’s access to water, however, is constrained due to poor infrastructure, resulting in mainly economic rather than physical water scarcity.

In a 2022 study conducted on behalf of the United Nations University Institute for Water Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), researchers

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employed indicators to African Republic performs quantify water security in all of the worst. The latter, however, Africa’s countries. has the highest per capita water availability while half They found that only 13 out of North African countries of 54 countries reached a modest level of water security are characterised by absolute water scarcity. in recent years, with Egypt, Botswana, Gabon, Mauritius This again shows that Suband Tunisia representing the better-off countries in Africa in Saharan Africa and Central Africa face economic water terms of water security. scarcity more than physical Map of physical and economic water scarcity at basin level in 2007 across the African continent. water scarcity.

Causes of Water Scarcity in Africa Human activities, which result in overexploitation and global warming, are the main culprit for the water scarcity in Africa.

Overexploitation is the main contributor to physical water scarcity.

A

2018 report published by the Institute for 19 countries Security Studies stated that – which are home more than 60% of South to half a billion people – are Africa’s rivers are being deemed to have levels of overexploited and only onewater security below the third of the country’s main threshold of 45 on a scale of rivers are in good condition.

1 to 100. On the other hand, Somalia, Chad, and Niger are Lake Chad – once deemed the continent’s least waterAfrica’s largest freshwater secure countries. body and important Egypt performs the best regarding access to drinking water while the Central

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freshwater reservoir – is shrinking because of overexploitation of its water.

30 Issue 1 | December 2023

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The size of Lake Chad shows a massive shrinking between 1972 and 2007.

According to a 2019 report, for this reason alone, the water body of the lake has diminished by 90% since the 1960s, with the surface area of the lake decreasing from 26,000 square kilometres in 1963 to less than 1,500 square kilometres in 2018.

Climate change and global warming – mainly caused by an increase in human and commercial activities – equally contribute to water scarcity in Africa.

As a report by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa found, a 1°C rise in global temperatures would result in a reduction of runoff – excess rainwater that flows across the land’s surface – by up to 10%.

Another study stated that the declining trends of rainfall caused by global warming will continue in North Africa, limiting groundwater recharge and exacerbating groundwater depletion.

Although in areas closer to the equator, a soar in precipitation will likely occur as a result of global warming, the increased potential evapotranspiration.

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Consequences of Water Scarcity in Africa

W

ater scarcity is expected to affect the economic condition, the health of citizens as well as ecosystems in Africa.

In economic terms, the agriculture sector is likely to be hampered under severe water scarcity. Agriculture is one of the most pivotal economic sectors for Africa, employing the majority of the population.

In Sub-Saharan Africa alone, it accounts for nearly 14% of the total Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

As the sector that relies on water the most, agriculture is already heavily impacted by water scarcity and the situation is expected to further deteriorate, leading to other issues such as food shortages and, in the worst cases, famine.

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Not surprisingly, water shortage is an immense threat to human’s health. In times of water scarcity, people are often forced to get their water supply from contaminated ponds and streams.

When ingested, polluted water results in widespread diarrhoeal diseases including cholera, typhoid fever, salmonellosis, other gastrointestinal viruses, and dysentery.

L

astly, water shortages jeopardise ecosystems and contribute to a loss in biodiversity. Africa is home to some of the most unique freshwater ecosystems in the world.

Lake Turkana is the world’s largest desert lake, while Lake Malawi hosts the richest freshwater fish fauna in the world, home to a staggering 14% of the world’s freshwater fish species.

31 Issue 1 | December 2023

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If not tackled, water scarcity will disrupt and likely terminate freshwater and marine ecosystems in the continent.

Solutions to Water Scarcity in Africa Remedies for water scarcity are observed on a local, national, and international scale.

Local communities are taking adaptation action.

Many opt for droughttolerant crops instead of crops that require large amounts of water, a strategy to mitigate both water scarcity and food insecurity.

Conservation or regenerative agriculture is also introduced to help infiltration and soil moisture retention through mulching and no-tillage approaches.

Countries such as Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Ethiopia have all adopted such techniques in recent years.

Several governments are also taking steps to tackle water scarcity across the continent.

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For example, the government of Namibia financed the construction of an urban wastewater management system in the capital Windhoek, significantly improving the management of water resources and thus lowering the risk of water scarcity.

International organisations also lend a helping hand in times of water scarcity.

In recent years, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) promoted several initiatives and a) s implemented ya N ke a L i( w a al M ke a L innovative financing models to alleviate this pressing issue.

In regions in eastern and southern Africa, UNICEF is cooperating with the European Investment Bank (EIB), the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) and other international agencies and organisations

Just Farming Magazine

to evaluate and implement bankable projects in a blended financing mode, particularly targeting the urban areas.

For example, the European Union donated €19 million for the construction of water supply systems in the Eswatini’s cities of Siphofaneni, Somntongo, and Matsanjeni.

Similarly, the DBSA contributed about €150 million to the construction of the Lomahasha Water Supply.

Booster pumping stations as well as reinforced concrete reservoirs are also constructed with the support of international actors.

32 Issue 1 | December 2023

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Thank you for the support in 2023.

Have a joyous Festive Season and a wet, prosperous 2024.

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Dankie vir die ondersteuning in 2023.

Geniet ‘n vreugdevolle Feesseisoen en ’n nat, voorspoedige 2024.

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