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Industry News
Farmers advised to sharpen animal health programs - 19 October 2011Livestock farmers, including Boergoat farmers, have been advised to improve their animal health programs to protect their animals against increasing health risks. Large areas of South Africa have been fortunate to experience above average rainfall years for the past three to four seasons and with this has come a significant increase in diseases affecting livestock. Particularly diseases spread by midges and ticks have shown significant increases due to the population explosion of these vectors due to wet, hot and humid conditions in large areas of the area. While reports from the sub-continent are not as freely available, this situation could apply to many areas of southern Africa. Particularly diseases like Rift Valley Fever, Wesselsbron disease, Heartwater and Blue Tongue are giving farmers problems and they are advised to inoculate their livestock in good time to prevent an ever increasing problem. The poor state of South Africa's border fences and the fact that the borders are - for all intents and purposes - totally porous, mean that the transfer of diseases like foot and mouth disease can more easily be brought into the country by livestock from neighbouring countries grazing across into South Africa. Local veterinary advice in relation to the much reported and widespread failure of enzootic abortion vaccines in the past season is to administer these vaccines as a 2-part vaccine, applying the second vaccination 6 weeks after the initial treatment. This should be followed up by an annual booster. As with many things in life, prevention is better than cure and prophylactic treatment will go a long way toward limiting problems during the coming summer season. Healthy animals have a much higher restistance to diseases and produce at higher levels than do ill animals or those in poor condition. |
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Prices show strong growth - 8 March 2011Prices for good quality Boer goat breeding stock in South Africa have shown significant growth this year as demand strains the ability of the local industry to supply quality registered animals. Growing buying power from a growing market are contributing to the growth although many question the sustainability of this government-funded grant system driving the market. Importantly however, is the fact that interest in the South African Boergoat internationally is also very healthy. In recent weeks countries as diverse as Tanzania, Canada, Norway, Ireland and Nigeria have expressed interest in upgrading indigenous goats, importing genetic material or joint venture projects in combination with South African producers. Dwindling numbers of farmers worldwide, pressure on productive farmland, rapidly rising food prices and other factors are causing farmers to investigate all opportunities to maintain profitability, improve production and raise prices. The Boer goat has a well established reputation as the yardstick against which all other meat-producing goats worldwide are measured and many producers are discovering the breed's benefits. The challenge for South African producers is to educate the market about the benefits of quality, registered animals with performance statistics as opposed to sub-standard animals, often being offered at what appear to be bargain prices on slaughter auctions. A new South African record for a stud ewe was obtained on the combined auction of the Soetdorings and Nico Botha studs. The Nico Botha ewe was sold for the excellent price of R44000 (US$6400). The average price for rams was R11632 (US$1690) and ewes averaged R13970 (US$2030). On-farm prices for quality flock ewes on the open market currently range between R1800 to roughly R2500 (US$260 - US$365) while flock rams can be bought for between R3500 and R6000 (US$508 - US$870). |
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Boergoat Management DVD now available - 16 November 2010After significant demand for an interactive management aid, an informative Boergoat Management DVD has been completed and is now available through this website. The interactive DVD contains slideshows illustrating the visual characteristics of the Boergoat and various videos that will help farmers in managing their Boergoats. Step by step videos covering such aspects as dipping, deworming, eartagging, vaccinating, applying tattoos and others are all presented on the DVD.The DVD is available in English and Afrikaans and clear voice-overs present the information in easily understood language. No specialised knowledge of equipment is required to view the DVD, any computer with a DVD player will be able to accept the DVD. |
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Demand for slaughter animals rising - 16 November 2010The year-end is at hand and, as usual, demand for slaughter animals is rising. Judging by the requests received on a daily basis by this website, It would seem that demand is outstripping supply. The larger commercial centres in South Africa such as Gauteng, the greater Durban area and, to a lesser degree, the Cape Town metropolitan area are showing the greatest demand. While demand in other areas such as Gaberone in Botswana are also showing healthy demand, prices in the latter are nothing spectacular. The number of buyers at recent auctions in Potchefstroom was slightly disappointing although most buyers and sellers were satisfied with prices paid and received. Auctioneers report that interest in a Boergoat auction in Nylstroom on 17 November is very good although this auction is largely for breeding stock. From roughly October to mid-December each year, demand increases. driven largely by the holiday season and year-end slaughter festivals among the Muslim community. Producers in outlying or remote areas of South Africa, whose prices are sometimes under pressure as a result of the transport distances involved can also expect to receive better prices for their animals at this time of the year. |
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Late rains place producers under pressure - 10 November 2010After an exceptionally good rain season in 2009/2010, Southern African producers are under pressure as good rains stay away in most areas of the sub-continent. While fodder producers farming under irrigation are doing good business with rising feed prices, livestock farmers, especially those farming under extensive conditions, are having to manage their grazing carefully until good seasonal rains fall in the summer rainfall areas. Late rains are particularly worrisome this season as farmers in huge areas of South Africa have suffered terrible bush fires, the extent of which was previously unknown in the country. Many of the fires are the result of arson, although some have been started by lightning strikes. After the very good rain season in 2009/2010, there is a significant amount of combustible material on farms and this has contributed to hot, damaging fires. Some reports estimate that almost one third of the Free State province has been laid waste through fire damage. The North West Province and Northern Cape have also suffered hundreds of thousands of hectares of damage and farmers are under severe financial pressure to survive. Many farmers have lost their entire farm and are reliant on aid from farmer unions and fellow farmers. Typically, little or no aid is forthcoming from the South African government and farmers are expected to survive on their own. Whatever aid farmers have received has been organised by fellow farmers in other areas of the country where conditions are more favourable. The little aid offered by the government is always too little too late. The dry conditions, combined with exceptionally hot and very windy conditions over large parts in the north and west of South Africa, have dried out pastures and restricted growth. Early spring growth has also suffered under the hot conditions. Gusty winds and windstorm damage has also been reported, adding to the cost pressure on farmers as they work to repair damage. Uncharacteristically cold nights and the regular occurrence of cold fronts over large parts of the interior have kept night-time temperatures low. This has resulted in a lack of vegetative growth as ground temperatures remain significantly below normal. Weather forecasts for the end of November indicate wide-spread rains and farmers are hopeful for relief. |
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Your input as a goat farmer is needed for this study on Brown Hyenas - 21 June 2010Dear Sir,/Madam Neem asseblief keenis dat daar 'n Afrikaanse weergawe van die navorsingsdokument is. . |
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Rift Valley Fever causes significant losses - 15 May 2010The South African Boergoat industry has been significantly less affected by Rift Valley Fever (RVF) than the sheep sector. This could be due to the Boergoat's hardier constitution but may also be attributable to the fact that Boergoats are raised largely in the more arid regions of the country. While Namibia has temporarily stopped all imports of livestock into that country, Botswana has not implemented similar measures and exports continue to this country. The outbreak of RFV has undoubtedly caused significant losses for a number of livestock producers with certain individuals in the western Free State province having suffered significant losses in their sheep flocks. The onset of cold winter weather and the attendant occurrence of frost is later than normal this year and this may see the disease remain active for the next few weeks. Reports of light fost from certain areas have been received at the time of writing and producers are hopeful that heavy frost in the coming weeks will put an end to the outbreak before long. Large parts of the interior have received above normal rainfall and standing water is a common occurrence in many areas. This factor has contributed in large part to the outbreak of the disease but will, ironically, also lead to possible heavy frost occurence in the coming winter. Onderstepoort Biological Products still has very limited supplies of inactivated vaccine due to the relatively long production time. The peak threat period is, however, weakening as winter approaches and hopefully, vaccines will be available when needed for the next season. Farmers are encouraged to take all neccessary precautions such as moving livestock from low-lying areas, near rivers, marshes and dams and to treat weekly with a cypermethrin-containing ectoparasiticide. |
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2010 World Boergoat Show, Lichtenburg - 15 May 2010The 2010 World Boergoat Show was held at Lichtenburg in the Northwest Province of South Africa from 27 to 30 April. While Boergoats do best under hot and dry conditions, they showed their adaptability by adapting to the soaking wet conditions that existed for the entire duration of the show. On the first day a cloudburst delivered 100mm of rain that turned the showgrounds into a mud marsh. Organisation by members of the Central Interior Boergoat Club was good, especially considering the wet conditions. Unfortunately no Namibian or Botswana breeders took part, possibly due to the Rift Valley Fever problems. From feedback received after the show, there is a feeling that functionality and practical considerations, rather than purely aesthetic factors, need to play a more dominant role in the judging process. Many of the animals presented on shows are on semi-permanent high quality feed - often under feedlot conditions - and may adapt to practical veld conditions with great difficulty. The Boergoat industry is growing rapidly with many new entrants and the next 3 to 5 years have the potential to deliver new names to the winner's podium in the future. Results were as follows:
The show auction on the evening of 30 April delivered the following results:
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Market Feedback - 15 May 2010Prices for good quality Boergoat breeding stock have improved significantly recently. This can be attributed to the fact that stock is scarce and demand from new breeders continues to increase in sympathy with consumer demand. Recent slaughter auctions show that slaughter animalsare trading at prices between R20/kg and R23/kg liveweight. On some auctions nearer the large consumer centres where good quality animals have been offered, prices as high as R24.30/kg have been achieved. Demand from the Black and Indian sectors continues to grow as buying power increases on the back of government grants given to lower income sectors. The sustainability of this growth at the current prices is questionable considering government deficits and growing global economic crises. Spectator numbers for the coming World Cup Soccer have declined due to increasing criminal activity in South Africa, the inability and unwillingness of the government to address these issues and fears for the safety of visitors. This decline will impact on red meat demand during this period and a subsequent negative influence on prices in this sector. While government continues to encourage grass roots level goat farming schemes, most of these remain at a very small and disorganised level and pose a limited threat to commercial producers. Hobby farmers entering the market have limited scope for commercial growth and the churn factor in this sector of the Boergoat industry is significant. Restrictive factors like cost of infrastructure (fencing especially), the high levels of input required of a commercial level enterprise and uncertainty regarding the government's attitude to land ownership are all factors that limit the long-term growth of the industry. Added to these elements is an increasing hesitancy from commercial banks to finance agricultural start-up operations. |