By Maphari Machaka
Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (LDARD) held an information day on livestock and marketing in a bid to assist livestock farmers to effective livestock management at Lesfontein / Sekhung (Rakibang Development Centre) in Blouberg Municipality, Capricorn District on 16 August 2023.
Livestock farmers were urged that in livestock production animals need basic things like human beings. Animals need shelter, sufficient clean water, food with supplements to meet required nutrition, and undergo treatment to avoid illnesses and diseases.
Kgomotso Mashala, acting deputy director, Northwestern Zone gives words of support to farmers.
They were also reminded that they are in livestock business in such that they must have the business plans in place. The plan must indicate description of business; mission and vision statement; production and marketing plans; financial analysis and cash flow; SWOT analysis and human resources, among others. According to Gumeni Mudzielwana, an agricultural economist from LDARD, the business plan is more like a curriculum vitae of one’s farm, which can be profiled and marketed at different institutions for financial or relevant support.
Kgomotso Mashala, acting deputy director: Northwestern Zone added that the interest and passion in livestock should not be overlooked. She urged farmers to actively engage their kids to learn and know about livestock at an early age so they can develop much-needed skills. “The skills that will help them since the department gives priority for support and funding to youth, women and people with disability”, she said.
Kagiso Molabe, Cyril Mathapo, Mmapaseka Abigail and Kwena Mokoena from University of Limpopo gave a brief overview on selective breeding that involves choosing parents with characteristics to breed and selection based on performance.
Their presentations indicate that selection is based on the pedigree or record and selecting breeding stock. This means that the selection is based on animals that consistently give birth to wean large and healthy productive litter. The selection is further based on healthy and young animals which are shiny, healthy, and the structural formation that is uniform and balanced on the head, neck, body, and legs for mobility.
Emmanuel Sebola, Jackson Tladi, Kwena Mokoena, Eunice Choshi, Cyril Mathapo; Selaelo Boloka, Kagiso Molabe and Abigail Mmapaseka
