afrikaner joernaal 2018 · 2018-01-22 · huidige aardverwarming dilemma. - afrikanerbeeste boer...

2 AFRIKANER Joernaal 2018

3AFRIKANER Journal 2018

Van die/from the President 2Message from the Breed Director 4Bestuursvergaderings/Council Meetings 8In Memoriam 9Bestuur/Management 10Perspective on the origin of the Afrikaner cattle breed and its

future role in beef production 12Die effek van hittestres op groei en vrugbaarheid in vleisbeeste 18Behou genetiese variasie te alle koste 23Basic record keeping for increased profitability 26Can productivity and environmental impact of beef cattle be

improved at herd level? 32Genomika so skakel ons die beesbedryf oor na ‘n vinniger rat 34Lick supplements in the summer 39Take your cattle reproduction program to the next level with

Estrotect heat detectors 43Genetiese beginsels van bul koop op veiling 45Wen met veldbultoetsing 51Algemene Jaarvergadering/Annual general meeting 53Hoopstad kursus/course 59Bloem Skou/Show 59Meadow Meats 60Nampo 62Thabazimbi Skou/Show 63Thabazimbi kursus/course 64ARC National Awards/LNR Nasionale Toekennings 66Historical opportunity for the ACBS Ankole involvement 69Afrikanerbees beoordelaarskursus 72Alfa 73Afrikanerbees produksiegroepveiling 7578th Hoopstad Afrikaner Auction 76Die Plaas landboujeugstigting 77Landbouweekblad SA Stamboek Elite Platinum Koei 78Namibiëse besoek 80Dis maar net ‘n tjek 83Archives 84Argintina/Argentinië 94South Dakota State University 96Student from Iran awarded for her poster on Afrikaner Cattle 100Original Afri Beef 103Afri Beef lei van voor 107The Afrisim the no-nonsense breed 108Afrisim: Die maklike boerbees 110Afrisim breeders come together 112

Wegdraai Boerdery 6-7Karstveld Afrikaners 11Derus Afrikaner Stoet 17Deelfontein Afrikaners 21Unistel 22ARC/LNR 31Etambeni Afrikaners 33Grootkuil Afrikanerstoet 37Estrotect 42Mokala Afrikaners 44Sahara Afrikaners 49Afric Afrikaners 50Hoopstad Afrikaner bulveiling 52SwaVet 55Pronk Afrikaners 56-57BenguFarm 58Doornkloof Afrikaners 61Klipheuwel 65Landbouradio 68Sanra Afrikaners 71Vleissentraal 74Holmesdale Afrikaner Stud 79Ultra Fin 82Veeplaas 95Landbouweekblad 98ProAgri 101Molatek 102Afri Beef 105FF Afrisim 111Demeter Afrisim Stoet 111Boshoff Afrikaners IBCEsfané OBC

Produksie van Joernaal:

Firefly Publications (Pty) Ltd Tel: (051) 821 1783 | Posbus 444 Brandfort 9400

E-pos: [email protected] Ontwerp deur: Caria Vermaak

AFRIKANERBEESTElERSgENooTSKAp AFRIKANER CATTlE BREEdERS’ SoCIETyPosbus/PO Box 29571, Danhof 9310

[T]: 051 447 7405 • [F]: 051 448 8404/ 086 270 3988[E]: [email protected]

[W]: www.afrikanerbees.com

Inhoudsopgawecontents

Advertensiesadvertisements


For us as Afrikaner cattle breeders these questions recently arose again and we started looking for concrete answers:

- The Afrikaner breed is productive regardless of the quality of the veld. They produce high quality meat anywhere in Southern Africa.

- The calf percentage of the breed is around 80%.- Calves’ weaning weights are over 200kg.- The end product of cattle farming is meat. The Afrikaner

breed proved to have the softest and juiciest meat available - see graph.

- The AfriBeef Trademark product provides exceptional prices for A, AB & B grades and up to 4-tooth; plus a premium for A grade. For us as breeders this is an absolute financial asset.

- This benefits both stud and commercial breeders.- Afrikaner cattle are extraordinary in their tolerance of

heat - the ideal breed in the global warming dilemma.- The breed easily roams with game as they are malignant

catarrhal fever resistant, Tsetsefly-bite resistant and resistant against white-eye disease. It is thus the ideal breed to interact with game farming.

- In feedlot conditions, the Afrikaner rounds off satisfactorily with oats combined with a cheap ration. They slaughter out A2 & AB2 with a 230kg-250kg carcass weight. Thus an affordable ration produces good AfriBeef and a better income for the breeder.

Our questions were answered. The Afrikaner Cattle Breeders’ Society will certainly continue in its current direction. Up to now all the research which has been conducted by the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) on this indigenous breed, revealed only beneficial results - and the research continues.

In addition to the above mentioned positive points, a customized BLUP-analysis on the Afrikaner breed was initiated by Dr Mike McNeil of the USA together with Prof. Michiel Scholtz. We look forward to the end product!

van die | from the

PresidentDaar kom ‘n tyd in elke boer se lewe wanneer hy homself afvra: Doen ek die regte ding? Moet ek verander? Het ek langtermyn vooruitsigte?

There comes a time in every farmer’s life when he asks himself:Am I doing the right thing? Should I change? Do I have any long-term prospects?

Met ons nasionale Afrikanerbeeskuddes in oënskou het hierdie vrae nou weer opgeduik en ons het na konkrete antwoorde begin soek, nl:

- Afrikanerbeeste produseer kalwers vanaf die veld – suur- sowel as soetveld. Hul vleis is van hoë kwaliteit op weiding in enige gedeelte van suider Afrika.

- Die ras se kalfpersentasies is meer as 80%.

- Kalwers se speengewigte bereik gewigte hoër as 200kg.

- Die eindproduk van vleisbeesboerdery is vleis. Die Afrikanerbees het die sagste en sappigste vleis beskikbaar – sien grafiek.

- Die AfriBeef Handelsmerk produk verleen aan ons as telers super pryse vir A, AB & B grade tot en met 4-tand, plus ‘n premie vir A graad – ‘n absoluut finansiële bate. Beide stoet en kommersiële telers baat hierby.

- Afrikanerbeeste is uitstekend hitte weerstandbiedend wat die Afrikanerbees die beesras van keuse maak in die huidige aardverwarming dilemma.

- Afrikanerbeeste boer maklik saam met wild met die dat hul snotsiekte-, Tsetsevliegbyt en witoogsiekte weerstandig is. Dit is dus die ideale ras om met die wildbedryf te kombineer.

- Rond bevredigend af met hawer en ‘n goedkoop rantsoen om A2 & AB2 uit te slag met ‘n 230 kg – 250 kg karkasgewig. ‘n Goedkoop rantsoen lewer dus ‘n goeie AfriBeef prys.

Ons vrae is beantwoord. Die Genootskap gaan bepaald voort op hierdie pad. Tot dusver toon alle navorsing wat deur die Landbou Navorsingsraad (LNR) op Afrikanerbeeste gedoen is, gunstige resultate en die navorsing duur voort.

‘n Pasmaak BLUP-analise vir die Afrikanerbees is besig om ontwikkel te word deur Dr Mike McNeil van die VSA tesame met Prof. Michiel Scholtz. Ons sien opgewonde uit na die eindproduk!


So the question again:

Can any cattle farmer in South Africa afford not to have Afrikaner genetics in his herd? The answer is: A VERY BIG NO!

So:

• Enlarge your Afrikaner herd• Change from commercial cattle to Afrikaner cattle• Review your breeding policy• Help build a successful future• Help establishes a world market for Afrikaner cattle AND• REMEMBER: We are capable of

everything through Christ who gives us strength.

Thank you to everyone for their involvement in the past year. Our best wishes and warmest regards accompany you in the dream of an even more successful 2018.

Dr Pieter de Kock

Weereens die vraag:

Kan enige beesboer in Suid-Afrika dit bekostig om nie Afrikanerbees genetika in sy kudde te hê nie? SEKERLIK ‘N GROOT NEE! Dus:

• Vergroot u Afrikaner kudde• Vervang kommersiële beeste

met Afrikanerbeeste• Hersien u teelbeleid• Help bou aan ‘n suksesvolle

toekoms• Help om ‘n wêreldmark vir

Afrikanerbeeste te skep, en• ONTHOU: Ons is tot alles in

staat deur Christus wat ons krag gee.

Hartlike groete en dank aan almal se betrokkenheid die afgelope jaar. Ons beste wense vergesel u in die droom vir ‘n selfs meer suksesvolle 2018.

Dr Pieter de Kock

Eerstens wil ek net dankie sê vir die geleentheid wat my gegun is by Afrikanerbeestelergenootskap en ek hoop om meer te leer van die Genootskap en sy lede. Ek belowe om altyd my beste te gee.

Ek is gebore in Newcastle en het groot geword op ‘n plaas net buite Ventersburg, waarvan ons verhuis het na Theunissen waar ek my hoërskool loopbaan gedoen het. Ek is later getroud met twee kinders, ‘n seun en dogter, waarvan ek vandag ‘n trotse ouma is van twee pragtige kleinkinders van my seun se kant. Dis die groot rede hoekom ek in Bloemfontein beland het, ek het agter my kleinkinders aan getrek. Weereens baie dankie vir die geleentheid en ek sien uit om al die lede te ontmoet!

Firstly, I would like to thank you for the opportunity I received from the Afrikaner Cattle Breeders’ Society and I hope to learn more about the Society and its members. I promise to always give it my best.

I was born in Newcastle and grew up on a farm just outside Ventersburg, whereafter we moved to Theunissen where I went to High School. I later married with two children, a son and a daughter, of which I am now a proud grandmother of two beautiful grandchildren from my son’s side. That’s the big reason why I ended up in Bloemfontein, I moved after my grandchildren. Thank you again for the opportunity and I look forward to meeting all the members!

Elizabeth Wolmarans


The time has come again for me to write my part in this year’s journal. It is the last time that I will be writing as Lauren Tissier, the next message you see from me, will be from Lauren James.

First of all, we just want to mention the passing of some of our fellow breeders/friends: Christo Mouton, Carel Pollard, Marina Vermaak & Dirkie Fouché’s mother. Our sincere condolences to the families and friends.

A little intro as to what has been happening the past year since you received you last Newsletter. Quite a few people have asked me why we only issued a Newsletter in 2016. This is due to the Expo, supplement to the Landbouweekblad and the Afrikaner Handbook, which we published last year. I really hope that everyone will be very satisfied with the product this year.

As for the forward-moving of our AFRIKANER BREED, I really believe that the Afrikaner IS now back on the map and that the breed is very sought-after.

Secondly, some of our auctions were average, and others went really well! As for some of the prices which were achieved and some of the no-sales, my thoughts:

I know that you all make preparations and spend a load of money to prepare for the auctions and we thank you so very much! BUT, in hindsight, what you sold the cattle for, was it:

Firstly what you wanted?

Was it more or less what the slaughter-price was for that week? Remember these are STUD animals!

Do not sell yourself short, remember that not everyone knows about our sought-after AfriBeef, once this takes off, people will be paying to be a part of this product; which gives you, R2 Per/kg premium on A grades and SUPER prices for AB and B 3, 4 and 5 (females).

I do realise that the perception of “CHEAP” Afrikaners is out there:-

Just remember that you as the SELLER determine the market out there and lowering your price at an auction will ensure that the perception of cheap Afrikaners will continue. I am so very proud of the auctions which took place, whereby the sellers stayed with their reserve prices. Do not for one

Die tyd het weer aangebreek vir my om my deel in die jaar se joernaal te skryf. Dit is die laaste keer wat ek as Lauren Tissier sal skryf, die volgende boodskap wat julle van my sal sien, sal van Lauren James af wees.

Eerstens wil ons net noem van die afsterwe van ‘n paar van ons mede-telers/vriende: Christo Mouton, Carel Pollard, Marina Vermaak & Dirkie Fouché se ma. Aan die families en vriende, ons innige meegevoel.

‘n Bietjie informasie oor wat die afgelope jaar gebeur het sedert julle die laaste nuusbrief ontvang het. Heelwat mense het my gevra waarom ons in 2016 slegs ‘n Nuusbrief uitgegee het. Dit is weens die Expo, die Landbouweekbladbylaag en die Afrikaner Handboek, wat ons verlede jaar gepubliseer het. Ek hoop regtig dat almal baie tevrede sal wees met die jaar se produk.

Wat die vooruitgang van ons AFRIKANER RAS betref, glo ek regtig dat die Afrikaner nou weer op die kaart is en dat die ras baie gesog is.

Tweedens was sommige van ons veilings gemiddeld gewees en ander het baie goed afgeloop! Met betrekking tot sommige van die pryse wat behaal is en van die nie-verkope, my gedagtes:

Ek weet dat julle almal baie voorbereidings maak en baie geld spandeer om voor te berei vir die veilings, waarvoor ons baie dankbaar is. MAAR, in retrospek, waarvoor is die diere verkoop, was dit:

Eerstens; wat jy wou gehad het?

Was dit min of meer die slagprys vir daardie week? Onthou hierdie is STOET diere!

Moenie jouself indoen nie, onthou dat nie almal weet van ons gesogte AfriBeef

Message from the | Boodskap vanaf die

Lauren Tissier

Breed DirectorRASDIREKTEUR


nie. Sodra dit vlot loop, sal mense betaal om deel te wees van hierdie produk; wat jou R2.00 per/kg premie gee op A grade en SUPER pryse vir AB en B3, 4 en 5 (vroulike diere).

Ek besef dat die persepsie van “GOEDKOOP” Afrikaners wel daar buite is:

Onthou net dat jy as VERKOPER bepaal die mark buite en as jy jou prys op ‘n veiling verlaag, sal die persepsie van goedkoop Afrikaners voortduur. Ek is so trots op die veilings wat plaasgevind het, waarby die verkopers by hulle reserwepryse gebly het. Moenie vir ‘n oomblik dink dit was ongesiens nie. Ek weet dit was moeilik, maar laat ek net sê dat dit ‘n jaar sal neem vir enigiemand wat regtig belangstel in Afrikaner Stoetbulle om te besef, dit is nou die waarde en: hy kan nie meer goedkoop Afrikaners koop nie.

Wat die kopers betref: as ‘n Stoetkoper van Afrikanerbulle, staan jy vas op ‘n laer prys as die reserwe prys, al is dit ‘n minimale bedrag en koop nie die gesogte dier nie, maar wanneer jy gevra word hoekom; reageer jy met: maar Afrikanerbulle is goedkoop. As ‘n Stoet Teler, is jy nie bereid om die geskikte prys vir ‘n stoet dier te betaal nie, maar by die verkoop van jou stoet bulle, kla jy dat jy nie die voldoende pryse vir jou stoetbulle kry nie. ‘n Mens kan nie bereid wees om goedkoper pryse vir bulle te betaal, maar goeie pryse te verwag vir jou eie bulle nie.

Verder was dit ‘n goeie jaar met baie “ups” en “downs”, maar hier is ons weer aan die einde van die jaar en ons sien uit na wat die toekoms vir ons inhou!

Ek wil dan ook die volgende telers baie welkom heet as nuwe Stoet Lede wat in 2017 by die Genootskap aangesluit het:

Werner Boshoff van ZeerustJannie Visagie van Kimberley

Ek wens almal die beste in hul pogings en ek belowe aan al ons Stoet telers dat dit ‘n kort tydjie sal vat voordat kommersiële telers begin om die waarde van ons en, waarskynlik hulle, toekomstige beesras te besef!

Dit gesê, geluk aan al die kopers en verkopers by die Hoopstad-veiling. Wat ‘n groot sukses!

Ek wens almal ‘n Geseënde Kersfees en ‘n voorspoedige 2018 toe!

moment think it went unseen. I know it was difficult BUT let me just say that it will take a year for anyone REALLY interested in Afrikaner Stud Bulls to realize, this is the value now and that: One cannot buy cheap Afrikaners anymore.

As for the buyers: as a Stud buyer of Afrikaner Bulls, you always remain at a lower price than the reserve price, even though it is a minimal amount and end up not purchusing the bull, but when questioned as to why; you respond with: but Afrikaner bulls are cheap. As a Stud Breeder, you are not willing to pay the adequate price for a STUD animal, but yet, when selling your bulls, you complain that you do not get adequate prices for your stud bulls. One cannot be willing to pay cheaper prices for bulls, but yet demand more.

Furthermore it has been a good year with plenty of ups and downs, but here we are again at the end of the year and we are looking forward to what the future may hold!

I would like to welcome the following members as new Stud Breeders, whom joined the Society in 2017:

Werner Boshoff from ZeerustJannie Visagie from Kimberley

I wish everyone all the best in their endeavours and I promise all our Stud breeders that it will take a small amount of

time before commercial breeders start realizing the worth of our and, most likely, their future

cattle breed!

Having said that, congratulations to all the buyers and sellers at the Hoopstad Auction. What a huge success!

I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2018!


Die huidige Bestuur van die ABTG is hard aan die werk. Roetine vergaderings waar Agendas, Notules en verwante sake alleen bespreek word, is nie meer die reël nie.

Die Bestuur spits homself daarop toe om op sake te konsentreer soos:

1. Vir die telers nuwe markte skep.

2. Beter pryse vir hulle diere genereer.

3. Nuwe navorsingsmoontlikhede te beding deur versoeke en insette beskikbaar te stel om die Afrikanerbees se uitsonderlike eienskappe te bewys.

4. Om reklame van die ras in diepte te ondersoek en te sorg dat artikels, handboeke, radiopraatjies en TV- onderhoude gebeur.

5. Om AfriBeef, wat nou reeds vol in omloop is na die registrasie goedgekeur is, teen die beste moontlike premie te bemark.

6. Om oorsese belangstelling aan te wakker deur gaste en administrateurs van die buiteland betrokke te kry by die Afrikanerbees ras.

7. Die Bestuur, met die samewerking van ons Rasdirekteur, Lauren Tissier, doen baie moeite om ander beesrasse te betrek by ons privaat registrerende owerheid en die Ankole is tans in die proses om by die ABTG te affilieer wat hulle administrasie betref.

8. Nuwe, aangepasde Prestasietoets metodes te ontwerp deur die LNR, waar dr. Frans Jordaan, dr. Ben Greyling en Mnr Leon de Lange betrokke is.

Die Bestuur is dan ook verheug om aan te kondig dat die stappe wat die afgelope 12 maande geneem en toegepas is, gelei het tot die feit dat ons in ‘n goeie positiewe finansiële toestand verkeer. Ons wil ook onder u aandag bring dat daar wel weer nuwe huurders in die gebou is, wat natuurlik ‘n ekstra bron van inkomste vir die Genootskap is.

Dit is belangrik om te besef dat hierdie bestuurslede absoluut op hulle eie koste die vergaderings bywoon en bevorder en dat geen eise teen die Genootskap ingesit word nie. Ons dank aan die Bestuur wat altyd elke vergadering bywoon, ten spyte van boerderye wat moet voortgaan.

Daar is egter nog baie werk voor en die Bestuur vra die betrokkenheid en insette van al die telers en lede om die stukrag voort te sit wat tans in werking is.

The current council of the ACBS is hard at work. Routine meetings where Agendas, Minutes and related matters alone are discussed, is no longer the rule. The Council focuses on matters such as:

1. To create new markets for breeders.

2. Generate better prices for their animals.

3. To negotiate new research possibilities through making requests and inputs available to prove the Afrikaner Cattle’s exceptional qualities.

4. To investigate the advertising of the breed in depth and to ensure that articles, handbooks, radio talks and TV- interviews take place.

5. To market AfriBeef, which is already in full circulation after the registration has been approved, at the best possible premium.

6. To raise overseas interest by engaging guests and administrators from abroad with the Afrikaner Cattle breed.

7. The Council, with the cooperation of our Breed Director, Lauren Tissier, makes great efforts to involve other cattle breeds in our private registration authority and the Ankole’s are currently in the process of affiliating with the ACBS regarding their administration.

8. To design new, modified Performance Testing Methods by the ARC, where Dr. Frans Jordaan, Dr. Ben Greyling and Mr Leon de Lange are involved.

The council is therefore pleased to announce that the steps taken and implemented over the past 12 months have led to the fact that we find ourselves in a good positive financial condition. We would also like bring to your attention that new tenants have occupied the building, which is of course an additional source of income for the Society.

It is important to realize that these council members attend and promote the meetings at their absolute own expense and that no claims are brought against the Society. We would like to thank the Council who always attends each meeting, despite farming which needs to continue.

However, there is still a lot of work to be done, and the Council asks the involvement and input of all breeders and members to continue the momentum which is currently in force.

Bestuursvergaderings

CounCil Meetings


The crises, misunderstandings and shortcomings of the past have now been eliminated. We are now concentrating on current projects and the exciting future ahead.

Die krisisse, misverstande en tekortkominge van die verlede is nou uit die weg geruim. Ons konsentreer nou op die huidige projekte en die opwindende toekoms wat voorlê.

Management meeting held on 8 September 2017 with 15 representativesBestuursvergadering gehou op 8 September 2017 met 15 verteenwoordigers

Dr Pieter de Kock

David van der Linde

Estienne Cronjé

Pierre-André Cronjé

Herbert Bruinette

Jacquies Steenkamp

Lynton Vermaak

Dr Mike McNeil – VSA

Prof. Michiel Scholtz - LNR

Johan Pienaar – Let’s Meat

Linky Makgahlela – LNR

Dr Ben Greyling - LNR

Dr Frans Jordaan – LNR

Jurgen Hendriks - LNR

Lauren Tissier - ABTG

Christo Mouton Marina Vermaak Carel Pollard

MemoriamIn


BESTUURMANAGEMENT

PRES

IDEN

TD

r Pie

ter d

e Ko

ck

VIS

IE P

RESI

DEN

T

ERE-

LEW

ENSL

AN

GE

PRES

IDEN

T

Dav

id v

an d

er L

inde

Mar

tin R

asH

erbe

rt B

ruin

ette

Pier

re-A

ndré

Cro

njé

Jacq

uies

Ste

enka

mp

Estie

nne

Cron

jéLy

nton

Ver

maa

kA

fris

im V

erte

enw

oord

iger

Laur

en T

issi

erRA

SDIR

EKTE

UR


Perspective on tHe oriGinof the AFRIKANER CATTLE BREEDand its FUtUre roLe IN BEEF PRODUCTION

Perspektief op die oorsPronGvan die AFRIKANER BEESRAS en sy toekomstiGe roL IN VLEISPRODUKSIE

M M sCholtz1,2, l Pienaar1,2, a theunissen3 & F W C neser2

1 ARC-Animal Production, Irene; 2Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein; 3Vaalharts Research Station, Northern Cape Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Jan Kempdorp


Earlier studies postulated that modern domesticated cattle are descendents from a common wild ancestor, known as the auroch (Bos taurus primigenius), which is now extinct (Epstein, 1971). However, research based on mitochondrial DNA (DNA that is passed down from maternal lineage), suggested that hump-less taurine (Bos taurus) and humped zebu cattle (Bos indicus) originated from two independent domestication events from Bos primigenius and Bos namadicus, respectively (McKay et al., 2008; Kantaten et al., 2009; Decker et al., 2014). However, other research established a third theory, or a third domestication event (Payne, 1970; Grigson, 1991).

The current African cattle originated from three different sources. Firstly, the domestication from Asia along the Nile Valley and onwards through Egypt. The second domestication event emanated through the “horn” of Africa or from the East Coast towards and through Madagascar. The third theory stated that a domestication event took place within the African continent. Therefore, the centre of origin of the primitive Sanga cattle was most likely, East Africa (Figure 1).

Vroeër studies het gepostuleer dat die moderne gedomestikeerde beeste, afstammelinge is van ‘n enkele wilde voorouer, bekend as die auroch (Bos taurus primigenius), wat nou uitgesterf het (Epstein, 1971). Navorsing wat gebaseer is op mitochondriale DNA (DNA wat van die moederlyn vloei), dui egter daarop skoflose taurus (Bos Taurus) en Zebu beeste met skowwe (Bos indicus) ontstaan het uit twee onafhanklike domestikasies, vanuit Bos primigenius en Bos namadicus. (McKay et al., 2008; Kantaten et al., 2009; Decker et al., 2014). Ander navorsing bevestig egter ‘n derde teorie, of ‘n derde domestikasie gebeurtenis (Payne, 1970; Grigson, 1991).

Die huidige Afrika-beeste het uit drie verskillende gebeurtenisse ontstaan. Die eerste een is die domestikasie vanaf Asië langs die Nylvallei en verder deur Egipte. Die tweede domestikasie gebeurtenis het deur die “horing” van Afrika of van die Ooskus na Madagaskar plaasgevind. Die derde teorie beweer dat daar ook domestikasie binne die Afrika-kontinent plaasgevind het en daarom is die middelpunt van oorsprong van die primitiewe Sanga-beeste waarskynlik Oos-Afrika (Figuur 1).

Figure 1: Schematic representation of postulated domestication sites and migration routes of bovines through Africa (Brown, 1959; Loftus et al., 1994; Bradley & Cunningham, 1999).

Figuur 1: Skematiese voorstelling van die voorgestelde posisies van domestikasie en migrasieroetes deur Afrika. (Brown, 1959; Loftus et al., 1994; Bradley & Cunningham, 1999).


Daar is gedokumenteer dat die Afrikanerbees afkomstig is van die Koi stamme wat hulle in die 17de en 18de eeu besit het (Epstein, 1956). Die Koi-mense, en dus die gebied waar die Afrikaner voorgekom het, het die suidwestelike deel van suider-Afrika, die Kaapprovinsie, die westelike deel van die Vrystaat en die suidelike punt van Botswana beslaan. Saam met die Koi-stamme het Afrikanerbeeste gedurende die 14de eeu in die Weskaap aangekom.

Antieke mense het vanuit Egipte deur Afrika migreer en soos hulle handel gedryf het langs die ooskus van Afrika met Indië, het nuwe beesgenotipes ontwikkel (Curson & Thornton, 1936). Vandag kan Afrika-beeste geklassifiseer word in drie hoofgroepe: African B. Taurus, B. Indicus en Sanga-tipes (Afrika skoflose Bos-Taurus x geskofte Bos indicus) (Rege, 1999). Afrika taurus-beeste is wyd versprei dwarsdeur Wes- en Sentraal-Afrika en word verdeel in lang-horing (B. Taurus longifrons) en kort-horing (B. Taurus brachyceros). Indicus beeste word hoofsaaklik in die oostelike en droë dele van Wes-Afrika aangetref, terwyl die Sanga-rasse hoofsaaklik in oostelike en suidelike Afrika voorkom.

Studies op die Y-chromosoom en DNA-studies dui daarop dat die infusie van Zebu genotipes op die Afrika-kontinent hoofsaaklik deur manlike diere was (Bradley et al., 1994; Hanotte et al., 2002; Porto-Neto et al., 2013). Dit is ook belangrik om daarop te let dat alle Afrika-beeste taurus mitochondriale DNA dra, wat aandui dat daar geen suiwer Zebubeeste (B. indicus) op die vasteland van Afrika is nie (Mwai et al., 2015).

‘n Belangrike waarneming is dat Sanga-beeste in suider-Afrika, suid van die Trypanosomiase-strook (Figuur 2), ‘n metasentriese Y-chromosoom het wat ooreenstem met dié van B. Taurus, terwyl Sanga-beeste, wat tans noord van die Trypanosomiase-strook voorkom, die akrocentriese Y-chromosoom van Zebu (B. indicus) tipes vertoon (Meyer, 1984). Die Zebu is vatbaar vir trysanosomiase (Murry et al., 1982) wat deur die tsetsevlieg versprei word, en dit word gepostuleer dat die Zebu-genotipes uit die beeste ge-elimineer is soos wat hulle suid gemigreer het.

It is documented that Afrikaner cattle originated from the tribes of Koi people that owned them during the 17th and 18th centuries (Epstein, 1956). The Koi people, and therefore the Afrikaner territory, covered the south-west part of Southern Africa, the Cape Province of South Africa, western part of the Free State and the southern tip of Botswana. Along with the Koi tribes, Afrikaner cattle arrived in the Western Cape Province during the 14th century.

Ancient people migrated through Africa from Egypt and as they traded along the east coast of Africa from India, new strains of cattle were developed (Curson, 1936). Today, African cattle can be classified into three major groups: African B. taurus, B. indicus and Sanga types (African hump-less Bos taurus x humped Bos indicus) (Rege, 1999). African taurine cattle are widely distributed throughout west and central Africa and are divided into longhorn (B. taurus longifrons) and shorthorn (B. taurus brachyceros). Indicine cattle are mainly found in the eastern and dry parts of West Africa, while the Sanga breeds are mainly found in eastern and southern Africa.

Studies on the Y chromosome and DNA studies suggest that zebu introgression on the African continent was primarily through males (Bradley et al., 1994; Hanotte et al., 2002; Porto-Neto et al., 2013). It is also important to note that all African cattle carry taurine mitochondrial DNA, indicating that there are no pure zebu cattle (B. indicus) on the African continent (Mwai et al., 2015).

An important observation is that Sanga cattle from southern Africa, south of the trypanosomiasis belt (Figure 2), share the metacentric Y-chromosome in common with that of B. taurus, whereas Sanga cattle, currently found north of the trypanosomiasis belt, share the acrocentric Y-chromosome in common with the Zebu (B. indicus) types (Meyer, 1984). The Zebu is susceptible to trypanosomiasis (Murry et al., 1982) distributed by the tsetse fly and it postulated that the zebu-like genotypes were eliminated from the population as the cattle migrated south.

Figure 2: Historic distribution of the tsetse fly in Africa (FAO, 1999)Figuur 2: Historiese verspreiding die tsetsevlieg in Afrika (FAO, 1999)


The Dutch settlers acquired their first Afrikaner cattle from the Koi people in 1652. The selection of specific animals for uniformity and coat colour started when these cattle were used for transporting goods around South Africa, which was evidently before the time of railways and roads. The Koi tribes and Boers (European settlers) used the Afrikaner primarily for its milk and meat. They were also used as draft animals and oxen pulled the wagons of the Voortrekkers during the Great Trek.

The modern day southern African Sanga breeds, such as the Afrikaner, can be described as taurine tropical adapted genotypes, which make them unique. This makes a breed such as the Afrikaner suitable for crossbreeding or the development of composite breeds. According to research in Australia the gross margin improved by approximately 52 Australian dollars per animal unit (equivalent to our LSU) with the addition of Afrikaner genes (Burrow et al., 2012).

The utilization of the unique traits of indigenous breeds, such as the Afrikaner, in crossbreeding or the development of composite breeds, will have to get much more attention if current production levels are to be maintained or even increased, in spite of the looming changes in climate.

Under commercial farming conditions with average level of management, but with unfavourable conditions and relatively low levels of nutrition, terminal crossbreeding with smaller indigenous cows may succeed in increasing the output of beef farming. This is attributed by the increase in efficiency of production, due to the lower intake and maintenance needs of smaller cows. For the emerging farmers this is even more important.

Unlike rotational crossing, terminal crossbreeding places no additional burden on management practices. It only involves that the bulls of the father and damline breeds be mated in the desired proportion with the cows. The cows, which are mated with different bull breeds, can even be managed as one herd during the breeding season. All cross-progeny, as well as the purebred bull progeny must however be slaughtered.

It is important to note that the benefits of terminal crossbreeding do not lie in the higher growth rates per se. The advantage of terminal crossbreeding depends on the extent to which the weight of slaughter animals or feedlot animals increases, relative to the weight of the mother or breeding animal. Any system where large feedlot animals are produced from smaller breeding animals will necessarily result in more efficiency than one where the feedlot animals and breeding animals are of the same frame size, simply because smaller cows eat less than large cows.

Furthermore, terminal crossbreeding has the advantage, which it can easily and quickly adapt to the prevailing price margins or market needs through changing the type of father breed used as the needs change, while the cowherd

Die Nederlandse setlaars het in 1652 hul eerste Afrikanerbeeste van die Koi-mense bekom. Die seleksie van spesifieke diere vir eenvormigheid en haarkleur het begin toe hierdie beeste gebruik is om goedere in Suid-Afrika te vervoer, voor die tyd van spoorweë en paaie. Die Koi-stamme en Boere (Europese setlaars) het die Afrikaner hoofsaaklik vir sy melk en vleis gebruik. Hulle is ook gebruik as trekdiere en osse het die waens van die Voortrekkers tydens die Groot Trek getrek.

Die hedendaagse suider-Afrikaanse Sanga-beeste, soos die Afrikaner, kan beskryf word as taurus tropiese aangepaste genotipes, wat hulle uniek maak. Dit maak ‘n ras soos die Afrikaner uiters geskik vir kruisteling of die ontwikkeling van komposiet rasse. Volgens navorsing in Australië styg die bruto marge met sowat 52 Australiese dollar per diere-eenheid (ekwivalent van ons GVE) met die toevoeging van Afrikanergene (Burrow et al., 2012).

Die gebruik van die unieke eienskappe van ‘n inheemse ras, soos die Afrikaner, in kruisteling en die ontwikkeling van alternatiewe produksiestelsels sal baie meer aandag moet geniet, indien die huidige produksie vlakke gehandhaaf of selfs uitgebrei moet word ten spyte van die dreigende klimaatsveranderings.

Onder kommersiële boerdery toestande en gemiddelde bestuursvlakke, maar met ongunstige toestande en relatiewe lae vlakke van voeding, mag terminale kruisteling met kleiner koeie daarin slaag om die uitset van vleisbeesboerdery te verhoog. Dit word toegeskryf aan die toename in doeltreffendheid van produksie weens die laer inname en onderhoudsbehoeftes van kleiner koeie. Vir die opkomende boer is dit nog meer belangrik.

In teenstelling met rotasie kruising, plaas terminale kruisteling geen addisionele las op bestuurspraktyke nie. Dit behels slegs dat die bulle van die vader- en moederlyn rasse in die verlangde proporsie met die koeie gepaar moet word. Die koeie wat met die verskillende bulrasse gepaar word kan selfs as een kudde bestuur word gedurende die teelseisoen. Alle kruisnageslag sowel as die suiwer geteelde bulnageslag moet egter geslag word.

Belangrike eienskappe vir moederlyne is daardie eienskappe wat met reproduksie en koei onderhoud geassosieer is. Sulke vroulike diere moet aangepas en gehard wees, lae onderhoud vereis (klein in grootte), maklik kalf, gemiddelde melkproduksie en ‘n lang reproduktiewe lewe hê. Dit is belangrik om daarop te let dat die voordele van terminale kruisteling nie in die hoër groeitempos per se lê nie. Die voordeel van terminale kruisteling hang af van die mate waartoe die gewig van die slagdiere toeneem, relatief tot die gewig van die moeder of teeldier.

Terminale kruisteling het die verdere voordeel dat dit maklik en vinnig kan aanpas by die heersende prysmarges of markbehoeftes, deurdat slegs die tipe vader-ras wat gebruik word verander moet word, soos wat die behoeftes


is kept the same. In the case of pure-breeding or rotational crossing, the breed type of the cowherd must also change each time when there is a change in the price margin or market needs.

If the market prefers later maturing animals, Afrikaner cows can be mated with European breeds like the Simmentaler, and when the market prefers earlier maturing animals, they can just be mated with British breeds like the Angus. If the market chooses grass-fed or extensively-produced beef, the Afrikaner can be used in its pure form to address such market needs. The Afrikaner is therefore a very versatile breed that can be used to address a wide range of market needs.

The propagation of crossbreeding is often seen as a threat to the survival of the damline breed. Sensible crossbreeding can, however, lead to the conservation of many of our indigenous breeds. Due to the adaptability of these breeds, they are ideal damlines for crossbreeding. The new crossbreeding project undertaken at Vaalharts Agricultural Research Station in collaboration with the Northern Cape Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development will provide valuable information.

Meat quality is becoming more important as consumers worldwide insist on consistent high quality meat. It is true that certain breeds have more tender meat than others. Fortunately, the Sanga cattle (Afrikaner, Bonsmara, Nguni, Tuli) of southern Africa all have very tender meat.

references

BRADLEY, D G, MACHUGH, D E, LOFTUS, R T, SOW, R S, HOSTE, C H & CUNNINGHAM, E P, 1994. Animal Genetics, 25: 7-12.

BRADLEY, D G, & CUNNINGHAM, P, 1999. Genetic aspects of domestication, common breeds and their origins. In: The Genetics of Cattle.

BROWN, D L, 1959. Empire Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 27: 277-290.

BURROW, H M, 2012. Animal, 6: 729-740.

CURSON, H H, & THORNTON, R W, 1936. Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Science and Animal Industry, 7: 613.

DECKER, J E, MCKAY, S D, ROLF, M M, et al., 2014. PLoS Genetics, 10:e1004254.

EPSTEIN, H, 1971. The Origin of the Domestic Animals of Africa. 1st Volume.

FAO, 1999. http://ergodd.zoo.ox.ac.uk/livatl2/tsetse.htm

GRIGSON, C, 1991. The African Archaeological Review, 9: 119-144.

HANOTTE, O, BRADLEY, D G, OCHIENG, J W, VERJEE, Y, HILL, E W & REGE, E O, 2002. Science, 296: 336-339.

KANTANEN, J, EDWARDS, C J, BRADLEY, D G, et al., 2009. Heredity, 103: 404–415.

LOFTUS, R T, MACHUGH, D E, BRADLEY, D G, SHARP, P

verander, terwyl die koeikudde dieselfde gehou word. In die geval van suiwer-teling of rotasie kruising moet die rastipe van die koeikudde ook elke keer verander word wanneer daar ‘n verandering in die prys-marge of markbehoeftes is. Indien die mark later ryp diere verkies kan Afrikaner-koeie met Europese rasse soos die Simmentaler gepaar word, en wanneer die mark vroeër ryp diere verkies kan hulle bloot met Britse rasse soos die Angus gepaar word. Indien die mark veld gevoerde of ekstensief geproduseerde vleis verkies, kan die Afrikaner in sy suiwer vorm gebruik word om sodanige markbehoefte aan te spreek. Die Afrikaner is dus ‘n baie veelsydige ras wat gebruik kan word om ‘n wye verskeidenheid van markbehoeftes aan te spreek.

Die propagering van kruisteling word dikwels as ‘n bedreiging vir die voortbestaan van die moederras gesien. Sinvolle kruisteling kan egter die behoud van baie van ons inheemse rasse wees. Weens die aangepastheid van hierdie rasse, is hulle ideale moederlyne vir kruisteling. Die nuwe kruisteeltprojek wat op Vaalharts Landbounavorsingstasie in samewerking met die Noordkaap Departement van Landbou, Grondhervorming en Landelike Ontwikkeling aangepak word, sal waardevolle inligting lewer.

Vleiskwaliteit word belangriker aangesien verbruikers wêreldwyd aandring op konsekwente hoë kwaliteit vleis. Dit is waar dat sekere rasse sagter vleis as ander het. Gelukkig het die Sanga-beeste (Afrikaner, Bonsmara, Nguni, Tuli) van suider-Afrika almal baie sagte vleis.

verwysings

BRADLEY, D G, MACHUGH, D E, LOFTUS, R T, SOW, R S, HOSTE, C H & CUNNINGHAM, E P, 1994. Animal Genetics, 25: 7-12.

BRADLEY, D G, & CUNNINGHAM, P, 1999. Genetic aspects of domestication, common breeds and their origins. In: The Genetics of Cattle.

BROWN, D L, 1959. Empire Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 27: 277-290.

BURROW, H M, 2012. Animal, 6: 729-740.

CURSON, H H, & THORNTON, R W, 1936. Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Science and Animal Industry, 7: 613.

DECKER, J E, MCKAY, S D, ROLF, M M, et al., 2014. PLoS Genetics, 10:e1004254.

EPSTEIN, H, 1971. The Origin of the Domestic Animals of Africa. 1st Volume.

FAO, 1999. http://ergodd.zoo.ox.ac.uk/livatl2/tsetse.htm

GRIGSON, C, 1991. The African Archaeological Review, 9: 119-144.

HANOTTE, O, BRADLEY, D G, OCHIENG, J W, VERJEE, Y, HILL, E W & REGE, E O, 2002. Science, 296: 336-339.

KANTANEN, J, EDWARDS, C J, BRADLEY, D G, et al., 2009. Heredity, 103: 404–415.

LOFTUS, R T, MACHUGH, D E, BRADLEY, D G, SHARP, P M & CUNNINGHAM, P, 1994. Proceedings of the National

Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 91: 2757-2761.

MCKAY, S D, SCHNABEL, R D, MURDOCH, B M, et al., 2008. BMC Genetics, 9: 37.

MEYER, E H H, 1984. Proceedings of the 2nd World Congress on Sheep and Beef Cattle Breeding.

MURRAY, M, MORRISON, W I & WHITELAW, D D, 1982. Host Susceptibility to African Trypanosomiasis: Trypanotolerance. In: Advances in Parasitology, volume 21.

MWAI, O, HANOTTE, O, KWON, Y-J & CHO, S, 2015. Asian-Australasian Journal of animal Science, 28: 911-921.

PAYNE, W J A, 1970. Cattle production in the tropics, 1st volume.

PORTE-NETO, L R, LEE, S H, SONSTEGARD, T S, VAN TASSELL, C P, LEE H K, GIBSON & J P GONDRO, C, 2013. Animal Genetics, 45: 180-190.

REGE, J E O, 1999. Animal Genetics Resources Information, 25: 1-25

M & CUNNINGHAM, P, 1994. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 91: 2757-2761.

MCKAY, S D, SCHNABEL, R D, MURDOCH, B M, et al., 2008. BMC Genetics, 9: 37.

MEYER, E H H, 1984. Proceedings of the 2nd World Congress on Sheep and Beef Cattle Breeding.

MURRAY, M, MORRISON, W I & WHITELAW, D D, 1982. Host Susceptibility to African Trypanosomiasis: Trypanotolerance. In: Advances in Parasitology, volume 21.

MWAI, O, HANOTTE, O, KWON, Y-J & CHO, S, 2015. Asian-Australasian Journal of animal Science, 28: 911-921.

PAYNE, W J A, 1970. Cattle production in the tropics, 1st volume.

PORTE-NETO, L R, LEE, S H, SONSTEGARD, T S, VAN TASSELL, C P, LEE H K, GIBSON & J P GONDRO, C, 2013. Animal Genetics, 45: 180-190.

REGE, J E O, 1999. Animal Genetics Resources Information, 25: 1-25


Ambient temperature is the factor which has the biggest direct effect on livestock production. The majority of ruminants perform at their best at temperatures between 4° and 24°C. In the tropics and

sub-tropics the temperatures frequently rise above this comfortable temperature and therefore it is important that animals are adapted to these higher temperatures.

Maximum daily temperature is not the biggest problem, but if the night temperatures do not drop below 20°C, the non-adapted animals will suffer from tropical degeneration. High temperatures and solar radiation decrease intake which in turn reduces heat production, produced through digestion, and reduce grazing time (animals do not graze in hot midday hours), whereas sweating and water intake increases. Other factors involved in thermal comfort include the external coat of the animal (thickness, structure, thermo-isolation, absorption and reflectivity) and body traits (shape, size and superficial area).

Nutritional stress has the largest indirect effect on the grazing animal in the tropics and sub-tropics. In these environments, natural pasture has both lower nutritional value and lower tiller density than in temperate regions. As a result, climate change will have the greatest impact on ruminant species.

Livestock in the southern African countries will need to adapt to higher ambient temperatures, lower nutritional value of the grass in some cases, and expansion of diseases, especially ticks and tick-borne diseases, as a result of warmer climates. With such challenges, matching genotypes with production environments will become crucial, requiring the utilization of diverse genetic resources with the appropriate genetic potential for growth, milk production, resistance to disease and fertility.

The summer of 2015/2016 was the hottest and driest year ever recorded in South Africa. In the previous 9 summers there was an average of 1.9 heat-waves per summer with

Omgewingstemperatuur is die faktor wat die grootste direkte effek op veeproduksie het. Die meeste herkouers presteer op hulle beste by temperature tussen 4 en 24°C. In die trope en

subtrope styg die temperature dikwels tot bokant hierdie gemaksone en daarom is dit belangrik dat diere aangepas is vir hierdie hoër temperature.

Maksimum daaglikse temperatuur is nie die grootste probleem nie, maar as die minimum nagtemperatuur nie laer as 20° C daal nie, sal onaangepaste diere aan tropiese degenerasie begin ly. Hoë temperature en sonstrale verminder inname om hitteproduksie, wat deur vertering geproduseer word, te verminder, terwyl wei-tyd ook verminder word (diere wei nie in die warm middagure nie). Verder sweet die diere meer en die water inname neem toe. Ander faktore wat verband hou met termiese gemak sluit in die vel van die dier, (dikte, struktuur, termo-isolasie, hitte absorpsie en weerkaatsing) en liggaamskenmerke (vorm, grootte en oppervlak-area).

Die effek van hittestres op groei en vrugbaarheid in vleisbeesteThe effect of heat stress ongrowth and fertility in beef cattleM M sCholtz1,2, a theunissen3, g M Pyoos1 & s s seshoka3

1LNR-Diereproduksie, Irene; 2Departement van Vee-, Wild- en Weidingskunde, Universiteit van die Vrystaat, Bloemfontein; 3Vaalharts Navorsingstasie; Noordkaap Departement van Landbou, Grondhervorming en Landelike Ontwikkeling, Jan Kempdorp


6.5 heat-wave days. In the summer of 2015/2016 there were 12 heat-waves with 71 heat-wave days. During this period bull calves from the crossbreeding trial at Vaalharts were fed at the bull testing centre at Irene. The average daily gain (ADG) of the Angus and Simmentaler types dropped with 17% during the heat-wave periods, whereas that of the Sanga types (Afrikaner and Nguni) only dropped with 9%.

Heat stress is a common cause of ineffective reproduction in mammals. The quality of semen decreases when bulls are continually exposed to high ambient temperatures. It decreases sperm concentration, lowers sperm motility and increases percentage of morphologically abnormal sperm in an ejaculation. After a period of heat stress, semen quality does not return to normal for approximately eight weeks because of the length of the spermatic cycle, adding to the carry-over effect of heat stress on reproduction.

If bulls cannot increase the rate of heat loss from the body when they are exposed to elevated ambient temperatures, semen quality and potential fertility is therefore reduced. It is important to note that in the South African beef production programs, eight weeks is crucial for resumption of normal semen production after bulls are exposed to elevated ambient temperatures that cause heat stress, especially where fixed summer mating seasons are practised.

But what are the recommendations for the farmer in view of the negative effect of high temperatures on bull fertility? One is tempted to suggest that the bulls must be kept cool before the breeding season, but this is not practical. A more practical approach would be for farmers to re-do fertility testing / semen evaluation since the tests that were done prior to the mating season, may not be applicable at the start of the mating season. One can also consider using multi-sire mating, where at least a percentage of the bulls used, are from genotypes which are more heat tolerant, like the Afrikaner. It may even be an advantage to use, for example, only Afrikaner bulls during periods or years where very high temperatures are predicted. With global warming this will occur more often.

This infrared photo of a group of cattle clearly shows that some cattle can handle heat better than others. The animal that appears predominantly red, is suffering from heat stress and will struggle to adapt to warmer climates. (Photo: Prof. Connie McManus, Brazil).

Climate change in the long-term is going to bring big challenges with regard to animal production. It is therefore very important that research is done now on the effect of climate on the efficiency, growth rate and behavioural patterns of the different beef cattle genotypes in the country.

Prof. Michiel Scholtz, received funds from the National Research Foundation’s National Research Equipment Program to purchase new equipment. The GrowSafe

Voedingstres het die grootste indirekte effek op die weidende dier in die trope en subtrope. In hierdie omgewings het die natuurlike weiding ‘n laer voedingswaarde en laer blaar-dikheid as in gematigde streke. As gevolg daarvan sal klimaatsverandering die grootste impak op herkouerspesies hê.

Vee in die suider Afrika-lande sal moet aanpas by hoër omgewingstemperature, laer voedingswaarde van die gras, en uitbreiding van siektes, veral bosluise en bosluisgedraagde siektes, as gevolg van die warmer klimaat. Met sulke uitdagings sal “paring of pasmaking” van genotipes met produksie omgewings van kritieke belang wees. Dit gaan vereis dat diverse genetiese bronne benut moet word, met die toepaslike genetiese potensiaal vir groei, melkproduksie, weerstand teen siektes en vrugbaarheid.

Die 2015/2016 somer was die warmste en droogste jaar wat ooit in Suid-Afrika aangeteken is. In die voorafgaande 9 somers was daar gemiddeld 1,9 hittegolwe per somer met 6,5 hittegolfdae. In die 2015/2016 somer was daar 12 hittegolwe wat 71 hittegolfdae behels het. Tydens hierdie tydperk is bulkalwers uit die Vaalharts kruisteelt proef by die bultoetssentrum op Irene gevoer. Die gemiddelde daaglikse toename (GDT) van die Angus en Simmentaler tipes het tydens die hittegolwe met 17% afgeneem, terwyl die van die Sanga tipes (Afrikaner en Nguni) slegs met 9% afgeneem het.

Hittestres is ‘n algemene oorsaak van reproduktiewe ondoeltreffendheid by soogdiere. So verminder semen kwaliteit wanneer bulle voortdurend blootgestel word aan hoë omgewingstemperatuur. Dit verminder spermkonsentrasie, verlaag spermbeweeglikheid en verhoog die persentasie morfologies abnormale sperme in ‘n ejakulasie. Na ‘n tydperk van hittestres, kan dit tot agt weke neem vir die kwaliteit van die semen om na normaal terug te keer.

As bulle nie die vermoë het om van hitte ontslae te raak wanneer hulle blootgestel word aan verhoogde omgewingstemperatuur nie, word die kwaliteit van die semen en potensiële vrugbaarheid verminder. Dit is belangrik om daarop te let dat in die kommersiële Suid-Afrikaanse beesvleisproduksiestelsel, is agt weke van kardinale belang vir die hervatting van normale semenproduksie, nadat bulle blootgestel is aan verhoogde omgewingstemperature wat hittestres veroorsaak, veral waar vaste somer teelseisoene gebruik word.

Maar wat is die aanbevelings vir die boer in die lig van dié negatiewe effek van hoë temperature op bulvrugbaarheid? Die versoeking is om voor te stel dat bulle voor die teelseisoen koel gehou moet word, maar dit is nie prakties nie. Vir die kommersiële beesboer is ‘n meer praktiese benadering om vrugbaarheidstoetse/sperm-evaluering weer te laat doen aangesien die toetse wat voor die teelseisoen gedoen is, moontlik nie aan die begin van die


System, which was imported from Canada, is the most modern equipment available. With this system, each animal is individually identified with a RFID (radio frequency identification devices) ear-tag; whereas each feeding bin is equipped with a RFID antenna by radio frequency overlay. There are a number of feed bins and cattle can eat at any bin. The bins are all on load cells and as soon as the animal enters to eat,

its number is automatically scanned and the bin weighed. When the animal has finished eating and moves out, the bin is weighed at a resolution of 10 grams. It thus measures intake each second as the animal is feeding. Feed intake can thus accurately be determined through “real time”. The advantage of this system is that we now know what time of the day, how many times per day and what portion has been eaten by each individual bull. This can then be compared to weather data.

teelseisoen van toepassing mag wees nie. Daar kan ook van meerbul parings gebruik gemaak word, waar ten minste ‘n deel van die bulle wat gebruik word, van meer hitte-tolerante genotipes is, soos die Afrikaner. Dit mag selfs voordelig wees om byvoorbeeld net Afrikanerbulle te gebruik gedurende periodes of jare waar hoë temperature voorspel word. Met aardverwarming gaan dit al hoe meer gereeld voorkom.

Hierdie infrarooi foto van ‘n groep beeste toon duidelik dat sommige beeste hitte beter kan hanteer as ander. Die dier wat oorwegend rooi voorkom, ly aan hittestres en sal sukkel om aan te pas by warmer klimaat. (Foto: Prof. Connie McManus, Brasilië)

Klimaatsverandering gaan op die langtermyn groot uitdagings bring ten opsigte van diereproduksie. Dit is dus belangrik dat daar nou al navorsing gedoen word oor die effek van klimaat op byvoorbeeld; die doeltreffendheid, groeitempo en gedragspatrone van die verskillende vleisbees genotipes wat in die land is.

Prof. Michiel Scholtz het deur die Nasionale Navorsing Stigting (NRF), geld van hulle Nasionale Navorsing Toerustings Program fondse bekom om nuwe toerusting aan te koop. Die GrowSafe stelsel, wat vanaf Kanada ingevoer is, is van die modernste toerusting wat beskikbaar is. Met hierdie stelsel word elke dier individueel met ‘n radio frekwensie oorplaatjie (RFID) geïdentifiseer. Daar is ook ‘n aantal voerbakke en beeste kan by enige bak vreet. Die bakke staan almal op ‘n weegsel (load cell) en sodra die dier inkom om te vreet, word hulle sommer outomaties geskandeer en die bak word geweeg. As hulle klaar gevreet het en uitbeweeg, word die bak weer geweeg teen ‘n resolusie van 10 gram. Voerinname kan dus intyd (real time) baie akkuraat bepaal word. Die voordeel van die stelsel is dat ons nou weet watter tyd van die dag, hoeveel keer per dag en wat die porsie grootte was wat elke individuele bees gevreet het. Dit kan dan met weerdata gekorreleer word.

Met die water stelsel word ‘n gedeeltelike gewig (partial body weight) geneem elke keer as die bees gaan water drink. Daar bestaan regressie vergelykings wat die gedeeltelike gewig akkuraat na totaal gewig kan omskakel. Omdat die bees geweeg word kan water inname dus ook afgelei word. Net soos met inname, is dit ook belangrik om te weet wanneer, hoe gereeld en hoeveel water individuele beeste drink.

With the water system, a partial body weight is taken each time the animal goes to drink water. Regression equations exist which can accurately convert partial body weight to a total body weight. Because the animal is weighed, water consumption can also be determined. As with feed intake, it is also important to know when, how often and how much water each of the individual cattle drink.


Behou Genetiese variasie

Keep Genetic variationTEN ALLE KOSTE

AT ALL COSTSizak hoFMeyr

Menige telers van stoetdiere streef daarna dat sy teeldiere erfdwang sal hê, en die manier om dit gewoonlik te bewerkstellig is om gewensde eienskappe te probeer vaslê deur verwante diere met mekaar te paar. Die probleem hiermee, ongelukkig, is dat mens mettertyd genetiese variasie prysgee, en variasie vorm juis die grondslag van seleksie.

Dit is die mening van Dr. Japie van der Westhuizen van SA Stamboek. Volgens hom is die gevaar van lynteling, wat ‘n matige vorm van inteling is, dat jy ongemerk en mettertyd negatiewe eienskappe in jou kudde vaslê, wat ‘n direkte impak op jou winsgewendheid het.

“Die fondasie van seleksie is genetiese variasie. Sonder genetiese variasie kan jy nie selekteer nie,” beklemtoon hy. “Behalwe vir die gevaar dat jy swak gene kan fikseer en die frekwensie van goeie gene kan verminder, is die groot gevaar van inteling dat jy genetiese variasie kan verloor. Daar is baie voorbeelde van hoe inteling daartoe gelei het dat die teler in ‘n doodloopstraat beland het.”

Wat is inteling?

‘n Eenvoudige definisie van inteling, volgens Japie, is bloot as jy verwante diere met mekaar paar. Hierdie verwantskap tussen diere is enige verwantskap, hoe vêr ook al. Die graad van inteling hang natuurlik af van hoe naby verwant daardie diere aan mekaar is.

“As ‘n bul en ‘n koei byvoorbeeld 30% verwant is aan mekaar, dan is die intelingskoëffisiënt van hulle nageslag 15% - die helfte van die verwantskap. ‘n Vol sib (byvoorbeeld; pa en dogter, of broer en suster) is 50% verwant, so as jy ‘n pa op sy dogter sit, gaan die inteelkoëffisiënt 25% wees.”

Verwantskappe tussen diere, sê hy, is ‘n belangrike faktor in die bepaling van teelwaardes, want mens sou verwag dat ‘n familie beter of swakker gene sal deel. Jy sal dus mettertyd vind dat families met beter gene ‘n groter persentasie van jou totale kudde begin verteenwoordig, en swakker families mettertyd uitgeskot sal word. Die implikasie hiervan is dat jy dus onwillekeurig begin inteel. Dit is egter hier waar genomika ‘n kritiese rol kan speel. As jy die genoom van daardie diere het, kan jy die verwantskap baie akkuraat bepaal. Die punt van seleksie is tog om gewensde eienskappe in ‘n volgende geslag te versamel. Die groot gevaar, egter, is dat mens in die proses genetiese variasie verlaag, en seleksie is slegs moontlik as daar variasie is.

Many breeders of stud animals strive for their breeding stock to have prepotency, and the way to normally accomplish this is to try to capture desirable characteristics by pairing related animals. The problem with this, unfortunately, is that over time, one gives up genetic variation, and variation is the basis of selection.

This is the opinion of Dr. Japie van der Westhuizen of SA Studbook. According to him, the danger of line breeding, which is a moderate form of inbreeding, is that you capture, unnoticed and over time, negative characteristics in your herd which will have a direct impact on your profitability.

“The foundation of selection is genetic variation. Without genetic variation you cannot select,” the emphasizes. “Except for the danger of fixating weak genes and reducing the frequency of good genes, the great danger of inbreeding is that you can lose genetic variation. There are many examples of how inbreeding has led to the breeder hitting a dead end.”

What is inbreeding?

A simple definition of inbreeding, according to Japie, is simply if you pair related animals. This relationship between animals is any relationship, no matter how far. The degree of inbreeding depends, of course, on how closely related those animals are to each other.

“For example, if a bull and a cow are 30% related to each other, then the inbreeding coefficient of their offspring is 15% - half of the relationship. A full sib (father and daughter, or brother and sister, for example) is 50% related, so if you put a dad on his daughter, the inbreeding coefficient will be 25%.”

Relationships between animals, he says, are an important factor in determining breeding values because one would expect a family to share better or weaker genes. You will therefore find that families with better genes start to represent a larger percentage of your total herd, and weaker families will eventually be culled from the herd. The implication of this is that you start to inbreed involuntarily. However, this is where genomics can play a critical role. If you have the genome of those animals, you can determine the relationship very accurately. The point of selection is to use desirable characteristics in a next generation. The major danger, however, is that in the process, one reduces genetic variation, and selection is only possible if there is variation.


“Die melkbedryf is ‘n goeie voorbeeld van waar ‘n spesifieke bul se saad gebruik word lank nadat hyself al dood is. En so ‘n bul het later ook seuns wie se saad gebruik word. In so ‘n situasie begin mens later die gevaar loop dat, sou daar swak gene in die familie voorkom, dit nie maklik uitgeskakel kan word nie.”

effek van inteling

Hoewel daar ‘n sterk geloof bestaan dat inteling veroorsaak dat mens goeie gene in ‘n populasie vasteel, sê Japie dat hy self aan geen positiewe effek van inteling kan dink nie.

“Ons moet definitief onderskei tussen enkelgene wat iets soos haarkleur bepaal, teenoor additiewe gene wat meeste produksie-eienskappe bepaal. Wat additiewe gene betref, is dit baie moeilik om te bepaal hoeveel negatiewe pare van die vorme van gene jy ook fikseer, saam met die positiewe pare waarop jy konsentreer. Dis meer raadsaam om eerder uit ‘n groot populasie vir die eienskappe te selekteer wat vir jou belangrik is, in plaas daarvan om doelbewus in te teel om daardie eienskappe vas te lê.”

As jy bly selekteer vir die eienskappe wat vir jou belangrik is, kan daar ook ‘n neiging wees tot inteling, want ‘n goeie teeldier se nageslag gaan mos meer geselekteer word as ‘n swak teeldier se nageslag. In die proses is dit baie moontlik dat jy begin inteel. Die gevolg is dat jy onwillekeurig al meer parings doen van verwante diere. As jy dan nog van KI ook gebruik maak, waar jy duisende nageslag van een dier kan bewerkstellig, word die gevaar soveel groter. Dit beteken dat die aantal diere wat laag verwant is aan mekaar al minder word.

As mens binne rasverband praat, is die teenoorgestelde van inteling; uitkruising, en oor rasgrense noem mens dit kruisteling.

“Gelukkig kan ongewensde hoë inteelvlakke vinnig verminder word deur ‘n bul of ram te gebruik wat totaal onverwant is aan jou koei of ooi. So kan jy die inteelkoëffisiënt binne een generasie na zero afbring.”

Mens kan egter nie by die punt verbykom dat as jy van rasse praat, jy in effek verwantskap impliseer nie. Lede van dieselfde ras lyk na mekaar bloot omdat hulle kenmerke deel en dus geneties nader aan mekaar verwant is as lede van ‘n ander ras wat nie daardie kenmerke het nie. Daar is ‘n duimreël wat sê dat inteling ernstig begin raak as die persentasie oor 6,25 is. Om dit te bereik moet jy maar slegs diere met mekaar teel wat 12,5% verwant is aan mekaar.

“Daar is ‘n neiging, en mens het simpatie daarmee, dat boere wat ‘n top bul of ram gehad het, graag maar na daardie dier wil lynteel. Lynteling is ‘n vorm van inteling waar jou verwantskap met ‘n spesifieke voorouer relatief hoog is, maar dat jy probeer om jou inteelkoëfisiënte relatief laag te hou, of ten minste die tempo waarteen dit verhoog, laag te hou.

“The dairy industry is a good example of where a particular bull’s seed is used long after he has died. And such a bull also later has sons whose seed are used. In such a situation one starts to run the risk that, should there be weak genes in the family, it cannot easily be eliminated.”

effect of inbreeding

Although there is a strong belief that inbreeding causes good genes in a population, Japie says that he himself, cannot think of a positive effect of inbreeding.

“We must definitely distinguish between single genes that determine something like hair color, versus additive genes that determine most production characteristics. With regard to additive genes, it is very difficult to determine how many negative pairs of forms of genes you also fixate, along with the positive pairs which you concentrate on. It is more advisable to select from a large population for the characteristics which are important to you, instead of deliberately inbreeding to incorporate those attributes.”

If you continue to select for the characteristics which are important to you, there may also be a tendency for inbreeding, because the offspring of a good breeding animal will be selected more than the offspring of a poor breeding animal. In the process, it is very likely that you start inbreeding. As a result, you will involuntarily do more pairings of related animals. If you also use AI, where you can produce thousands of offspring off one animal, the danger is so much greater. This means that the number of animals which are low in relation will be getting smaller.

If one speaks within breed context, the opposite of inbreeding is “outcrossing”, and over breed border this is called crossbreeding.

Fortunately, unwanted high inbreeding levels can be reduced quickly by using a bull or ram that is totally unrelated to your cow or ewe. So you can bring the inbreeding coefficient to zero within one generation.

However, one cannot overlook the point, that if you speak of breeds, you, in effect, implicate relationships. Members of the same breed resemble each other because they share characteristics and are thus genetically closer related than members of another breed which do not have those characteristics. There is a thumb-rule that says inbreeding starts becoming serious if the percentage is over 6.25. To achieve this, you only have to breed animals that are 12.5% related to one another.

“There is a tendency, and one has sympathy, that farmers who had a top bull or ram would like to line breed to that animal. Line breeding is a form of inbreeding where your relationship with a specific ancestor is relatively high but you try to keep your inbreeding coefficients relatively low, or at least the rate at which it increases.

“One must always remember that an animal inherits two sets of genes, from mother and fathers side. In addition,


a gene comes in two sets - on the one hand it can cause a weakness, but its opposite is a strength. It is within this context that recessive genes come into discussion. A recessive gene is not manifested in the presence of a dominant gene. However, an animal can carry that recessive gene without it being known.

An example of this, he explains, is the genes for double-muscling. These genes are not manifested as long as the carrier is paired with unrelated animals. However, if you have two related animals, both of which bear the form of the gene, you can get a calf with double-muscling.

“This is often the case when you pair related animals with each other, the poor genetic traits emerge. That’s why, in the old days, tests were done for bad genes by using a bull on his daughters to see what undesirable traits emerge. Today, however, we can precisely determine what unwanted genes are carried by an animal through genetic markers.

Fitness traits

The biggest effect of inbreeding is, however, a weaker performance in traits that are relatively low inheritable, and which is referred to as the so-called “fitness traits,” which is affected by the immune status of animals, such as survival and fertility. These are the traits where the negative effect of inbreeding is higher. On your highly inherited traits it usually has a smaller effect.

“As with everything, there is of course an exception. One gets animals which are highly inbred and performs exceptionally. These are the instances that are thrown against our geneticists’ heads that inbreeding is not as bad as we make it out to be. The problem is, however, that one swallow does not make a summer. Yes, there are exceptions, but there is no doubt that the negative effects far exceed the positive.

“With targeted selection, there is always the possibility of inbreeding because good families will emerge with selection. However, manage it very carefully and avoid inbreeding as far as you can, he advises.

“There are several mating programs which enable farmers to determine levels of potential inbreeding beforehand and to achieve your breeding goals without increasing your inbreeding levels.

“Mens moet altyd onthou dat ‘n dier twee stelle gene erf, van moeders- en vaderskant af. Verder kom ‘n geen ook in twee stelle – aan die een kant kan dit ‘n swakheid veroorsaak, maar sy teenoorgestelde is ‘n sterkpunt. Dis binne hierdie konteks dat resessiewe gene ter sprake kom. ‘n Resessiewe geen kom nie tot uiting in die teenwoordigheid van ‘n dominante geen nie. ’n Dier kan egter daardie resessiewe geen dra sonder dat mens dit agterkom.”

‘n Voorbeeld hiervan, verduidelik hy, is die gene vir dubbelbespiering. Hierdie gene kom nie tot uiting solank die draer met onverwante diere gepaar word nie. As jy egter twee verwante diere paar, wat albei die vorm van die geen dra, kan jy ‘n kalf met dubbelbespiering kry.

“So dis dikwels wanneer jy verwante diere met mekaar paar dat swak genetiese eienskappe na vore kom. Dis hoekom daar in die ou tyd dikwels getoets is vir swak gene deur ‘n bul op sy dogters te gebruik om te sien watter ongewensde eienskappe na vore kom. Vandag kan ons egter presies met genetiese merkers bepaal watter ongewensde gene deur ‘n dier gedra word.”

Fiksheidseienskappe

Die grootste effek van inteling is egter ‘n swakker prestasie in eienskappe wat relatief laag oorerflik is, en wat na verwys word as die sogenaamde ‘fiksheidseienskappe” wat deur diere se immuunstatus beïnvloed word, soos oorlewing en vrugbaarheid. Dis by hierdie eienskappe waar die negatiewe effek van inteling hoër is. Op jou hoog-oorerflike eienskappe het dit gewoonlik ‘n kleiner effek.

“Soos met alles is daar natuurlik die uitsondering. Mens kry diere wat hoogs ingeteel is, en wat besondere prestasie lewer. Dit is hierdie gevalle wat dan teen ons genetici se koppe gegooi word dat inteling glad nie so erg is soos wat ons uitmaak nie. Die probleem is egter dat een swaeltjie nie ‘n somer maak nie. Ja, daar is uitsonderings, maar daar is geen twyfel dat die negatiewe effekte die positiewe effekte by verre oorskry nie.”

Met doelgerigte seleksie is daar altyd die moontlikheid dat jy gaan inteel omdat goeie families met seleksie na vore gaan kom. Bestuur dit egter baie noukeurig en vermy inteling so ver jy kan, is sy advies.

“Daar is verskeie paringsprogramme wat dit vir boere moontlik maak om vlakke van potensiële inteling voor die tyd te bepaal en om jou telingsdoelwitte te bereik sonder om jou intelingsvlakke uitermate te verhoog.”


The general perception within the beef production industry is that “only stud breeders will benefit from participating in performance testing”. This is all but true! The commercial farmer can actually improve his own herd in terms of management and fertility as well as increase productivity and accompanied profitability of his herd. The beef producer gets paid for the amount of kilogram beef produced, no matter if he practises a grass-fed system or produces weaners for the feedlot. For this reason its will always be important to concentrate on traits of economic importance for selection purposes, but a breeder needs to know his current average weaning weight in his herd as well as the average cow weight, before he can formulate a proper genetic improvement plan for his herd. From there the saying: “To know is to measure!”

What determines profitability?

For the commercial farmer to be profitable he needs to produce the optimal number and weight of weaner calves per amount of cows mated, at the lowest cost possible. At the same time weaner calves need to be marketed as economically as possible, directly after weaning at the optimum weight. To achieve this efficiently, the fertility of the cow herd is of utmost importance, as well as the growth ability of calves from birth to wean. Post wean growth is of particular importance to the feedlot industry.

The basis of good reproduction management is excellent record keeping of the cow herd, as this enables the breeder to make informed selection decisions to achieve the abovementioned objectives. Phases A and B of the NBRIS offer a platform to commercial breeders to measure animals within phases to support these objectives on the road to financial success.

interGis

Certain management practices such as weighing of animals at birth and wean are already being done by farmers, but as an additional routine these weights need to be sent to the National Database, which is the “Integrated Recording and Genetic Information System” or “INTERGIS”. The capturing on this system is vital for the data to be

Die algemene persepsie bestaan in die vleisbeesbedryf dat “slegs stoettelers voordeel trek uit prestasietoetsing”. Dit is egter vêr van die waarheid! Die kommersiële produsent kan sy eie kudde verbeter ten opsigte van bestuur en vrugbaarheid, sowel as ‘n verhoogde produksie en gepaardgaande winsgewendheid. Die vleisbeesprodusent word vergoed per aantal kilogram vleis geproduseer, hetsy of sy diere vanaf die veld bemark word of aan ‘n agent wat sy kalwers in ‘n voerkraal wil afrond. Om dié rede is dit belangrik om op eienskappe van ekonomiese belang te konsentreer in seleksie besluite, maar ‘n teler moet eers weet wat sy kudde se huidige gemiddelde speengewig en sy koei kudde se gemiddelde gewig is, alvorens hy ingeligte seleksiebesluite kan neem. Vandaar die gesegde, “om te meet is om te weet!”

Wat bepaal winsgewendheid?

Om kommersieel winsgewend te wees moet die optimale aantal en gewig speenkalwers per aantal koeie gepaar, teen die laagste moontlike koste per teeldier geproduseer word. Terselfdertyd moet speenkalwers weer teen die optimum gewig en so ekonomies moontlik direk na speen bemark word. (Indien ‘n speenkalf-produksie stelsel gevolg word.) Om dit so doeltreffend moontlik reg te kry is die vrugbaarheid van die koeikudde belangrik, asook die kalwers se groeivermoë van geboorte tot by speen. Die groeivermoë van kalwers na speen is natuurlik net so belangrik in die voerkraalbedryf sowel as in ‘n os-produksiestelsel.

Goeie rekordhouding vorm die basis van goeie reproduksie bestuur van die koeikudde en dit stel die teler in staat tot ingeligte seleksiebesluite. Die Nasionale Vleisbees Aantekening en Verbeteringskema se “Fase A” en “Fase B” bied aan kommersiële telers ‘n platform, om met behulp van prestasietoetsing, belangrike teeldoelwitte te formuleer met ‘n gevolglike verbetering in wins. Die twee fases dek die reproduksie van koeie sowel as die produksie van kalwers tot agtien maande ouderdom.

interGis

Sekere bestuurspraktyke moet gevolg word vir die sinvolle

BasiC reCord keePingfor increased profitability

vir verhoogde winsBasiese rekordhouding

Frans Jordaan & dr Ben greyling, [email protected]


processed into very useful information, which is sent back to breeders in the form of reports containing valuable information regarding the productivity and efficiency of the cowherd, which is vital for making important selection decisions on which animals to cull and which to keep.

Breeding seasons

It is important to implement and maintain certain management practices in a structured way to ensure meaningful processing of data into information. Most important is a fixed breeding season with a maximum period of three months. The specific three-month period is dependent on the regional raining season of the year and must be planned in such a way to maximize the utilization of natural grazing at its peak period, when the nutritional needs of the lactating cow is at its peak and also to maintain the condition and weight of cows and heifers at the start of the mating season. The lactating cow’s nutritional needs are at its peak during the six weeks after the birth of her calf.

Phase a

All calves born need to be recorded and identified with an appropriate identification system, which is typically and ear tag showing the birthdate. The latter, together with the birth weight, should be captured on the INTERGIS. It is also important to record still born calves to accurately calculate traits such as “age at first calving” and “inter-calving-period”, which is the period in days between two calvings and an indication of the level of reproduction and fertility of the cow and which is the most important traits to be measured in a herd.

Frame type

Cow weights can be taken at birth or at weaning of the calf, which is normally the easiest and most practical time to weigh the cows. The purpose of a weaner production system is the optimum weaning weights at the lowest cost per breeding animal - which is the cow in this case. For this reason, it is also important to limit cow weights in order to minimize input costs. Selection and management must concentrate on improving production or output. The objective is to wean a calf of at least 45 percent of the dam’s body weight. At the time when the breeder decides to wean his calves he can request a specific form from the ARC’s system, called the “weaning weight list”. This will usually be around the time when the calves are 7 to 8 months of age. All his calves born in the previous calving season will also appear on this weigh list. The weaning weights as well as the date of weaning needs to be completed on the weigh list and sent back to the INTERGIS to be captured. This enables the system to calculate the standard 205-day weight for each calf in the weaning group, as well as an index value to indicate the performance of the calf compared to the average performance of the group.

importance of the wean index

Animals within the same wean group will vary in age by up to 3 months from the youngest to the oldest, due to the 3-month period of the breeding season and

verwerking van data. Standaard bestuurspraktyke soos die weeg van koeie en kalwers, word reeds as roetine take op baie plase gedoen en addisioneel moet die prestasie data na die sentrale databasis, ook bekend as die INTERGIS, (“Integrated Recording and Genetic Information System”), gestuur word om geberg en verwerk te word. Die data word op die INTERGIS verwerk na nuttige inligting en terug gestuur aan die boer. Die inligting word vervat in die vorm van maklik verstaanbare verslae wat die boer in staat stel om beter ingeligte seleksiebesluite te neem.

teelseisoene

Dis belangrik om ‘n goed beplande teelseisoen te volg wat oor ‘n maksimum tydperk van 3 maande strek en die betrokke streek se reënseisoen sal die bepalende faktor wees.

Die doel is om die piek produksietydperk van natuurlike weiding optimaal te kan benut. Indien die teelseisoen goed beplan is, sal die koeie se kondisie en gewig by paring ideaal wees. Dis ook belangrik vir die periode direk na kalwing, wanneer die koei se voedingsbehoeftes op die hoogste vlak is, veral die eerste 6 weke na die kalf se geboorte.

Fase a

Al die kalwers gebore moet aangeteken word deur middel van ‘n erkende identifikasie stelsel. Die kalwers se geboortedatums en geboorte gewigte moet binne 3 dae na geboorte aangeteken word. Dit is belangrik dat dood-gebore kalwers ook aangeteken word sodat akkurate tussenkalf-periodes vir elke koei in die kudde bereken kan word.

raamtipe

Koei gewigte kan by die geboorte van kalwers of by speen van kalwers geneem word. Laasgenoemde is gewoonlik ‘n meer praktiese tyd om koei gewigte te neem wanneer die koeie en kalwers in die kraal is. Die winsgewendheid van ‘n speenkalfproduksiestelsel word bepaal deur die optimale speengewig teen die laagste moontlike koste per teeldier te produseer. Daarom moet volwasse koei gewigte beperk word om insetkoste so laag as moontlik te hou. Seleksie en bestuur moet daarop gemik wees om uitset of produksie (speenkalf gewig) te optimaliseer. Die doelwit moet wees om ten minste ‘n kalf te speen wat 45 persent van die koei se gewig is.

Voordat die boer besluit om sy kalwers te speen wat normaalweg tussen 7 en 9 maande ouderdom is, kan hy ‘n “speen weeglys” aanvra of self aflaai van die INTERGIS, waarop al sy kalwers wat in die voorafgaande kalf seisoen gebore is, sal verskyn.

Tydens die speen seisoen is dit belangrik dat die speen datum en speen gewig van elke kalf aangeteken word. Sodoende kan kalwers se gemiddelde daaglikse toename op ouderdom (GDO) vanaf geboorte tot speen bereken word en kan standaard 205-dae gewigte vir die volledige speengroep bereken word.

Belangrikheid van ‘n speen indeks

Omrede die teelseisoen oor 3 maande strek beteken dit ook ouderdomsverskille binne dieselfde speen groep van

afrikaner joernaal 2018 · 2018-01-22 · huidige aardverwarming dilemma. - afrikanerbeeste boer...

Documents