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Boere Handleiding
Farmers’ Guide
Wat is artrose? Vrae oor artrose: 99
Arthrosis with lameness in cattle 101
Livestock and climate change 105
Getting to the tender cuts 108
Leë plaagdoderhouers en ou gif: Wat nou? 112
Is voerkrale die gemeste kalf? 113
’n Telingskalender vir 2012 116
Voeding van Bulle 118
Gesondheidskalender vir beeste 119

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Wat is artrose?
Vrae oor artrose:
Prof. Leon Prozesky
Wat is artrose?
Artrose is ontsteking van ’n gewrig. Die toestand kan
nie van een dier na ’n ander dier oorgedra word nie,
m.a.w. dit is nie aansteeklik nie. Dit wil voorkom of ’n
minerale wanbalans, vitamiene A en proteïentekort
die oorsaak van die probleem in beeste is. Dit
is belangrik om daarop te let dat daar verskeie
besmetlike oorsake van gewrigsontsteking (artritis)
is wat aansteeklik is en klinies met artrose verwar
kan word. Daar moet dus nie aanvaar word dat elke
bees met ’n geswelde gewrig aan artrose ly nie. In
die verband is dit nodig om u plaaslike veearts te
raadpleeg om die teenwoordigheid van artrose in ’n
kudde te bevestig.
Waar kom artrose in die land voor?
Artrose kom voor in die Noordwes Provinsie, veral
in die Vryburg – Reivilo-omgewing, maar is ook
teenwoordig in die Noord-Kaap, Namibië (veral suid
westelike dele), asook Botswana. Gevalle is ook in die
Vrystaat en Natal gerapporteer.
Artikel oorspronklik geplaas op: www.landbou.com 21 Februarie 2011
Is daar ’n spesifieke soort of ouderdom
dier waar die insidens van artrose hoër
is?
Die eerste gevalle waargeneem was in bulle en ouer
koeie, maar huidig kom die toestand in alle ouderdom
diere voor en kalwers kan selfs met letsels gebore
word.
Wat is die kliniese tekens van artrose?
Diere kan klinies of subklinies aangetas wees m.a.w.
letsels mag in die gewrigte teenwoordig wees sonder
dat diere kliniese simptome toon. Aan die ander
kant is aangetaste diere soms mank met opvallende
swelling van veral die kniegewrig.
Geskryf deur: Prof. Leon Prozesky, Fakulteit
Veeartsenykunde, Universiteit van Pretoria
(leon.prozesky@up.ac.za)
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Het artrose ’n ekonomiese impak op
boerdery?
Die insidens van artrose wissel van plaas tot
plaas. In sommige gevalle is tot 30% of meer diere
aangetas met geweldige finansiële implikasies
vir die boer. Sommige boere kan nie genoeg
vervangingsverse terughou om sy kudde in stand
te hou nie en moet diere inkoop. Aangetaste diere
verloor gewig en weens die pyn geassosieer met die
letsels is die konsepsiesyfer in aangetaste diere laer
as die kuddegemiddeld en bulle se dekvermoë word
nadelig beïnvloed.
“Jong diere het
’n baie beter kans
op herstel terwyl
die prognose”
Is daar behandeling vir artrose?
Baie goeie resultate is behaal met ’n lek wat
’n konsep-mineralevoormengsel bevat en wat
ingevolge Wet 36 van 1947 geregistreer is en bekend
staan as Arthrocure. Lekke van maatskappye met
voorgeskrewe makrominerale (fosfaat) en die
Arthrocur-mineraalmengsel is die afgelope twee jaar
op verskeie plase in Vryburg, Reivilo en Stella, waar
artrose voorkom, tesame met ’n kwartaallikse vitamien
A-toediening gebruik. Die insidens van artrose het op
al die plase noemenswaardig afgeneem gedurende
hierdie tydperk. Jong diere het ’n baie beter kans
op herstel terwyl die prognose (kans op herstel) in
volwasse diere baie minder is. Daar moet aanvaar
word dat indien die letsels ’n sekere stadium van
ontwikkeling in volwasse diere bereik het, herstel nie
moontlik is nie.
Van die produkte wat
beskikbaar is by Voermol
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Hoe voorkom ek artrose?
Dit is noodsaaklik dat boere akkuraat bepaal wat
die voorkoms van artrose in hul kuddes is. Hier
kan van ’n veearts gebruik gemaak word om die
spesifike letsels ak kuraat te beoordeel. In terme
van lekaanvulling is artrose lekke (bevattende
die Arthrocure voor mengsel) by deelnemende
lekvervaardigers beskik baar. Die aankoop van
’n goeie lek opsigself gaan egter van min waarde
wees indien die bees nie die korrekte hoeveelheid
inneem nie. Lekbakbestuur en die monitoring
van inname volgens voorskrifte is essensieel.
Die ekstra moeite met die hantering en bestuur
van lekke is uit en uit die moeite werd. Gereelde
toediening van Vitamiene A en E is ook van
kardinale belang om artrose te voorkom.
Vir inligting betreffende deelnemende
Lekvervaardigers kontak:
Dr. Hannes Viljoen (ANH): 012 667 3961
Mnr. Craig Shepstone (UP): 082 766 0825
Vind daar nog verdere navorsing
plaas?
Daar word nog baie navorsing gedoen om
presies te bepaal wat aanleiding gee tot artrose
en hoe dit voorkom kan word.

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Arthrosis with lameness in cattle
Article made available by the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation, http://www.rpo.co.za
Prof. L Prozesky and Mr. Craig Shepstone
In 1982, cattle farmers and local veterinarians in the Vryburg
area of the North West Province noticed a new disease, a
non-infectious degenerative condition of jointsnow referred
to as arthrosis. A normal joint surface is depicted in slide 1 and
an affected surface in slide 2. Affected cattle developed visible
swelling of particularly the stifle joint (femoro-tibial joint), as a
result of effusions into the joints. There waslameness and poor
growth and production, which could eventually lead to the
affected animal being slaughtered. Post-mortem examination
revealed ulceration of the joint cartilage and collapse of
underlying bone (osteochondrosis).
Arthrosis initially seemed to affect only a small number
of show animals, but by the mid-1990’s the problem
became more widespread, affecting up to 40% of
someherds. All breeds, sexes and age groups are
affected, in both commercial and communal herds. The
condition is reported to occur throughout the North
West Province and in the following areas: Cradock in
the Eastern Cape; Olifantshoek in the Northern Cape;
Harrismith in Kwazulu-Natal; Theunissen and Boshof in
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Table 1: Production losses from Arthrosis
TABLE 1:
PRODUCTION LOSSES
FROM ARTHROSIS
ANIMAL
AVERAGE
LIVE WEIGHT
GRADE OF
CARCASS AND
PRICE PER KG
TOTAL
INCOME PER
DRESSED
CARCASS
Healthy animal 500kg B 2-6 R19.40 R5335*
Animal with arthrosis
at the same age
Loss per carcass R1768
* 55% slaughtering percentage for healthy animals
** 49 % slaughtering percentage for affected animals
Figure 1: Normal joint
Note the normal structure of the joint surface [cartilage]
400kg B0-B1 R18.20 R3567**
the Free State; Francistown and Lobatsi in Botswana;
and Gobabis in Namibia.
Financial implications of arthrosis:
The incidence of affected animals per farm varies
significantly but it is estimated to be 20-30%, and in some
cases up to 80% of weaner calves have been affected.
The potential production losses sustained in commercial
herds are outlined in table 1, assuming a 20% reduction
in growth in affected animals. Based on these figures
the annual loss per farmer with 1,000 head of cattle
and a calving percentage of 80% is estimated to be
approximately R424,320 per annum if all the calves are
sold. It is recommended that farmers replace 10-15% of
their female stock per annum. On some of the farms the
owners could not replace even 10% of their breeding
herd annually due to the high incidence of arthrosis.
In these cases breeding stock had to be purchased
to maintain herd numbers. The price of a breeder is
estimated to be double the price of a commercial animal.
The loss per breeding animal with arthrosis is therefore
estimated to be R7103 per animal.
Losses sustained by stud farmers are much higher.
The average sale price for stud bulls is currently
R25,000-R30,000. Some farmers reported an incidence
of up to 40% of arthrosis in their Phase D bulls, all of
which had to be slaughtered, resulting in losses of
R20,000-R40,000 per animal. A stud farmer recently
bought a bull for R93,000. Subsequently the bull
developed arthrosis and will now be slaughtered at an
estimated value of R8,000.
The Development (Pathogenesis)
and Causes of Arthrosis:
Osteochondrosis is a common and important joint
disorder that occurs in many species, including humans,
cattle, pigs, horses and dogs, and often results in
arthrosis. It is defined as a focal disturbance of bone
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formation and has multifactoral aetiology with no single
factor accounting for all aspects of the disease. A
number of possible aetiologies and predisposing
factors have been proposed, such as over nutrition,
rapid growth, genetic predisposition, ischaemia, mineral
imbalance, hormonal influences, and trauma.
In the case of cattle in North West Province the main
aetiological factor is thought to be imbalances of
minerals and other nutrients in the grazing and in
supplements provided to cattle. The area has been
known to have problems resulting from phosphorus
deficiency since 1882, which were controlled by mineral
supplements. In recent year’s nutrient and trace element
supplementation by farmers has been erratic, and
the bioavailability of the minerals seems to have been
inadequate. An additional factor has been the use
of more sophisticated genetic selection procedures
to improve the productivity of cattle in the last 15 to
20 years. Improved growth potential in calves and
improved productivity of cows has altered the nutritional
requirements for these cattle, but there has been no
change in nutrient supplementation.
Supplemental Feeding
Grazing cattle worldwide suffer mineral deficiencies
and imbalances on natural pastures, due to the forages
eaten not satisfying their nutrient requirements. With
the exception of salt, phosphorus (P) is normally the
most deficient mineral in summer veld. Other elements
likely to be lacking in grazing are calcium (Ca), sodium
(Na), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), iodine (I), selenium
(Se) and zinc (Zn). In some region smagnesium (Mg),
potassium (K), iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) may
be deficient. Excesses of the following trace minerals
can be detrimental to grazing ruminants: fluorine
(F), molybdenum (Mo) and selenium (Se). To correct
excesses and deficiencies to achieve profitable cattle
production, it is necessary to provide livestock with

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Figure 2: Joint with severe cartilage lesions
well balanced mineral supplements. The principal way
by which cattle producers attempt to meet the mineral
requirements of grazing animals is through the use of
free-choice dietary minerals (licks).
To evaluate a lick, it is necessary to have the following
information: (1) cattle requirements for the essential
nutrients, (2) age, stage of production or reproduction
cycle, and management system (e.g. ranching, feedlot);
(3) the relative bioavailability of the minerals in the
sources from which the licks will be produced; (4)
approximate daily intake per head of the lick and the total
dry matter intake that is expected for the target animals;
(5) the concentration of the essential minerals in the lick.
The greatest disadvantage of licks is the lack of uniform
consumption by individual animals. Factors influencing
consumption include amongst others; soil fertility, pH of
soil, forage type, season of year, availability of energy
and protein, individual animal requirements, salt content
of water, palatability, availability of fresh minerals and
physical form of minerals.
Trace Mineral Supplements
Trace minerals have traditionally been included in animal
supplements as inorganic salts. However, lately more
chelated or organic trace minerals have been introduced
into ruminant diets (Spears, 1996). Mineral elements
exist in many chemical forms, including sulphates,
carbonates, chlorides, oxides and organic forms (e.g.
amino acid complexes). The form chosen for use should
depend on its biological value or bioavailability, cost,
availability, stability and effect in the type of diet used. It
is important not to use mineral salts in the same lick that
are known to react with each other.
If the mineral mix (lick) is fed free choice, the
characteristics of the finished product will most likely be
different from that used as a supplement in a complete
diet. The nutritionist formulating the lick needs to keep
the following in mind, concerning the various ingredients:
biological availability, compatibility, toxicity, solubility,
hydroscopicity, relative particle size, density, chemical
stability, moisture and nutrient content.
Biological Availability of Mineral Sources
Chemical analysis of a feed does not provide information
on the biological availability of the element for animals.
The biological availability can be defined as the portion
of the mineral that can be utilised by the animal for its
bodily need.
Dietary factors that influence the biological availability of
trace minerals are: (1) the association of minerals with the
fibre fraction of feedstuffs and/or (2) binding of minerals
to undigested fibre constituents in the gastrointestinal
tract, (3) rumen Ph being slightly acidic (6.0–6.8), thus
keeping many trace minerals in an insoluble form, (4)
antagonistic interactions between minerals of similar
chemical properties and size, and the formation of metal
complexes in the rumen.
Organic Minerals –
Mineral Chelates and Complexes
Several mineral chelates are available on the market.
The use of certain organic trace mineral complexes or
chelates has increased performance (growth and milk
production), carcass quality and immune response. Trace
minerals sequestered as amino acid or polysaccharide
complexes have the highest biological availability
and also have increased stability and solubility. These
mineral forms do not interact with vitamins or other ions,
thus being effective at lower levels, e.g. in the case of
high dietary Mo, Cu in chelated form would have an
advantage over an inorganic form as it might escape
forming copper thiomolybdates in the digestive system
from the elements Mo, Cu and sulphur (S).
Research on Arthrosis
The Onderstepoort Faculty of Veterinary Science,
University of Pretoria, has initiated and completed a
number of trials related to the arthrosis problem. Initially
donated cattle suffering from arthrosis from the affected
areas were examined pathologically. The investigation
revealed that the cattle suffered from osteochondrosis.
Secondly a feed trial was conducted at the experimental
farm Armoedsvlakte, where four different phosphate
sources were compared. Thirdly an on-farm trial in the
Vryburg area comparing different forms of bone meal
and rock phosphate was successfully completed; the
licks contained bone meal, ostrich bone meal and
different phosphate sources. Liver and bone analysis
were done on a number of the animals in each of the
above mentioned trials. The analysis revealed that there
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is a problem in the absorption of both macro and trace
elements from the digestive tract, most probably due to
negative interactions of the elements with each other in
the rumen, preventing post rumen absorption.
The University of Pretoria approached various scientists
to assist with the interpretation of the results, and
to formulate a lick that could prevent arthrosis and,
particularly in younger animals, promote healing of
affected joint tissue. The formulation was based on
the hypothesis that poor bioavailability of particularly
phosphorus and/or essential trace minerals is the main
reason for arthrosis to develop.
Figure 3
Note the healing of the cartilage lesions in an animal that received the improved lick.
Arthrosis Lick
Based on the research results to date, the research
team has formulated a mineral supplement that is
currently being registered under Act 36 under the name
“Arthrocure. Various feed manufacturers are currently
licensed by the University to use Arthrocure in their licks,
with the prerequisite that the phosphorus source used
comply with specifications outlined by the University. We
are convinced that if a balanced lick using Arthrocure as
mineral supplement and an approved phosphorus source
is used, the animals are injected biannually with vitamin
A and E, and proper lick management is maintained, the
incidence of arthrosis will be reduced substantially and
eventually the condition will be eradicated (figure 3).
Further more, the lick will significantly improve the health
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of the animals in general resulting in amongst other high
fertility and therefore calving percentage.
It is intended to continue with the research for another
two years, during which time the lick will be adjusted
based on results from clinical observations and analysis
of liver and bone samples from cattle exposed to the
lick. Approximately 4,000 head of cattle will be evaluated
quarterly and lick intake measured. Furthermore,
mineral analysis of liver and bone samples will be done
as well as soil, grass and water analysis as outlined in the
protocol attached as addendum A.
Preliminary results are very encouraging with a significant
reduction of the incidence joint lesions particularly in
young animals.

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Livestock and climate change
It must be remembered that ruminants are important to
mankind, since most of the world’s vegetation biomass
is rich in fibre. Only ruminants can convert this high-fibre
containing vegetation into high quality protein sources
(i.e. meat and milk) for human consumption and this will
need to be balanced against the concomitant production
of methane.
Despite this important role of livestock, these animals are
specifically being targeted and singled out as producing
large quantities of greenhouse gases that contribute to
climate change, since enteric fermentation is responsible for
28% of global methane emissions. The consequence is that
many consumers may decide to reduce their consumption
of red meat. The popular press is fuelling these sentiments
with slogans telling consumers to eat less meat.
A balanced perspective
The South African Society for Animal Science (SASAS) recognises the effect
of livestock on greenhouse gas (GHG) production and climate change, and
believes it is important that through research, methods are developed and
put in place to mitigate this effect. Livestock industries should also recognise the
effect of livestock on climate change and actively support strategies to mitigate it.
In this article, the council of SASAS hopes to present a
balanced view to ensure that the public is properly and
correctly informed about the impact of livestock on GHG
production and climate change.
Climate change
Climate change is expected to have a more extreme
effect on southern hemisphere continents than on
other continents and the anticipated global warming
is expected to have a negative effect on the livestock
production environments of these countries.
Tropical and subtropical climates have both direct and
indirect effects on livestock. Factors such as temperature,
solar radiation, humidity and wind all have direct effects
on animals, whereas factors such as digestibility of
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feed, intake, quality and quantity of grazing, pests and
diseases, which are themselves directly influenced by
climate change, all have indirect effects on animals.
It is predicted that climate change will have negative
effects on the African continent. These negative effects
will include high ambient temperatures, nutritional stress
and altered patterns of animal diseases. An improved
understanding of the adaptation of livestock to their
production environments, and how the vegetation
is going to change as a result of climate change, is
therefore essential.
Greenhouse gas emissions
There is a general perception that livestock is a major
contributor to global warming. This is the result of an
FAO publication, Livestock’s Long Shadow, published
in 2006, which indicated that livestock is responsible
for 18% of the world’s methane production. This figure
has since been proven to be a gross overestimation of
the contribution of agriculture. The most recent figure
is in the order of 5-10% (also for South Africa) of which
livestock contributes about 80-90%.
Having said that, to quote a percentage does not make
sense: in industrialised countries the figure for agriculture
is less than 6%, simply because the contribution of their
energy sectors, mines, etc. to GHG emissions is so big.
In non-industrialised countries the figure for agriculture
can be 40-50% and yet that contribution is less than the
6% of the industrialised countries.
If one now estimates mitigation options, it is obvious
that a 10% reduction in the energy and mining sectors
makes much more sense than a 10% reduction in the
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5-10% contribution of agriculture. So, the ‘meat-free
once a week’ argument will not do much to rectify the
problem. This can be substantiated from the literature. It
is interesting that transport costs are added when GHG
emissions are calculated for livestock, but not for the
other sectors.
Intensively fed cattle
The statement that intensively fed cattle produce more
GHGs than cattle on the veld/pasture, is simply not
true. GHG emissions from livestock is measured either
in terms of kg CO2 equivalent per kg of meat or milk
available for consumption, or per area of land used. In
the case of ruminants, extensive systems are usually
found to have a lower per-area footprint than intensive
grain-fed systems, but a higher footprint if expressed in
terms of kg product.

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Cattle in feedlots fatten over approximately 110
days in South Africa, which means that they
produce GHG for only 110 days before they
are slaughtered. For cattle on veld/pasture it
requires more than 200 days to fatten because
of the lower quality feed compared to a feedlot
diet. Furthermore, the lower quality feed (mainly
pastures that they are consuming) also produces
more GHG per kilogram feed intake than the
concentrates used in feedlots. The bottom line
is that feedlots maximise efficiency of meat
production, resulting in a lower carbon footprint.
Furthermore, there is substantial evidence
indicating that organic production systems
consume more energy and have a bigger carbon
footprint than conventional production systems.
For example, organic grass-fed cattle require
approximately three times more energy per
kilogram of weight gain and release more than
double the quantity of GHGs per kilogram of
weight gain than conventional feedlot cattle. Most
consumers purchasing organic products do not
know that it has a higher carbon footprint.
Cows on pastures produce more methane than
cows on a high concentrate diets. At a recent
world congress, it was concluded that increasing
cow efficiency, i.e. maintaining milk output by
fewer animals, reduced farm methane production
by 15%. The way to reduce methane from cattle
is to reduce their numbers and increase the
production per animal.
A study in the USA indicates that the carbon
footprint per kilogram milk produced in 2007
was only 37% of that produced in 1944. Thus the
carbon footprint of milk that is currently produced,
is 63% smaller than the mostly organic production
systems of 1944.
Water sources
The statement ‘water used to produce meat should rather
be used for grain or vegetables’, relies on the assumption
that all water sources, whether provided through rainfall
or by irrigation, are of equal value and equally available
to be utilised for different purposes. For example, how
are you going to get the water from rain in the areas that
are unsuitable for crop and vegetable production (and in
South Africa this is 70% of the land) to areas where crops
and vegetables can be planted?
The challenge will be to get the water out of the ground
in order to use it. The vegetation in these areas is also
going to absorb some of the water, whether it is utilised
by animals or not. If this vegetation is not utilised by
animals, it will either burn or rot and both will produce
large quantities of GHGs. In practice it may not be
possible to reclaim and transport the water or, if possible,
it may not be economically viable. This implies that the
argument is rather futile from an implementation point.
Grains (and veg) instead of meat
Animal products contain crucial nutrients, such as vitamin
B12, that is only available in animal products and some
yeasts. Vitamin B12 is required to produce red blood
cells and a healthy nervous system. Diets without vitamin
B12 can also lead to nerve damage and impaired vision.
Furthermore, the grain/beef argument implies competition
for resources and that one can be substituted for
the other. Grain primarily supplies energy and beef
supplies protein and certain minerals and vitamins,
which are essential for healthy living. Meat (all animal
food products) is nutrient dense, whereas vege tables
(and grains) are not. This means one needs much higher
volumes and sometimes also supplements to have equal
substitution value.
The GHGs involved in the production, packing and
transport these supplements may be higher per unit of
supplement than that of meat. Furthermore the practical
viability to do so, has not been evaluated.
Substituting livestock with grain and vegetables to feed
people, implies that all sources of food production
require a similar and equal quantity and quality of
resources. This is a futile and invalid point of departure.
Large regions are completely unsuitable for growing
grains or vegetables. Animal production is the most
sustainable way of food production in these areas.
In South Africa, as in most of the countries in the subtropics,
livestock production is the only option on about 70% of the
agricultural land. This is because of marginal soils and
rainfall that do not allow crop production. If one were to
do crop production, it would mean heavy investment and
unsustainable use of resources.
(Compiled by Prof Michiel M Scholtz, convener: Public
Relations and Communication Committee, Council of the
South African Society for Animal Science.)
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Getting to the tender cuts
Phillip Strydom, ARC-Animal Production Institute
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Carcass grading or classification was established in most
prominent meat producing countries during the early to
middle 1900s. Over time the evolution of these systems were
driven by new problems/needs or changes in production systems.
Phillip Strydom

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The primary motivations for the development and
implementation of these systems are best summarised
in a report of AHDB Industry Consulting on the EU
classification system:
• Poor market transparency, made even more difficult
by a fragmented industry.
• Poor market intelligence with regard to guidelines for
price formation.
• A lack of a common descriptive language for a highly
variable product.
• Production-led (as opposed to market-led) mainly the
result of a lack of production guidelines.
• Lack of consumer confidence in the retail product
caused by, among other things, lack of precise
description at retail level, poor labelling and marking.
Smith, et al (2008) describes the consumer process in
terms of firstly a ‘customer’ (person who purchases) whose
preference is influenced by appearance characteristics
(e.g. ratios of muscle, fat and bone, amount of marbling;
colour of fat and lean; freedom of defects). The quality
of cooked meat is then evaluated by a ‘consumer’ in
terms of palatability characteristics (e.g. flavour, juiciness,
tenderness). Therefore both yield factors (fat, bone, meat)
and eating quality will influence consumer preferences,
but most consumer surveys suggest that eating quality
(defined by most consumers simply as ‘taste’) is a primary
driver of food purchase decisions.
Globally certain countries or regions have focussed more
on yield (EU carcass classification scheme). Others have
adopted a dual system attempting to describe or grade
both yield and quality (USDA carcass grading scheme;
South African carcass classification scheme; the AUS-
MEAT system) or meat quality/palatability only (MSA cuts
based grading).
Classification vs grading
Of the seven countries discussed in this paper, only the
European (EUROP), South African (SA) and the AUS-
MEAT system of Australia are regarded as classification
systems. Of the grading systems, all but the Meat
Standards Australia (MSA) cuts-based grading system
has separate yield and quality grades.
In terms of ‘Ease of application’, AUS-MEAT and MSA are
the only systems using pre-slaughter criteria, while these
two and the other grading and classification systems
perform measurements on the slaughter floor. Chiller
assessments, in addition to slaughter floor assessments,
are used by all but the EUROP and SA systems, while the
MSA system does post-chiller recordings.
Conformation, shape or ribeye area (REA), some form of
fat measurement, carcass weight and sex are common
criteria for all systems and are recorded on the slaughter
floor and/or during chiller assessment. All except sex are
used for yield predictions, but are also incorporated into
quality grades in grading systems and to a lesser extent
contributes to descriptions related to meat quality (such
as the SA system).
The effect of age
Age or maturity and marbling seem to be the main
criteria used for quality grading and classification. Age
or maturity is determined by dentition in the SA and
AUS-MEAT systems. MSA, Canadian and USDA use
ossification score instead and other characteristics that
may be used to describe maturity are meat texture,
meat colour (or brightness) and lean maturity, used by
the MSA, USDA, AUS-MEAT, Canadian, Korean and
Japanese.
The USDA system is well-known for using marbling
as one of its main criteria in combination with maturity
and type/sex of the animal. The Canadian system
distinguishes between youthful and old (cows and
bulls) by ossification with grades for each of the two
categories. The British and rest of Europe’s classification
systems were combined into a single system (EUROP)
in 1981. They argued that since no practical, reliable and
cost-effective measure emerged from many research
initiatives over years, the system remained focussed on
yield classification.
Local history
The South African beef description system also evolved
over a number of years from 1932. Age of the animals
has been used since 1936 as a characteristic to grade
carcasses, presumably because carcasses of younger
cattle were considered to be of ‘better’ quality than those
of older cattle. Permanent incisors were used for the first
time in 1949 when ‘A’ indicated carcasses of younger
animals with not more than six teeth and ‘B’ indicated
carcasses of older animals with more than six teeth, but
which were not older than four years.
In 1951, a class ‘C’ for carcasses of the oldest animals was
used for the first time. In 1970, the ‘Super A’ grade was
allocated only to carcasses of animals with no permanent
incisors and the ‘Super B’ grade only to carcasses of
animals with one tooth or more, but with not more than
four teeth. Less than a year later, the grades ‘Super A’ and
‘Super B’ were combined as ‘Super’ for carcasses deriving
from animals with no more than two teeth.
The age class ‘A’ was used in the grades ‘Prime A’ and
‘1A’ for carcasses of animals with no more than two
teeth; the age class ‘B’ in the grades ‘Prime B’ and ‘1B’
was allocated to carcasses which derived from animals
with not less than three and not more than six teeth, and
the age class ‘C’ in the grade ‘1C’ to carcasses which
derived form animals with more than six teeth, not older
than five years.
In 1984 it was found that A-age animals had significantly
higher muscle collagen solubility, that muscle pigment
concentration was significantly lower, and that the
cooking loss (%) was significantly lower. Further research
in the early 1990s confirmed previous work and showed
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“Sufficient evidence
exist to show that
factors other than age
(extrinsic or intrinsic)
may have an effect on
tenderness”
that meat tenderness decreased, as the slaughter age of
the animals increased, in the order of 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8
permanent incisors.
In spite of these results, some still denied their validity
and exerted pressure on the authorities to eventually
classify the carcasses of 2-teeth animals in a separate
age class (AB) than the 3- to 6-teeth animals (B) and
0-tooth animals (A).
Other factors
While age by dentition is the only quality-related criteria
in the SA classification system, sufficient evidence exist
to show that factors other than age (extrinsic or intrinsic)
may have an effect on tenderness. These factors may
even overshadow the effect of age depending on the
type of muscle (muscle composition in terms of fibre
type and connective tissue content), position in the
carcass (which relate to shortening of the fibres) and
environmental conditions and inputs.
In two recent studies, effects of age, production system
(including nutrition) and abattoir practice on tenderness
were investigated. Loin steaks of carcasses of feedlot
animals with either 0 (Class A) or 2 (Class AB) incisors
were more tender than steaks of loin steaks of carcasses
coming from pasture animals aged according to incisors
from 0 to 6 or A, AB and B age classes. Among the
pasture animal groups, animals with no permanent
incisors (A class) produced tougher steaks than animals
with 3 to 6 incisors (B class) and animals with 3 to 6
incisors had numerically better tenderness scores than
animals with 1 to 2 incisors (AB class).
Past vs present
When the present classification system in South Africa
was established and developed, the changes that took
place over time (as described earlier) probably reflected
the changes that occurred in industry, such as the
introduction of feedlots in the 1970’s that increased the
production of young grain fed cattle.
The criteria used at the moment, were also established
during a time when production systems were fairly
standard and most animals were slaughtered in large
state-owned abattoirs that operated according to the
same standards in terms of pre-slaughter (lairage time),
slaughter (electrical stimulation) and post-slaughter
(chilling) procedures.
In the past two decades, much has changed when the
industry deregulated, production processes changed
and an increased integration of production, slaughtering
and processing occurred. Therefore it could be argued
that age classification alone may not be as sufficient
anymore to describe a product with regard to quality,
more specifically tenderness.
What are the options?
It seems that the MSA system, with certain adjustments,
would probably have the best outcome in terms
of consumer satisfaction. It is in fact a palatabilityassured-critical-control-point
(PACCP) approach which
is integrated into a grading system aimed at maximum
consumer satisfaction for a number of cuts prepared
according to different cooking methods. In this regard it
differs from all other systems. In addition, the system is
probably expensive (cost) and requires higher technical
skills (simplicity) than the current system.
This article was edited and shortened. For a
complete list of references and for the full report,
please e-mail publications@rmrdsa.co.za
Simbra – The Complete All-Rounder

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Handleiding • Guide
Leë plaagdoderhouers en ou gif:
Dr Gerhard H Verdoorn, Griffon Gif-inligtingsentrum, Vereniging van
Dieregesondheids- en Plantbeskermingsverenigings van Suid-Afrika
In die ou dae voor die inwerkingstelling van die Afval bestuurswet,
kon boere leë plaagdoderhouers uitspoel, gate inkap en
dit begrawe of verbrand. Ingevolge die nuwe wetgewing oor
afvalbestuur mag dit nie meer gedoen word nie. Boere moet
deesdae op ’n meer verantwoordelike wyse van die houers
ontslae raak.
Simbra – The Complete All-Rounder
Wat nou?
Avcasa gee graag raad oor die bestuur van leë
houers en beveel die volgende aan:
• Spoel houers drie keer met een derde van die
houervolume skoon water en giet daardie water dan
in die spuittenk.
• Laat die houers droog bak in die son totdat alle vog
verdamp het.
• Ten einde volume te verminder, behoort die houers in
kwarte opgesny te word sodat dit maklik verpak vir
vervoerdoeleindes.
• Vervoer dan die houers in grootmaat na plastiek verwerkers
wat dit in ander kommoditeite omskakel. Kyk op
die webtuiste van Plastics SA (www.plasticsinfo.co.za)
vir kontakbesonderhede van sulke maatskappye.
Voorsorgmaatreëls wat getref moet word is:
• Houers moet glad nie in enige oop waterbronne of
dreine uitgespoel word nie.
• Plaaswerkers mag nie toegelaat word om houers
saam te neem huis toe nie.
• Opgesnyde houers moet agter slot en grendel geberg
word totdat dit na plastiekverwerkers vervoer kan word.
• Ou en uitgediende plaagdoders is ’n nog groter
uitdaging omdat boere op geen manier op die plaas
daarvan ontslae kan raak nie. Vanaf Augustus 2012
gaan Avcasa se Afvalbestuursprogram inskop met
die opruiming van uitgediende plaagdoders. Boere
moet die landboumedia dophou vir aankondigings
oor die program en sovêr moontlik deelneem om te
verseker dat plase vry van leë houers en uitgediende
plaagdoderhouers is.
Intussen kan boere die volgende doen om ou
plaagdoders veilig te berg:
• Sorteer die droë formulasies en vloeistofformulasies
uit en pak afsonderlik.
• Verpak alle middels verkieslik eers in dik plastieksakke
en daarna in groot staal- of plastiekdromme wat
geseël kan word.
• Seël die dromme voldoende sodat dit nie oopgemaak
kan word nie.
• Merk die dromme met verf of plakkers waarop die
woorde ‘Giftig en gevaarlik’ duidelik in rooi aangedui is.
• Berg die dromme in ’n koel plek in ’n stoor wat
toegesluit word en waar geen mense toegang kan
verkry nie.
• Plaas die dromme verkieslik op houtpalette wat op dik
plastiek staan ingeval enige lekkasies sou voorkom.
Vir enige verdere inligting, kontak die Griffon Gifinligting
sentrum by 082 446 8946.

Simbra – The Complete All-Rounder
Is voerkrale die gemeste kalf?
Albert Loubser
Daar is min onderwerpe in die veebedryf wêreld wyd,
waaroor daar meer menings en menings verskille
bestaan as die voerkraalbedryf. Die afgelope dekade
het dit selfs verder gegaan en die onderwerp geword waaroor
mense en groepe buite die veebedryf ook baie te sê het.
Foto: Karin Changuion-Duff
Op 14 en 15 Maart het die Suid-Afrikaanse Voerkraalvereniging
by sy jaarvergadering en kongres opnuut
besin oor die plaaslike bedryf. Die organisasie het
tydens sy jaarvergadering besluit om sy deel te doen om
veediefstal in die land hok te slaan deur die behoorlike
toepassing van wetgewing rakende vee-identifikasie en
veediefstal. Daarbenewens het die vergadering ook ’n
stel goeie bestuurspraktyke aanvaar en onderneem om
hierdie praktyke toe te pas.
Op die veeplaas is dit nou speentyd wanneer groot
volumes speenkalwers deur produsente aan voerkrale
gelewer gaan word. Dit maak April ’n aktuele tyd om
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Handleiding • Guide
weer te kyk waar ons staan met ons Suid-Afrikaanse
bedryf. Die huidige stand van die ekonomie van
voerkrale, die invloed van die graderingstelsel,
markvoorkeure en voerkrale se omgewingsimpak, is
beslis bo-aan die agenda.
Voerkraal-ekonomie
Daar is geen twyfel dat die voerkraal bedryf ’n
ongekende bloeityd beleef het laas jaar met hoë pryse
en billike mieliepryse. Dit het heelwat speenkalf- en
mielieprodusente geleentheid gegee om eie voerkrale
te begin, terwyl groot voerkrale dramaties uitgebrei het.
Tans is dit egter ’n ander storie. Mieliepryse is hoog en
die mark het verlangsaam. Ons beleef nou, volgens Dave
Ford, bestuurder van die Voerkraalvereniging van Suid-
Afrika (SAVV), ’n regstellingsfase in die bedryf.
Die verwagting was dat die mark sou aanhou styg. Dit
het die vraag na speenkalwers (en groter beeste) maand
na maand aangevuur. Gevoerde beeste se getalle het
toegeneem bo die vlak wat deur laer pryse weens hoë
aanbod behaal is. Rolspelers wat al lank in die bedryf is,
sal onthou dat 2007 ’n soortgelyke tendens getoon het.
Dit lyk of ons nou weer met ’n nuwe pryssiklus begin.
Die meeste dinge in die vryemark vind plaas as ’n funksie
van markneigings, markkragte of verbruikersdruk.
Voerkrale se bestaan word deur die mark dikteer – die
verbruiker vra sagte vleis van jong diere, in geweldige
volumes. Dan moet die produk nog homogeen in gehalte
en standaard wees. Vyf-en-tagtig persent van alle vleis
wat die verbruiker bereik, word deur sowat 63 voerkrale
waarvan die meeste lid is van die SAVV, voorsien.
Verbruikersvoorkeure en gradering
Die tipiese voerkraal in Suid-Afrika koop ’n kalf van
tussen ses en sewe maande oud wat ongeveer 200-
250 kg weeg. Hulle voer die kalf vir so 100 dae tot 350-
450 kg. Wanneer die kalf geslag word is hy/sy dan nog
ongewissel en slag hy/sy as ’n A-graad uit wat toppryse
“Daar is nie n kalf wat ’n Simbra wen
in die voerkraal nie” – Flip Snyman,
Tito Vorster en Foeta Lourens
behaal. Binne die wêreldkonteks is dit ’n baie unieke
situasie. Die meeste ander lande slag vee wat omtrent
drie jaar oud is, en produseer ’n karkas wat ouer en
swaarder is. Ons slag weer jonger diere om te voldoen
aan die vereiste van ons plaaslike graderingstelsel.
Dit is baie moeilik om ’n ongewisselde kalf op 400 kg te
kry, sonder intensiewe voeding in ’n voerkraal. As ’n kalf
op die veld gevoer word, gaan hy/sy eers moet wissel
voor hy/sy markgereed is en dan gradeer die karkas as
’n AB-graad wat onmiddellik ’n prys-implikasie het. Is dit
dan reg of verkeerd?
Simbra – The Complete All-Rounder
Aan die een kant is daar die ondersteuners van die
stelsel wat wys op die onoortreflike kwaliteit van die vleis.
Teenstanders meen weer dat ons potensieel te vroeg
slag en dat vleis te duur gaan word as ons so voortgaan.
Gerhard Schutte, hoofbestuurder van die Rooivleisprodu
sente-organisasie (RPO) sê dat daar nog
navorsing nodig is om beter te verstaan wat die
verbruikers se behoefte werklik is ten opsigte van
vleisklassifikasie. Hierdie navorsing is reeds aan
die gang. Gerhard meen die resultaat van hierdie
navorsing kan bewys dat ons klassifi kasiestelsel
heeltemal uit lyn is met die res van die wêreld s’n. ’n
Meer toepaslike klassifikasiestelsel sal dalk die bedryf
en verbruiker beter dien.
Dit gaan natuurlik moeilik wees om ’n 500 g T-been
konsekwent op die verbruiker se bord te sit wat nie uit
’n A-graad, ongewisselde voerkraalkalf se karkas kom
nie. Dieselfde geld vir die fillet en kruisskyf. Dit is egter
ook ’n realiteit dat snitte nie meer as 15% van die karkas
uitmaak nie. Dit beteken dat ten minste 80% van elke
karkas wat verwerk word, as maalvleis, kookvleis en
wors op die verbruiker se bord beland. Geen verbruiker
sal die vleis onderskei van ’n ouer dier wat miskien nie
so sag is nie.
Hoewel daar geen argument is dat vleissagtheid een van
die belangrikste kwaliteitseienskappe vir die verbruiker
is nie, is dit wel ’n argument hoe die beste vleissagtheid
verkry kan word en of ’n tweetandkalf wat van die veld
geslag word, nou taaier gaan wees as die ongewisselde
kalf in die voerkraal indien die invloed van ras, rantsoen
en veehantering ook in ag geneem word.
Die invloed van byvoorbeeld beta-antagoniste, wat
wyd in die voerkraalbedryf gebruik word, beïnvloed
ook sagtheid. Dit is ook ’n heel geldige argument dat
verskillende rasse se karkasse, veral waar vroeg- en
laatryp in ag geneem word, op verskillende gewigte
markgereed sou wees.

Simbra – The Complete All-Rounder
Dit is moeilik om wetenskaplike grond te vind om
byvoorbeeld te diskrimineer teen ’n Simbra-karkas
van 280 kg. Daar is mense wat glo dat die afkeur van
’n 300 kg karkas meer te doen het met die feit dat die
individuele kwarte te swaar is vir ’n arbeider om te dra, as
met die kwaliteit van die karkas.
Bedryf en teling
Anders as in ander lande waar voerkrale ’n groot rol in
die waardeketting speel, teel die gemiddelde boer nie
speenkalwers met die voerkraal as primêre kliënt in
gedagte nie. In sulke lande speel die F1-koei ’n groot
rol met terminale kruise met voerkraal-vriendelike bulle.
Programme soos die Herefords se ‘White-face’-projek
toon potensiaal, maar die getalle bly te min om ’n groot
impak te maak. Die kleinhandel het ook al herhaaldelik
bewys dat hulle nie bereid is om ’n premie te betaal aan
produsente vir spesifieke nisprodukte nie.
Tog is daar steeds te veel diere – veral suiwer geteelde
inheemse rasse word in ’n speenkalfmark aangebied
waar voerkrale hulle nie wil hê nie. Hierdie diere sou
wel ’n plek in ’n osboerdery vind, wat nie in Suid-Afrika
’n ekonomiese model is nie. As daardie moederrasdiere
gekruis was met terminale vaars, sou hulle hul weg goed
kon vind na goeie pryse in die voerkraalmark.
Die Rooivleisbedryfsforum, waarvan die SAVV en RPO
lid is, verteenwoordig die rooivleiswaardeketting baie
goed. Min kom moditeitsverenigings ondersteun hul
waarde ketting so goed soos in die rooivleisbedryf.
Die proses word van die produsent tot by die
kleinhandel onder steun. Al die lede van die forum is
verteenwoordig op die standaarde-komitee wat oor die
graderingstelsel besluit.
Daarom is dit so belangrik dat enige besluit op
wetenskaplike beginsels moet berus, omdat daar
bepaalde kommersiële voordele vir van die rolspelers in
die huidige graderingstelsel is. Ook akkommodeer die
huidige stelsel nie veldgeproduseerde karkasse nie. ’n
’nuwe’ graderingstelsel sal dit in ag moet neem.
Vir produsente is dit kommerwekkend dat voerkrale
groter en minder word, en dat voerkrale en abattoirs
in dieselfde groepe groepeer – dit kan druk op vrye
verhandeling en billike prysvorming plaas. Korporatiewe
voerkrale behoort ’n oplossing te wees, gegewe ons
plaaslike toestande, maar die bestaande voerkrale het
meestal verdwyn. Die rede daarvoor vind ons waarskynlik
in die kompleksiteit van voerkraalbestuur.
Omgewingsimpak
Volgens dr Michiel Scholtz van die Suid-Afrikaanse
Vereniging vir Veekundiges (SASAS), erken die vereniging
die effek van lewendehawe op kweekhuisgasproduksie
en glo dat navorsing en goeie praktyke hierdie risiko
kan bestuur. Vee word egter, ondanks hul belangrike rol
in voedselsekuriteit, uitgewys deur veral die populêre
media as dié groot sondebok.
Veral beesvoerkrale en melkerye word uitgesonder. Dit is
al bewys dat die aanvanklike syfer van 18% weergegee
in ’n verslag deur die Verenigde Nasies se Voedsel- en
Landbou-organisasie (FAO) in 2006, ver oordryf is en dat
slegs 5-10% van die wêreld se metaangasproduksie van
vee afkomstig is.
’n Verdere mistasting is dat vee in gekonsentreerde
areas soos voerkrale en melkplase, hoër uitskeidings
per kilogram vleis toon as veldgevoerde beeste. As
die uitskeiding gemeet word per hektaar, dan is die
ekstensiewe stelsels wel laer. Dit is ongetwyfeld so
dat intensiewe stelsels met goeie produktiwiteit en
doeltreffendheid ’n laer totale koolstofspoor laat as
ekstensiewe stelsels. Dr Scholtz wys op ’n onlangse
studie in Amerika rakende ’n 63% verlaging in die
koolstofspoor van een liter melk sedert 1944.
Omdat dit in Suid-Afrika warm en droog is, is die impak
van voerkrale op waterbronne baie laer as in ander
wêrelddele. Verder word ons voerkrale baie professioneel
bestuur en het ons min probleme met operateurs wat nie
ag slaan op goeie praktyke nie. Ons moet ook onthou
dat die helfte van die vleis wat deur die voerkraal gelewer
word, op die plaas en op natuurlike veldweiding in die
vorm van ’n speenkalf geproduseer is. Die speenkalf
spandeer ’n maksimum van 120 dae van sy lewe in die
voerkraal.
Afsluiting
Miskien is dit tyd dat ons aanvaar dat voerkrale
hier is om te bly. Dit is ’n normale uitvloeisel van die
waardeketting en ’n uitstekende manier om in die mark
se vraag na volumes te voldoen. Dit is ’n bedryf waarby
enige produsent kan betrokke raak as hy wou, en bereid
is om aan die vereistes te voldoen. Dit is ’n bedryf wat fyn
en verantwoordelike bestuur vra en wat, weens faktore
soos ons wisselvallige klimaat, verseker hoë eise stel aan
sy rolspelers.
Die aandeel in die totale vee wat verkoop word aan die
groot voerkrale sal waarskynlik bly styg, en voerkrale sal
groter word. Vir individuele produsente wat wel aan die
nodige finansierings- en bestuurseise kan voldoen, lê
hierin ’n geweldige geleentheid.
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’n Telingskalender vir 2012
Prof Frikkie Neser en Hannes Steyn
Die sleutel tot suksesvolle teling lê in die seleksie van die
regte genetika. Die ‘regte’ genetika sal van gebied tot
gebied en tussen produsente verskil. Dit is belangrik
dat elke produsent vir homself ’n duidelike teeldoelwit stel.
Bul- en ramseleksie
Beplan vroeg in die jaar hoeveel bulle en ramme nodig
gaan wees om al die koeie en ooie suksesvol te dek en
koop die diere vroegtydig aan. Sodoende is daar genoeg
tyd om die manlike diere aan te pas, in die regte kondisie
te kry en te toets vir vrugbaarheid en geslagsiektes.
Gebruik ’n gemiddeld van een manlike dier vir elke 25-30
vroulike diere as duimreël.
Bestel semen vroegtydig indien
kunsmatige inseminasie gebruik word.
Gebruik die teeldoelwitte wat gestel is om bulle en
ramme volgens teelwaardes, visuele eienskappe en
moontlik DNA te selekteer wat die nageslag nader aan
die gewenste doelwit sal kry. Onthou dat groter nie altyd
beter is nie! Dit geld veral met teelwaardes.
Bul- en ramvoorbereiding
Ent die manlike diere ongeveer twaalf weke voor die
dekseisoen met al die nodige entstowwe. ’n Koorsreaksie
sal veroorsaak dat die diere vir tot twee maande (60 dae)
lank onvrugbaar is, terwyl nuwe sperme geproduseer
word. Bulle en ramme moet ses weke voor die
teelseisoen getoets word vir vrugbaarheid, algemene
strukturele korrektheid en geslagsiektes. Die diere moet
fiks wees en in ’n goeie liggaamskondisie vertoon,
sonder om vet te wees.
Teelseisoen (beeste)
Die beste tyd vir die teelseisoen sal verskil tussen areas,
hoofsaaklik as gevolg van wisselende reënval. Die dektyd
Simbra – The Complete All-Rounder
moet so beplan word dat koeie ongeveer 30 dae voor
die eerste effektiewe reëns kalf. ’n Dekseisoen van drie
maande (90 dae) word algemeen gebruik, maar 60 dae
kan sterk oorweeg word om die bestuur van die kudde
te kompakteer en ook om vir vrugbaarheid te selekteer.
Onthou dat vrugbaarheid, alhoewel laag oorerflik, uiters
belangrik is en dat koeie wat vroeër in ’n kalfseisoen
kalf gewoonlik inherent meer vrugbaar is. Koeie moet ’n
kondisiepunt van 3 hê aan die begin van die dekseisoen.
Verse moet verkieslik in ’n aparte trop van die koeie
gedek word en dikwels word verse se dekseisoen 15-
30 dae vroeër begin om die verse meer tyd te gee om
weer in kondisie te kom na eerste kalwing, aangesien
die behoeftes van eerstekalf koeie hoog is. Verse moet
’n liggaamsmassa van 65-80% van verwagte volwasse
massa hê voor hulle reg is om gedek te word. Die vlak
van bestuur sal bepaal of verse op 14, 18 of 24 maande
gedek word. Dit is raadsaam om meer verse te dek as
wat nodig is om terug te hou in die kudde. Die verse wat
vroeër kalf is gewoonlik meer vrugbaar en deur die verse
wat eerste kalf terug te hou, kan vrugbaarheid in die
kudde verhoog word.
Indien kunsmatige inseminasie (KI) gebruik word, kan die
KI program een estrus siklus se lengte (21dae) voor die
normale dekseisoen uitgevoer word, waarna die diere in
die normale dekseisoen by die bulle gesit word.
As die bulle aan die einde van die dekseisoen uitgehaal
word, moet hulle weer vir geslagsiektes getoets word.
Sodoende word probleme vroeg identifiseer en kan daar
stappe geneem word om die koeie dragtig te kry.

Simbra – The Complete All-Rounder
Dragtigheidsondersoeke word 60 dae na die einde van die
teelseisoen gedoen op alle vroulike diere en nie-dragtige
diere moet summier uit die teelkudde verwyder word.
Kalwers
Koeie en verse moet in die kalfseisoen gereeld besoek
word om kalwingsprobleme uit te skakel. Kalwers moet
gemerk en gebrand word, en horings moet gebrand of
op ’n latere ouderdom geknip word. Kalwers word op
6-8maande ouderdom gespeen.
Dekseisoene (skape)
Die bestuur en voedingsomstandighede op ’n plaas sal
bepaal of ’n lente- of herfs-dekseisoen gebruik word, of
selfs beide. ’n Dekseisoen moet ongeveer 60 dae lank
wees en die beginsels is dieselfde as by beeste. By
wolskape moet die ooie in ’n trop almal dieselfde lengte
wol dra (sit ramme verkieslik by ooie met kort wol en
moenie ooie laat skeer minder as ’n maand voor lamtyd
nie). Dit is ook wenslik om ouer ramme by jong ooitjies te
gebruik, omdat hulle meer ervare is.
Laparoskopie kan gebruik word om die lamseisoen te
kompakteer en om goeie ramme se semen op ’n groter
hoeveelheid ooie te gebruik as wat hy natuurlik sou kon
dek. Na laparoskopie word ooie by die ramme gesit sodat
ooie wat nie dragtig geword het nie, gedek kan word.
Ooie word 60 dae na die ramme uitgehaal is geskandeer
vir dragtigheid, en ooie met meerling-fetusse moet
gemerk en apart bestuur word. Nie-dragtige ooie moet
uitgeskot word.
Lamseisoen
Ooie (veral die wat met meerlinge geskandeer is) kan,
waar moontlik, in lamhokkies lam. Dit gee die lammers
kans om sterk te word en seker te maak dat ooie hulle
lammers laat drink. Onder ekstensiewe omstandighede is
dit nie altyd moontlik nie en ooie moet verkieslik in kleiner
kampies lam, waar hulle gereeld besoek kan word.
Dié inleiding is slegs ’n breë riglyn. Omdat die klimaat, voeding en omstandighede
op elke plaas uniek is, word aanbeveel dat produsente ’n telingkundige of hul
telersgenootskappe kontak vir presiese vereistes en bestuursplanne om by die
produsent se stelsel in te pas.
Handleiding • A Guide to
117

118
Handleiding • Guide
Voeding van Bulle
Foto verskaf deur Kobus Bester
Simbra – The Complete All-Rounder
Hendrik van Pletzen (Voermol Voere)
Risiko’s van ongebalanseerde voeding
• Oorvoeding van bulle is net so gevaarlik as onder-
voeding. Wêreldwye navorsing toon aan dat die
semenkwaliteit van oorvet bulle op hoë energierantsoene
swak is.
• Swakker semengehalte van vet bulle word veroorsaak
deur vet wat in die skrotumnek aanpak en sodoende
die termoreguleringsfunksie benadeel.
• Hoë energierantsoene kan aanleiding gee tot swakker
uithouvermoë, poot-en beenprobleme, seer gewrigte,
styfheid, artritis op ’n jong ouderdom, skade aan die
rumen en lewer absesse.
• Ondervoeding van jong bulle is net so nadelig en dit kan
lei tot ’n 23 % verlaging in reproduksiekapasiteit. Al word
sulke ondervoede bulle later goed gevoer, bereik hulle
nie hul potensiële reproduksievermoë nie (Skinner)
Voedings- en bestuursriglyne
• Bulle moet in ’n goeie werkbare kondisie wees met
die aanvang van die dekseisoen, veral waar bulle
gewig in die winter verloor het.
• Begin betyds met byvoeding, ten minste twee
maande voor die dekseisoen sodat genoeg tyd vir
spermvorming beskikbaar is.
• Voeding moet gebalanseerd wees i.t.v. van proteïen,
energie, minerale en spoorelemente. Waak teen
antago niste soos oormaat kalsium en yster wat die opname
van ander belangrike spoorelemente onderdruk.
• Goeie gehalte natuurlike proteïen bevorder semenproduksie
en semenkwaliteit.
• Voldoende hoeveelhede goeie gehalte weiding of
ruvoer verseker ’n gesonde rumen en ’n gesonde bul.
• Oefening is belangrik, veral waar bulle in klein kampies
aangehou word. Laat bulle daagliks 3 km stap teen 5
km/uur vir 8 weke lank voor die dekseisoen.

Simbra – The Complete All-Rounder
Produksielekke op weidings
• Groen somerveld: Voermol Supermol (V7267) bevat
die regte hoeveelheid natuurlike proteïen, energie,
al die nodige minerale en spoorminerale in die regte
verhoudings. Voer teen 1.2 – 1.5 kg/bul/dag.
• Bemeste aangeplante weidings: Voermol Molovite
(V7266) bevat net natuurlike proteïen en die nodige
voedingstowwe om bemeste aangeplante weidings te
komplimenteer. Voer teen 1 – 1.2 kg/bul/dag.
• Herfs en gespaarde winterveld. Klaargemengde
Voermol Produksielek (V10108) is beslis ’n opsie om
te oorweeg tydens hoë mieliepryse. Voer teen 1.5 -1.6
kg/bul/dag. Met lae mieliepryse, meng ’n produksielek
met een van Voermol se Winterlekkonsentrate (sien
Voermol Produkhandleiding).
Kragvoermengsels
Bestanddeel
Ouderdom van bulle
8 Maande (kg) 20 Maande (kg) Volwasse (kg)
Voermol SB 100 (V4498) 200 200 200
Voermol Procon 33
(V12701)
Voermol Melassemeel
(V1995)
100 50 -
100 100 100
Mieliemeel 600 650 700
TOTAAL 1000 1000 1000
• Bogenoemde mengsels is kragvoermengsels en
dit moet daagliks teen ’n maksimum van 1.5 % van
liggaamsmassa gevoer word.
• Voer die mengsel saam met goeie gehalte ruvoer ad
lib of kuilvoer.
• Voorsien genoeg kripspasie dat al die bulle gelyktydig
kan vreet.
Volledige voere
• Die Voermol Bulmeel (V22521) is ’n volledige meel
spesiaal geformuleer vir die voer van bulle.
• Voer die Bulmeel teen 1.5 - 2 % van liggaamsmassa
plus goeie gehalte ruvoer ad lib.
• Waar geen ruvoer beskikbaar is nie, kan die Bulmeel
ad lib gevoer word.
• Mengsels vir volledige voere met eie grondstowwe is
op aanvraag beskikbaar.
Dr Danie
Odendaal,
veeboek
2012
Handleiding • Guide
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