Download AgriProbe - Department of Agriculture: Western Cape

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AgriPROBE September 2007

ditorial 

REdaksioneel 

AgriPROBE 

is quarterly distributed by the Western Cape 

Dis lente! Wanneer ’n mens luister na die 

berigte van ’n besonderse ryk blommejaar 

so teen die Weskus af na ’n lekker nat winter, 

is dit moeilik om te glo dat daar ’n watertekort 

is. Eweneens klink aardverwarming skielik nie te 

onaangenaam wanneer ons lywe begin vra na ’n 

bietjie warmte na die koue van die winter nie. 

Maar niemand, en veral nie ons in die landbousektor, 

behoort meer die gevolge van klimaatsverandering 

te misken of ignoreer nie. Daar is 

natuurlik diegene wat die hele gedoente beskou 

as blote rammelinge van doemprofete wat uit die 

situasie wil geld maak – byna soos die Y2K-episode van destyds. Wat ons 

wel weet is dat die Wes-Kaap ’n waterskaars provinsie is en dat ons meer 

ge reeld ekstreme weerstoestande soos droogtes en vloede kan verwag. 

Die kwessie van ’n verwagte styging in die gemiddelde temperatuur sal 

ook impakteer op die tipe gewasse wat in sekere gebiede verbou kan 

word. Die landbou sal dus sekere aanpassings moet maak ter wille van 

sy voortbestaan. 

For this reason the Western Cape Department of Agriculture has 

launched a Waterwise and Biodiversity Campaign to highlight its contribution 

to the search for sustainable solutions. The core message: you CAN 

farm AND conserve! The exciting and proactive satellite project with which 

the Department is involved (page 4) will ultimately aim to increase the 

water use efficiency of farmers. And then we have long since realised the 

importance of creating partnerships. We very much agree with Alexander 

Graham Bell who said: “Great discoveries and improvements invariably 

involve the cooperation of many minds”. Our involvement in the Agulhas 

Biodiversity Initiative (page 12) is an excellent example where sharing 

expertise and resources has resulted in a sustainable success story. 

In the history of the world great wars have been fought over the issue 

of access to water. Let us not approach this situation as a war between 

those that need water for nature or agriculture of simply for drinking. Let 

us wisely share what is available while actively joining the search for solutions. 

“Man - despite his artistic pretensions, his sophistication, and his 

many accomplishments - owes his existence to a six inch layer of 

topsoil and the fact that it rains.” – Unknown author 

Charlene Nieuwoudt 

Redakteur 

If you need any of the articles in this magazine in any other official language of the Western 

Cape, we would be happy to arrange translation for you. Please contact the Editor on Tel. 021 

808 5008. 

Indien u enige van die artikels in hierdie tydskrif in een van die ander amptelike tale van die 

Wes-Kaap benodig, kan u ons gerus kontak om die vertaling daarvan vir u te reël. Kontak die 

redakteur by Tel. 021 808 5008. 

Ukuba ufuna naliphina inqaku elikule magazini ngolunye ulwimi olusesikweni kwiilwimi zeNtshona 

Koloni, siya kukulungiselela uguqulelo-lwimi lenqaku elo. Nceda ke uqhagamshelane 

noMhleli kule nombolo yomnxeba:- 021 808 5008. 

AgriPROBE September 2007 

Department of Agriculture free of charge to 

subscribers. 

EDITORIAL 

Charlene Nieuwoudt (Editor) 

Liesl Muller 

Dr Ilse Trautmann 

ADVERTISEMENTS 

Gizelle van Wyk 

Tel. (021) 808 5022 

E-mail: gizellevw@elsenburg.com 

ADDRESS 

Private Bag X1 

ELSENBURG 

7607 

Tel (021) 808 5008 

Fax (021) 808 5000 

E-mail: charlenen@elsenburg.com 

REPRODUCTION 

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Subscriptions 

For free subscription to this quarterly magazine 

of the Western Cape Department of Agriculture, 

forward your details to Magriet de Lange at: 

Tel (021) 808 7613 

Fax (021) 808 7605 

E-mail magrietadl@elsenburg.com 

ISSN: 1810-9799 

2

ndex 

Inhoudsopgawe 

3 

Partnerships to preserve 

biodiversity ... p. 12 

Photograph by Douglas Eustace-Brown 

SPESIALE ARTIKELS SPECIAL FEATURES 

4 Satellite images show water efficiency 

7 Provide shade for reproducing ewes 

8 Aquaponics: using waste water for profit 

10 Climate change: Fact of Fantasy? 

11 Partnerships to preserve biodiversity 

16 Wild wild western Cape 

14 Ostrich nutrition 

BROKKIES BITS AND PIECES 

8 Dr Do-lots: Sewellyn Davey receives Soga 

medal 

15 Partnerships in training 

17 Koebeeberg kry water 

20 Clippings 

ELSENBURG JOERNAAL / JOURNAL 

2 Breaking of seed dormancy in three Monocotyledonous 

weed species by plant growth regulators 

Martha M. Manoto, M.I. Ferreira and G.A. Agenbag 

6 Herbicide vs brush-cutting for the control of Pteronia 

paniculata 

N Saayman & JC Botha 

9 Nuwejaars Wetland Ecosystem 

Hennis Germishuys 

Water and land, the two major natural resources 

which form the basis for farming, are under 

pressure from non-agricultural development initiatives 

and the climate change phenomenon. These factors, 

combined with the economic outlook for the sector, 

are forcing the Western Cape Department of Agriculture to 

re-look different initiatives and to focus on the generation 

of appropriate and sustainable information and technologies 

regarding these themes for our clients. 

“The protection and optimal use of agricultural water is 

one of the top priorities of the Department,” says Joyene 

Isaacs, head of department. “The Department will run a 

water wise and biodiversity campaign as one of our key 

deliverables for this year to promote the efficient use of 

irrigation water, prevent pollution and promote sustainable 

use of the agricultural resources of land, water and air. 

Our existing projects which for example promote efficient 

water use by the agricultural sector by both commercial 

and emerging farmers will continue and be extended. We 

also focus on the protection of our scarce water resources 

from pollution with animal waste by providing planning and 

design services for animal husbandry.” 

The water use by the urban sector constitute a substantial 

portion of the water use in the province and some 

interesting water facts and water saving tips will also be 

presented, with special emphasis on the youth, who are 

the adults of tomorrow and can make an enormous contribution 

to water conservation in the province. 

The protection and sustainable use of our natural resources 

of water and land are enhanced by the implementation 

of LandCare projects that have the aim of promoting 


Satellite 

images show 

water use 

efficiency 

Water is a critical resource in the Western 

Cape and there is strong competition 

between the urban, industrial 

and agriculture sectors within the catchment 

area that provide water to the Cape Metropole. 

Irrrigated agriculture is responsible for 

43% of the water usage from surface 

water resources and the efficient use 

of irrigation water is critical. Effective 

and efficient use of irrigation water 

is one of the top priorities of the 

Department of Agriculture and a 

water conservation project was 

launched in 1999 to determine 

the water use efficiency of crops 

in certain areas. Over a period 

of four years, this project resulted 

in an increase in water 

use efficiency (kg of fruit 

produced per cubic meter of 

water) of between 15 and 

20%. This in-field monitoring 

however requires extensive 

personnel and financial 

resources and a more cost 

effective method to reach 

the same objectives had to 

be found. 

The use of satellite imagery 

provided the opportunity 

and a pilot project was embarked 

upon with the appointment 

of the CSIR in Stellenbosch and 

Waterwatch in the Netherlands. The study 

sustainable resource management and concentrate on 

poverty alleviation, capacity building and awareness. Area 

Wide Planning of large areas within the Western Cape is a 

holistic and pro-active planning tool to link the farm plans 

with area plans that reflect the future desired condition 

of the resources within the Province - see p. 12 for more 

information. 


aims at spatially estimating water use efficiency in table 

and wine grapes in Western Cape with remote sensing 

technology. 

The Surface Balance Algorithm for Land (SEBAL) is 

used to estimate total evapotranspiration (ET) and water 

use efficiency for grapes in the Hex River Valley, Worcester, 

Franschhoek and Paarl areas for two growing seasons 

(September 2004 to April 2005; September 2005 to April 

2006). SEBAL uses the simplified energy balance to the 

estimate total evapotranspiration (ET), biomass production, 

water deficit and soil moisture spatially. Land surface 

characteristics such as surface albedo (earth surface’s 

reflectivity), leaf area index, the vegetation index and 

surface temperature are derived from satellite imagery. 

In addition to satellite images SEBAL requires meteorological 

data (wind speed, humidity, solar radiation and air 

temperature). Since SEBAL uses the energy balance, and 

not the water balance, no data on land cover, soil type or 

hydrological conditions are required. 

Biomass, Harvest index and Yield calculation 

Biomass production calculated by SEBAL can be defined 

as the total dry matter production by a plant (roots, stems, 

leaves and fruit. 

The harvest index (HI) of grapes is the part of the 

biomass that is harvested. This index was found to be a 

function of water deficit in February and soil moisture content 

in November and December. The HI function for table 

grapes was developed in this study and is based on field 

measurements of yield of the Alphonse Lavalee cultivar 

grown in the Hex River Valley. 

The harvest index (HI) of wine grapes were developed 

based on field measurements of yield from the Colombar 

grape cultivar grown in the Worcester area. It is dependent 

on the water deficit in February and the soil moisture 

content in November and December. The wine grape yield 

function needs to be improved to include more cultivars 

as very different management strategies are applied in the 

production of different wine grape cultivars. 

The estimates of evapotranspiration and yield were 

used to calculate water use efficiency (WUE in kg of fruit 

per m 3 ) of table and wine grapes. Water use efficiency (or 

water productivity) is thus defined as the marketable crop 

yield per unit of actual total evapotranspiration. 

Two ASTER images were acquired. These images 

have a spatial resolution of 15 x 15m per pixel and are 

therefore very suitable for orientation during the fieldwork 

and for vineyard mapping. Images of Landsat 5-TM and 

Landsat 7-ETM (30 X 30 m pixels) were obtained, one 

per month for the 2004/05 and 2005/06 irrigation season 

We’re serious about saving water .... are you? 

continued from p. 3 

The campaign will run from September to December 

2007 and will focus on the youth, as well as the farming 

and broader communities but the focus on resource conservation 

is a long term commitment for the Department 

and the various programmes and projects will continue 

long after the campaign has ended. 

4

(September to April), to be used for the determination of 

the various parameters required. 

A team from WaterWatch collected field data from 2 

981 grape vineyards, of which 2 042 were table grape 

vineyards, 894 wine grape vineyards and 39 bush grape 

vineyards, to be use for field validation in the Hex River 

Valley, Worcester, Franschhoek, Paarl and Wellington. 

To compute the spatially distributed ET (evapotranspiration) 

of grape yield and grape ET, it is necessary to 

have an estimate of air temperature, air humidity, wind 

speed, rain fall and solar radiation for every Landsat pixel. 

WaterWatch has developed the MeteoLook algorithm that 

interpolates point data on the basis of physiographical 

properties. The data of the 20 automatic ARC weather 

stations was used as calibration input to MeteoLook. The 

data of the 85 mechanic ARC stations and 17 SA Weather 

stations was used for validation of the MeteoLook results. 

The following results were obtained 

through the project: 

Water consumption of vineyards 

The distribution and quantity of rain in a specific year play 

a meaningful role in the water consumption of crops. Low 

rainfall was recorded in the winter of 2004/05, resulting in 

limited availability of water for the irrigation season. More 

than average rain was however recorded in the following 

summer, which reduced the irrigation demand. During 

2005/06 more rain fell during the winter but very little rain 

fell during the summer months, resulting in more water 

available from storage during the irrigation season and a 

5 

André Roux (Pr Eng) 

Sustainable Resource Management 

E-mail: AndréR@elsenburg.com 

higher irrigation demand due to the dry summer. 

• Table grapes clearly consume more water than wine 

grapes. 

• Wine grapes in both studied years consumed a conservative 

amount of water, with averages of 533 mm 

(2004/05) and 575 mm (2005/06). This reflect a 7,8% 

(43 mm) increase. Irrigation field measurements in Hex 

Valley agree with these results, showing irrigation supplies 

increase by 69 mm in the second season. 

• Table grapes’ water consumption however increased 

with 18% from 702 to 828 mm which is equivalent to an 

increment of 126 mm. 

• What draws the attention is that not all farmers were 

able to increase their irrigation during the dry season 

(2005/06), resulting in more variation in table grapes’ 

water consumption. 

• One explanation for the lower increase in irrigation for 

wine grapes may be that over-irrigation in red wine 

grapes affects the quality of wine. For table grapes 

and white wine grapes however, extra irrigation mainly 

results in a higher yield. 

• A good correlation exist between the accumulative 

monthly evapotranspiration in the fields calculated with 

SEBAL and evapotranspiration calculated with the soil 

water balance based on field measurements. 

Water use efficiency 

Water use efficiency was fairly similar in the two study 

seasons. Water use efficiency of table grapes decreases 

slightly from 3.8kg/m 3 on average to 3.7kg/m 3 in the 


second year, while 

the water use efficiency 

of wine 

grapes shows a 

small drop from 

4.9 kg/m 3 to 4.5 

kg/m 3 on average. 

Water use 

efficiency in the Hex 

Valley in the second season 

is lower in most areas due to 

slightly lower yields and significantly 

higher water consumption. 

Especially in the downstream 

area, water use efficiency drops 

during the second year. In the more 

isolated table grape vineyards (in 

the southeast and east, most likely 

from farmers with their own water 

resources), water use efficiency 

remains preserved or even improves. 

Many factors however play a role such as the variability 

of soil type, both in terms of physical and chemical 

properties. 

Many conclusions can be reached from the project 

results but due to limited space, only a few will be highlighted. 

• Water use efficiency of grapes in Western Cape is in 

general quite good, although it varied considerably 

between fields, regions and between years. 

• The considerable spatial variation in WUE in the grape 

producing areas, suggest that WUE can be improved. 

• Spatial estimates of WUE can be used to evaluate differences 

in management practices and suggest improvements. 

• Water use efficiency is influenced by many factors. The 

availability of water per farm (access to ground water 

and storage capacity) and management of water in 

times of scarcity play an important role. 

• The production objectives influence the water use ef- 


A satellite image from Google Earth and Waterwatch showing water use efficiency 

in the Worcester area. 

ficiency. High quality red wine grapes require less water 

that high yielding vineyards producing grapes for the 

brandy industry. 

• Variations in water use efficiencies in Hex Valley are 

very large. This can partly be contributed to the large 

number of cultivars grown. 

• The varieties Dauphine, Thompson, Barlinka and 

Crimson have highest water use efficiencies, while the 

varieties Victoria and Flame have relatively low water 

use efficiencies. 

• It seems that farmers with their own water resources at 

the outskirts of the area are able to manage their water 

resources better, resulting in higher water use efficiencies. 

It is recommended that the study be extended to include 

the potato growing areas of the Sandveld, the grape 

producing areas of Vredendal and the citrus producing 

areas of Clanwilliam and Citrusdal. 

Recommendations for further studies include incorporating 

more years to evaluate the influence of rainfall on 

water consumption, and to make inter-annual evaluation 

possible. It is necessary to study more than two years to 

better express temporal variability and the role of reliable 

water supplies. 

It is also recommended to collect more spatially varied 

field data on yield in future studies. The wine yield model 

in this study was based on Worcester field data only, while 

yields are very different in Paarl area. 

The datasets produced are highly relevant for the 

growers and their irrigation advisors. Combination of the 

remote sensing data with vineyard management expertise 

will create a good avenue for better explaining the causing 

factors of the strong variations in water use efficiency in 

both space and time. Grower associations could benefit 

from having geographically different values of yield 

(income), water (conservation) and water use efficiency 

(utilisation and sustainability). Targets could be established 

for improving fields with low water use efficiency, 

for better future control of the spatial variation in water use 

efficiency. 

6

For the extensive small grain cropping industry in the 

Western and Southern Cape to become viable, the 

natural vegetation (including all the trees and the 

shrubs) had to be removed. The trees occurring naturally 

in the Western Cape are all slow growers. This resulted 

in foreign trees (like Eucalyptus) being planted to provide 

shade in the few places it was desired. However, plantings 

were limited, because of the shade the tall Eucalypts 

casted on adjacent crops, and also because of a “dead 

zone” in the root area of these plants. Trees and other 

structures for the provision of shade to extensive livestock 

is therefore largely absent in the cropping areas of the 

Western and Southern Cape. 

Against this background we provide results of a study 

on the provision of shade to sheep in the Swartland cropping 

area. 

The study was conducted at the Langgewens Research 

Station of the Western Cape Department of 

Agriculture between Malmesbury and Moorreesburg. The 

climate at the experimental site is Mediterranean, and 

78% of the total long-term annual precipitation of 395 mm 

is recorded during winter (normally lasting from April to 

September). The Swartland area is characterised by dry, 

hot and windy summers. Long term weather data indicate 

that average monthly temperatures exceeding 30°C are 

common during the period from December to February. 

Merino ewes annually lambed in eight paddocks of 

approximately 1ha each from 1996 to 1998. Data of 497 

ewes and their offspring were recorded. The ewes were 

adapted to the paddocks for two weeks prior to the com- 

Provide shade 

for reproducing 

ewes 

7 

mencement of lambing usually by about 20 February each 

year. They remained in the paddocks throughout lambing, 

and for an extra 14-21 days prior to lambmarking, usually 

towards the end of April. Shade structures were erected 

in four of the paddocks, while the other four paddocks 

served as controls. Shade structures consisted of corrugated 

iron roofs, mounted on the top of six wooden posts. 

The roof area of the structures was 3x4 m, and the roofs 

were elevated to 1.8 meter above ground level. Water meters 

were installed in the water supply line to all paddocks. 

This allowed the measurement of water consumption on a 

per paddock basis. Concentrate and roughage consumption 

were recorded similarly. This allowed the calculation 

of water and feed intake on a per ewe basis. Birth weight, 

survival to weaning and weaning weight were recorded for 

individual lambs. 

Average feed intake on a paddock basis was not affected 

by shading treatment (1.505kg/ewe/day in control 

paddocks vs. 1.504kg/ewe/day in paddocks with shade 

structures). The lack of response in feed intake between 

the shaded and control groups could possibly be ascribed 

to cooler environmental conditions at night when animals 

were able to maintain a normal feed intake. Ewes kept in 

control paddocks without shade drank 26% more water 

during the experimental period than sheep in paddocks 

with shade (3.878 vs. 3.076l/ewe/day respectively). 

Casual observations of the behaviour of sheep with and 

without access to shade indicated that most ewes stayed 

in the shade with their lambs from about 10:00 until late afternoon. 

They moved out of the shade for varying intervals 

AgriPROBE Photo: September Schalk 2007 Cloete

Provide shade for reproducing 

ewes 

continued from p. 7 

AQUAPONICS 

using waste water for profit 

Aquaculture in South Africa has not yet realised its 

full potential due to the fact that traditional agricultural 

industries have always been pervasive on the 

South African agricultural landscape. Another reason why 

opportunities for aquaculture are often overlooked is due 

to the fact that South Africa is basically a semi-arid country 

with relatively low rainfall. This lack of water could make it 

difficult to sustainably produce fish commercially. 

There is a need to shift to sustainable aquaculture 

practices using newer technologies that will optimise the 

use of water. One approach would be to integrate the 

aquaculture system with other agriculture based industries. 

Aquaponics, which integrates hydroponics (growing 

plants without soil) with aquaculture (fish farming), is a 

good example of a potentially successful integration. 

The integration of fish and plants increases diversity 

and thereby enhances system stability. Aquaponics can 

also be used to produce large quantities of food in very 

small spaces in an environmentally friendly way. The prin- 

usually to feed or drink water. 

Lambs born in paddocks where shade was provided 

tended to be heavier at birth than contemporaries born in 

control paddocks (3.87 vs. 3.77kg respectively). It has to 

be conceded that the pregnant ewes were subjected to the 

respective treatments for only a short period of approximately 

2 weeks before lambing started. The positive effect 

of shade on lamb birth weight could 

possibly have been enhanced 

if the animals were subjected 

to the experimental 

conditions over a longer 

period, particularly during 

January and the 

earlier part of February 

as well. The 

latter months are 

regarded as being 

the months with 

the highest maximum 

temperatures 

at the experiment 

site. In overseas 

studies, it was 


ciple of the integrated system is to optimise the utilisation 

of nutrients derived from aquaculture for agricultural use. 

Since 1987, an integration of aquaculture and agriculture 

has been investigated in South Africa to introduce fish 

and vegetable production in the same system. 

This aquaculture model has been well practised in 

developed countries such as Asia. In South Africa it could 

be established if sufficient expertise can be built for technology 

transfer. A farm at Saasveld (George) is practicing 

aquaponics at present. The system has been operating 

since 2004. It is a closed recirculating system where 

breakdown products derived from the fish wastes is used 

as a nutrient source for the plants within the system. 

Selecting the suitable fish species for an aquaponics 

system is very important. In aquaponics the fish and plants 

selected for aquaponic system should have similar needs 

as far as temperature and pH is concerned. Catfish and 

tilapia were selected for production at Saasveld. As a general 

rule, warm water fish and leafy crops such as lettuce 

and herbs will do the best, however fruiting plants such as 

found that chronic heat stress during pregnancy is associated 

with foetal growth retardation, resulting in a decline 

in lamb birth weight, and an impairment of the viability of 

lambs. However, the survival of lambs was not improved 

by the provision of shade in this experiment, as climatic 

conditions were not extreme. Lambs born in shaded paddocks 

were 3.8% heavier at weaning than those born in 

control paddocks (21.9 vs. 21.1 kg respectively). 

The provision and distribution of drinking water for 

livestock is a major challenge on cropping farms in the 

Western and Southern Cape. According to the results of 

this study, the water needs of a 1000 ewe flock may be 

reduced by >800l/day over the summer period, simply by 

providing shade to reproducing ewes. Shade also had a 

beneficial effect on the growth of lambs to weaning, while 

results from the literature suggested that it would also 

benefit birth weight and survival under more extreme climatic 

conditions, as are occasionally experienced in South 

Africa. 

Predictions regarding global warming suggest that 

the Western Cape could become prone to more extreme 

climatic conditions and fluctuations in future. 

A study to quantify the effects of natural tree shade on 

the production and welfare of extensive sheep flocks is 

being planned, because of these evident benefits listed 

above, and also because of the alleged impact of 

climate change in the foreseeable 

future. 

Dr Carel Muller & Prof Schalk Cloete 

Institute for Animal Production 

CarelC@elsenburg.com; SchalkC@elsenburg.com 

8

Refiloe Thobejane, Institute for animal produc tion 

9 

tomatoes and peppers will also be viable, depending on 

the stocking density of the fish in a system. 

Factors that make catfish and tilapia suitable candidates 

for aquaponics: 

• Tilapia is a warm-water species that grows well in a recirculating 

tank culture. Furthermore, tilapia is tolerant 

of fluctuating water conditions such as pH, temperature 

and dissolved oxygen. Catfish is also a suitable candidate 

because of tolerant to overcrowding and a poor 

water quality. 

• Plants that will do well in any aquaponics system include 

any leafy lettuce, spinach, basil, mint and chives. 

• Plants that have higher nutritional demands and will 

only do well in a heavily stocked and well established 

aquaponic system include tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, 

beans and peas. 

How does Aquaponics Work? 

In aquaponics, the nutrient-rich waste-water from recirculating 

aquaculture provides a food source for the growing 

plants and the hydroponic beds provide a natural filter for 

the water fish live in. Gravity drains the water back to the 

fish dams. This creates an ecosystem where both plants 

and fish can thrive. Aquaponics is the ideal answer to a 

fish farmer’s problem of disposing of nutrient rich water 

and a hydroponic grower’s need for nutrient rich water. 

The main objective being to investigate the most 

efficient application of integration of aquaculture with agriculture 

by utilizing nutrient rich water discharged from 

recirculating system to irrigate vegetable crops. 

Refiloe Thobejane 

Institute for Animal Production 

e-mail: RefiloeT@elsenburg.com 

Doctor Do-lots: 

Sewellen Davey receives Soga medal 

Dr. Sewellyn Davey, State Veterinarian at Mooreesburg, 

recently received the Soga medal for exemplary 

community service, not only in her state 

vet area, but also to the 

veterinary community of 

the Western Cape, which 

she has faithfully served as 

honorary Secretary of the 

Western Cape Branch of the 

SA Veterinarian Association 

and Livestock Health and 

Production Group for the 

past two decades. 

Apart from serving 

communities, Sewellyn 

demonstrates her 

empathy and care 

to individuals in a very tangible way, such as an incident 

recently with the illegal movement of a pony into the Animal 

Horse Sickness surveillance area. Biscuit had been 

purchased for the 6 th birthday of a girl who suffers from 

mitochondrial neuromuscular dystrophy and weighs 16 

kg. She has always wanted a horse and as she had been 

able to remain out of hospital for more than 6 months, her 

parents bought her this horse. The Equine Practitioners 

Group is in the process of laying a charge against the 

seller as he wrongly informed the girls parents that no 

special requirements or permits were needed to bring the 

horse to them in the Malmesbury district. Biscuit was sent 

off to stand quarantine in the protection zone, leaving a 

very sick girl extremely disappointed. Sewellyn went out of 

her way to find a replacement. A very kind farmer is lending 

the girl a pregnant mare called “Ruby Red” and she 

will be able to keep the foal. 

Dr Sewellyn Davey, State Veterinarian at the Moorreesburg Office. 


What 

you 

can do 

right 

now 


Climate change: 

fact or fantasy? 

Many people believe that climate change is not a proven threat to 

civilisation, but the Western Cape Department of Agriculture agrees 

that it is a very serious phenomenon which will severely impact on 

the farming community. One of the Department’s contributions is the current 

(and continued) focus on water and the environment via the Waterwise and 

Biodiversity Campaign. This article serves as a very brief overview from different 

experts on the topic as well as a list of practical actions to help you, the 

farmer, limit the impact of climate change. 

The scientists quoted are Dr Guy Midgley and Prof. Bruce Hewitson. 

For those of you who are confused and bewildered by the force of emotion 

and passion that some bring to the issue, here are a few facts 

• “Climate change is nothing new; it’s all happened before.” The answer to 

that is, yes it has, but neither in the same way nor to the same degree. 

• Yes, rapid climate change has occurred in the past, but the critical point is 

that global mean temperature has oscillated for many hundreds of thousands 

of years between a frigid glacial level of below 10 0 C and the balmy 

interglacial levels of 14-15 0 C during interglacials. 

• Human-induced climate change will cause this level to be exceeded 

sometime in the next 50 years. And further increases into new temperature 

soil 

• Maintain as much soil cover as 

possible (cover crops, mulch) 

• Manage veld and riparian areas 

• Introduce and maintain diversity of 

plant life and habitats that will maintain 

diversity of all other life. 

• Manage, reduce and rehabilitate 

erosion. (re-plant, use gabions and 

swales) 

• Increase soil life and organic matter 

• Reduce tillage to an absolute minimum 

• Minimise the use of chemical fertilisers with the aim of nil usage. 

• Replace chemical fertilisers with compost, cover and sacrificial crops, 

humus, worms, microbial life, natural mined minerals. 

• Store surplus water (earth dams, rain 

tanks on all buildings) 

water 

• Re-direct water runoff (swales, canals, 

ponds) 

• Avoid water run-off (cover-plants, 

mulching) 

• Recycle (grey water from houses, factories, 

etc) 

• Investigate desalination 

• Reduce/avoid evaporation (Cover water storage areas where possible). 

• Bury all water pipes to reduce evaporation, leaks, and sun damage. 

10 

l 

u 

w 

u

territory will continue for several decades beyond if we 

do not curb greenhouse gas emissions. The cool Earth 

? 

to which most of our natural species and existing farming 

practices has evolved will become warm enough to 

be outside the evolutionary experience of many species 

and unable to sustain current farming practices. 

• Modern industrial agriculture is one of the biggest contributors 

to the rapid advance of human-induced climate 

change 

• People that deny climate change is happening often 

say: “If you can’t predict the weather next week how 

can anyone predict climate in a few decades, right?” 

This argument confuses weather with climate. (It’s said 

that if you don’t like the weather, then wait till tomorrow 

– but if you don’t like the climate, get ready to relocate). 

Two years ago the Western Cape suffered a serious 

drought, leading to the declaration of a “State of Emergency” 

by the Premier of the Western Cape. The Premier, 

in collaboration with other provincial Ministers and heads 

of departments, decided that the Department of Environmental 

Affairs and Development Planning must undertake 

a response study on climate change in the Western Cape 

to understand climate change and its effects on the Western 

Cape as well as develop a response mechanism. Dr 

Guy Midgley, Chief Specialist Scientist for SANBI Climate 

Change Group, led this study, which confirmed that the 

Western Cape is being impacted by climate change. 

land 

use 

water 

• Anticipate reduced quantity 

of water available for 

irrigation 

• Schedule according to 

usage 

plant demand. 

• Use soil moisture probes 

and irrigate according to 

need. 

• Maintain irrigation systems 

(remove from dead 

plants, fix leaks) 

• Design an optimal system (use drip irrigation where possible) 

• Deep mulch and irrigate less. 

• Planning for change – site, crop and cultivar selection, row direction 

• Change the micro-climate - e.g. Shade-netting, evaporative cooling, 

reflective particle film 

11 

• Climate change,organic 

and biological farming, 

awareness workshops and 

farmer mentoring 

• Sustainable harvesting 

of wild rooibos, medicinal 

plants, fuelwood and restios 

as thatching material 

The physics of climate change are indisputable, evident 

in atmospheric carbon dioxide, global temperature 

increases, Arctic changes and changes in rainfall trends. 

Model based studies attribute this to anthropogenic actions. 

The change manifests as: 

• increase in mean temperature 

• increase in variance of temperature 

• increase in mean and variance, resulting in less 

change for cold weather (2005 was the warmest year on 

record, the last eight years were the warmest in the last 

100, and the last century was the warmest in the last 1200 

years). 

Western Cape trends are not simply about becoming 

drier or wetter; it’s a complex situation. For example, 

areas that are predominantly dependent on cold fronts are 

getting drier. But with increased humidity, fynbos captures 

more water in the mountains. Trends indicate increases 

in rainfall intense events, reduced total rainfall in the west 

and increased orographic rainfall towards the east. Not 

just change in averages, but also change in extremes. 

Changes occur in space and time and place stress on all 

facets of the infrastructure and capacity of society. 

There exists considerable scientific agreement about 

the pattern of change but uncertainty about the magnitude 

thereof. 

natural 

environment 

• Remove invasive alien plants 

& other organisms and restore 

natural habitat 

• Establish shelter belts, maintain 

& protect wildlife & natural areas 

• Use good agricultural practices 

that include crop rotation and 

reduction of the use of harmful 

chemicals 

• Greening using indigenous species to create beneficial microclimates 

• Wise use of biodiversity e.g. sustainable harvesting 

• More efficient use of energy and fuel switching to more sustainable 

fuels 

• Replace old diesel engines, the cause of major pollution 

• Change to renewable energy (wind power, solar power, biomass, 

micro-hydro) 

catchment 

areas 

organisms 

• Maintain biodiversity and soil 

cover 

• Appropriate fire management 

• Erosion control and restoration 

• Wetland and riparian zone conservation 

& restoration 

• Control invasive alien plants & 


Land use on the 

Agulhas Plain 

Hennis Germishuys 

Landcare 

HennisG@elsenburg.com 


Partnerships to 

preserve 

biodiversity 

“Cape Agulhas!” Another busload of tourists disgorges at the candy-striped lighthouse, 

jostling to have their photographs taken at the southern tip of the continent of 

Africa. In recent years, the list of reasons why people choose to visit the Agulhas Plain 

has been growing steadily: whale watching, shark cage diving, the fynbos, local history, 

culture and crafts. Both directly and indirectly, biodiversity is proving vital to the 

local economy. Eco-tourism is growing rapidly and the harvesting of fynbos wildflowers 

is currently one of the largest industries on the Agulhas Plain. In this predominantly 

rural area with up to 50% unemployment, the Agulhas Biodiversity Initiative (ABI) 

is investigating how to use the region’s biodiversity in a sustainable manner so that it 

can benefit local communities in the long term. 

The Agulhas Plain stretches from the Klein River in the west to the Breede River 

in the east, covering 270 000 ha of coastal lowlands and hills that stretch northwards 

towards the mountains. The diversity of indigenous fynbos and Renosterveld plants is 

enormous: of the 2 500 species that occur here, 100 are endemic to the Agulhas Plain 

and about 112 are found on the Red Data list. Originally, the Agulhas Plain supported 

large herds of game, and 72 of the 81 species of terrestrial mammals that occurred in 

the Cape Floristic Region were found here. Some species like blue buck, quagga and 

Cape lion are now extinct and today many species are found only in protected areas 

like De Hoop Nature Reserve and Agulhas National Park. 

Programmes like the Agulhas Biodiversity Initiative rely on the cooperation and effective 

participation of a number of stakeholders. Similarly, provincial and local authority 

initiatives require integrated planning across a number of sectors. In the Overberg, 

role players have come up with a strategy to help them operate in a more integrated 

and efficient way. 

The Department of Agriculture and SANParks have entered into a Memorandum 

of Co-operation, which is currently being expanded to include CapeNature. One of 

the outcomes of this agreement is the establishment of the Bredasdorp Multipurpose 

Centre, a “one-stop shop” that can potentially house stakeholders from a number 

of government departments, including the Department of Agriculture, SANParks, 

Cape Nature, DEADP, DWAF, Department of Land Affairs, local authorities and social 

welfare organisations. 

Establishing the Agulhas National Park 

In the early 1990s, SANParks started investigating the establishment of a National 

Park on the Agulhas Plain. In 1996, the SANParks Board approved the declaration of 

the Agulhas National Park (ANP), which incorporated conservation priority areas that 

had been identified in the IPC study. SANParks planned to purchase 26 000 ha of 

land outright and to enter into contractual arrangements with landowners to incorporate 

a further 44 000ha. The consolidation of the Agulhas National Park is proceeding 

as planned. 

The Department of Agriculture – A key partner 

Trust is at the heart of all successful negotiations, especially when they involve 

landowners and government. On the Agulhas Plain, attempts to get farmers to sell 

their land to SANParks resulted in some landowners feeling uneasy about the 

intentions of State conservation agencies. In an area where most of the land is 

zoned agricultural, the Department of Agriculture has become a significant roleplayer 

in biodiversity conservation efforts, in particular through its LandCare: 

Area Wide Planning (AWP) programme. 

LandCare is a programme of the Department of Agriculture that aims to 

maintain and restore healthy, productive agricultural land through integrated 

12

natural resource management, capacity building and partnerships. Through a process 

known as Area Wide Planning (AWP), the department works with groups of farmers 

to develop sustainable land management plans at a sub-regional level. These plans 

take into account the issues, needs and opportunities identified by the group and are 

linked to municipal Integrated Development Plans (IDPs). Through the AWP process, 

groups of farmers can identify projects and seek funding from LandCare and the local 

municipality. 

One of the functions of AWP is fine-scale farm planning. The Department of Agriculture 

works with landowners to identify zones on their properties that are suitable for 

different land uses. In rural areas, the distinction is made between priority agricultural 

land and priority conservation land. Through the CAPE programme fine-scale (1:10 

000) biodiversity maps have been prepared for the Agulhas Plain indicating the vegetation 

types and areas that are most critically in need of conservation. The Department 

of Agriculture uses these maps during AWP and farm planning exercises, and can 

therefore recommend not only which parts of the farm are most suitable for grazing, 

crops and infrastructure, but also which areas should be managed for biodiversity. 

Feedback from the biological surveys undertaken during the 1990s reaffirmed what 

many farmers in the area already knew: the Agulhas Plain was a biodiversity treasure. 

Rather than seeing this as a threat to their farming operations, some landowners 

recognised that conservation offered them opportunities to diversify and improve their 

incomes. Once they knew which terrestrial and wetland habitats should be conserved, 

they could set these aside and continue farming on the less critical sections of their 

properties. The conservation areas then became an eco-tourism draw-card. 

By integrating agricultural and conservation planning in this way, the Department of 

Agriculture is helping to implement the ecosystem approach to biodiversity conservation 

in a practical way on the Agulhas Plain. 

Dune asteraceous fynbos on the Agulhas Plain. Not the typical fynbos view. 

All photographs used with kind permission of Agulhas National Park, photograph by 

Douglas Euston-Brown. 

13 

Spot on! 

On the 5 km 2 site where Eskom 

planned to construct 

a nuclear power station 

45 plant species endemic 

to the Agulhas Plain were 

found, including four site 

endemics. 


Female 

Farmer 

winners 

Janice Jamieson of Montagu, Sonja Ferreira of 

Oudtshoorn, the Zola Organic Farming Project of 

Hermanus, the women of the Masivuke Garden 

in Khayelitsha and Tessa Goslett of ABSA Agri business 

were proclaimed as the Western Cape’s top 

female farmers or contributors to agriculture during 

a gala event on Wednesday, 8 August 2007. The female 

farmer of the year competition is held to honour 

women involved in agriculture – often in trying circumstances 

and within an environment which is mainly male 

dominated. 

The Top Contributor to Agriculture prize this year 

went to Tessa Goslett of ABSA Agri business for her commitment 

and creative involvement to the agricultural sector 

and especially women in agriculture. This prize is awarded 

by Cobus Dowry, Western Cape Minister of Agriculture. 


Sonja Ferreira, 

Top Producer for National Markets, 

started her Tantinki goat farming 

enterprise about 9 years ago with 

only ten goats, with the idea to sell fresh 

goats milk. Today she milks about 120 goats and 

produces thirteen different cheeses, as well as butter, 

yogurt, ice cream and soap. She will soon be exporting 

goat’s milk fudge to England. Her cheese maker 

assistant, Stefan Pockpas was recently chosen to 

complete a cheese making course in France as part 

of an exchange programme organised by the Western 

Cape Department of Agriculture and Agri Expo 

with the French government. 

Sonja was also awarded the National Female 

Farmer Top Producer for National Markets prize at t 

ceremony in Nelspruit recently. 

On the insert: Sonja and Lulu Xingwana, Natioanl 

Minister for Agriculture at the National prize giving 

ceremony. 

Janice 

Jamieson, 

winner of the category 

for Top Producer 

for Export Markets, 

farms with fourteen 

alpacas on their farm 

outside Montagu 

and markets her 

processed products 

both locally and 

overseas. “Alpaca 

wool is extremely 

luxurious, 30% warmer 

than other fibers and appears in 22 natural 

colours,” explains Janice. Her three permanent workers 

spin the wool and then produce the most luxurious items 

such as scarves, footwear and shawls. 

14

The Zola Organic Farming 

Project, a group of four women from Hermanus, 

was awarded the prize for being the Top Producers for 

Informal Markets. This group of women started their vegetable 

garden in 2003 on 800m 2 provided to them by the 

Overstrand Municipality. Today they produce a wide range 

of vegetables organically in small plastic tunnels and supply 

to the local SPAR and the community. “We will train 

more people to begin food gardens because in that way 

more people will have food on the table,” says Margaret 

Msomi, the leader of the group. 

Partnerships in training 

The Western Cape Department of Agriculture, in 

partnership with the Burgundy regional Council 

of France, has been managing a very successful 

exchange programme since 2001. The French partners 

include the French Embassy to South Africa, Burgundy 

Regional Council, Cote d’Or General Council, Dijon Prefecture 

and the Wineries/Cheese factories from Burgundy. 

The South African partners include the South African 

Embassy to France, Department of Agriculture, the South 

African Wine Industry Council and South African wineries. 

The core focus of the programme is the economic empowerment 

and social upliftment of South African historically 

disadvantaged individuals. Other goals include fostering 

economic ties, developing inter-cultural exchange 

and to ensure the transfer of knowledge between Burgundy 

and the Western Cape. A total of 67 South African 

beneficiaries in the agriculture sector have since received 

training through this exchange programme. 

Recently the Department hosted ten exchange students 

from France, Canada and Israel who 

received certificates in 

wine making 

and harvestingpractices 

in the 

Western 

Cape. The 

students 

participated 

in 

harvest- 

15 

Masivuke Community Garden 

group from Khayelitsha won the category 

for Top Producers for Household Use. This group of six 

women produces vegetables on a piece of school owned 

land of just 100mx50m. However, their intense community 

involvement makes them role models as they share both 

their produce and their skills with young people, those 

infected with the HIV virus and other poor community 

members. 

ing activities at ten wine cellars for six weeks as part of 

their training. The students also attend lectures and visit 

various wine estates during their stay. 

Photograph: Back: Marius Paulse, Chief Director: Structured 

Agricultural Training (CIAT), Anne Gye-Jacquot (student); 

Front: Carol Levendal, Director of Teriary Education 

(CIAT), Nicolas Thevenot (student) and Jean-Luc Bodin- 

French, Consul (SA). 

Closer to 

home: 

Four students 

from 

the Cape 

Institute for AgriculturalTraining: 

Elsenburg 

recently joined 

the horticulture 

division 

at the Agricultural 

Research 

Council Infruitec- 

Nietvoorbij for 3 weeks to participate in 

certain research activities. Although it is winter, activities 

of the research projects on rootstocks of pome and stone 

fruit include evaluation of scion growth and applications 

of products in the soil health research. The students were 

also introduced to olives as an alternative crop. The aim of 

this practical internship is to introduce students to information 

on horticultural research activities. 

On the photograph: students Zakhele Msimango; Sandisikhaya 

Dzula; Natanja du Toit; Megan de Villiers and Ria 

Rhode (ARC). 


Wild wild western cape 

Riaan Nowers & Sanet Briel 

It took some time, but at last the Western Cape is opening 

its doors to wildlife activities in a more structured 

way, thereby unlocking the Province’s ecotourism 

potential. If developed and supported responsibly by all 

involved, that is from the landowner to government institutions 

and nature conservation officials, this trend can be 

used to develop rural areas which are continuously under 

threat of depopulation, ageing populations and deteriorating 

infrastructure. 

This change in land-use, from traditional agricultural 

practices to practices enforced by economic realities and 

lifestyle changes, promises to have a positive impact on 

our Province’s natural resources. Once a landowner and 

his employees embark on a road of wildlife management/ 

farming practices, sustainable conservation practices are 

essential tosurvive over time. The embracing of a holistic 

view on species diversity managed at micro level, will 

encourage increased ruggedness in ecosystems, thereby 

increasing their sustainability to the benefit of other agricultural 

systems and mankind as a whole. This implies not 

only diversity in wildlife species, diversity in habitats, but 

also diversity in genetic pools and even diversity in human 

skills employed at grass-root levels. 

In order to facilitate and monitor these changing landuse 

patterns, the Department of Agirculture recognised 

the need for deeper involment and research into these 

dynamic practices. The first step in characterising this 

industry was to determine the what exactly is happening 

at grass root level. A recent survey produced interesting 

results, of value to this emerging subsector, as well as 

to institutions involved. This survey showed that the 

Western Cape wildlife industry experienced rapid 

growth the past ten years. At present there are 

at least 115 wildlife production units in operation, 

covering some 522 282 hectares of 

land. This area amounts to 4, 36% of 

the total area of agricul- 


tural land in The Western Cape. Now the question may 

be asked whether agricultural research, development 

and support institutions spend 4,36% of their time, efforts 

and money on this sector? This becomes more and more 

relevant as the survey further indicated that this industry is 

also a positive contributor to employ ment opportunities as 

some 565 permanent and 364 temporary jobs can be attributed 

directly to wildlife production on agricultural land. 

When combining ecotourism ventures to wildlife production 

systems, it seems that these systems generate more 

jobs per unit land than conventional agricultural systems, 

acting as positive job creators. It also seems that the skill 

levels of employees on these units are higher than those 

of the typical agricultural businesses in the same area. 

This phenomenon however needs further research. 

Respondents in the survey made it clear that they 

support further research on wildlife systems. The following 

topics were identified as areas which in particular are in 

need of deeper research: 

• Species distribution according to habitat; 

• Historical species distribution; 

• Nutrition; 

• Plant distributions and veld condition during various 

seasons; 

• Stocking rates and carrying capacities; 

• Adaptability of wildlife species in relocated areas; 

• Wildlife diseases; 

• Status and handling of problem animals; and 

• All issues regarding game meat, from marketing to 

specific qualities. 

The expansion of the wildlife industry from both the Northern 

and especially Eastern Cape is a natural phenomenon 

that needs to be nurtured in a 

responsible way. Too often individuals 

and some organizations 

regard it in a negative way 

and disregard the potential 

and opportunities available. 

What is called for is for all 

involved to take hands 

and to assist the Western 

Cape wildlife industry to 

become a true model of 

rational utilisation of land, 

maximizing the creation of jobs, 

the empowerment of people and 

increasing access to natural wildlife 

species. 

Photograph: Riaan Nowers 

16

Ostrich nutrition and 

management 

17 

The ostrich industry is a predominantly South African 

industry, which, according to the latest figures provided 

by the Ostrich Business Chamber, produces 

about 70% of all the ostrich products in the world. The 

gross value of the industry in South Africa is about R 1 200 

million per annum, while the feed production industry supplies 

feeds to the industry to the value of R 600 million per 

annum. The ostrich industry is a rapidly growing industry 

and markets for leather products with specific qualities are 

even extending to the motor industry, while the worldwide 

demand for low-fat and low-cholesterol ostrich meat is 

ever increasing. However, the industry suffers from a lack 

of reliable scientific information on the nutritional needs 

of ostriches, the real nutritive value of raw materials for 

ostriches as well as reliable nutritional management systems 

for ostriches. Variations in feed quality could result 

in variations in the quality of end products, which could 

jeopardise the demand for higher market prices. 

Feed prices constitute 70 – 80% of the total operational 

costs of an ostrich production unit, and any increase in reliable 

scientific information and management systems will 

enhance the profitability of the industry. That alone would 

lead to an extension in both the scope of opportunities and 

the profitability of the industry. 

Optimisation growth and feed models have already 

been developed overseas, for instance for poultry, turkeys 

and pigs, and are used with great success in these 

Prof Tertius Brand, Institute for Animal Production 

industries all over the world. These models are capable of 

taking into account various biological and animal-related 

factors, feed factors and the environment, as well as the 

interactions between these factors. A result is then produced 

in economic terms, together with a least-cost diet, 

to meet the needs of the animals at a specific stage to 

produce an end product of a specific quality as required 

by the market at that stage. These techniques will specifically 

benefit the ostrich industry, which provides a range 

of high-quality end products in terms of skins with specific 

qualities in keeping with market needs, high-priced 

cuts of meat and feathers (present income ratio of about 

60:50:10), which will change from time to time in keeping 

with market changes. 

At present there are no such optimisation models or 

feeding systems in the ostrich industry. The end products 

of the ostrich industry (skins, meat and feathers) are also 

different from those in other industries and the same models 

cannot be applied. Such technology should, however, 

be developed as soon as possible to be applied within the 

ostrich industry in order to improve the competitiveness 

of the ostrich producing and ostrich feed manufacturing 

industry. 

A savings of 10% in feed costs, made possible by the 

use of an optimisation model and least-cost feed formulation 

program with reliable values for feeds, will lead to a 

saving of more than R55 million per annum for the South 

African ostrich industry. 

Our research team at the Elsenburg Animal Production 


Institute with the help of Prof Rob Gous from the University 

of KwaZulu-Natal is currently busy to develop a mathematical 

computer-based optimisation model for ostriches 

A brief description of the project follows after an indication 

of the persons and institutions involved. 

Practical application of optimisation models 

Intensive commercial ostrich production deals with decision-making. 

The producer’s decision-making is aimed at 

maximum profit out of the business. However, decisionmaking 

is based on various practical factors, namely 

market needs on the one hand and the means at the producer’s 

disposal, as well as his own circumstances on the 

other hand. The market needs for ostrich products may 

be specified in terms of leather, meat and feathers. The 

producer’s circumstances and the means at his disposal 

will, for example, include the following: 

• Genotype and growth potential of animals 

• Production environment 

• Potential intake of the animals 

• Availability, quality and price of feed 

• Feed processing techniques 

• Management practices (e.g. harvesting of feathers, 

division of the sexes during rearing, etc.) 

It is possible to link a monetary value to both the market 

need and the means at the producer’s disposal. By utilising 

the capacity of the computer, as well as certain biological 

and mathematical principles, it is possible for the 

model or computer program to evaluate the information 

available and use it to assist the producer in his decisionmaking. 

Such a model will then also be adjusted and 

improved as research information becomes available. 

A broiler model developed by Prof. Rob Gous of the University 

of Natal will be adapted 

for the ostrich industry. 

In this model 

the following 

three 

aspects 


of the nutrition program are optimised: 

• The amino acid content of each feed within a set nutrition 

program 

• The energy content of each feed within a set nutrition 

program 

• The optimal nutrition program for feeds with a specific 

nutritional composition. 

Typical information collected to construct the model include 

the following: 

Biological information 

• Growth curves for different breeds and sexes in an 

environment where feed intake is unlimited. 

• Estimate of the body composition (amino acids, fat, 

fatty acids, energy value, etc.) of the total carcass of the 

animal at the various growth stages. 

• Determination of the composition of the carcass of the 

animal at the various stages under different feeding 

conditions. 

• Determination of the separate development of the body 

components (meat, feathers and skin) of birds at different 

growth stages. 

• Measurement of the development of all the economically 

important end products at various stages of development 

(e.g. the development of the 17 different cuts of 

meat over time, skin size, skin damage, nodule size and 

tensile strength of the skin over time). 

Economic information 

• The price of the various end products according to quality 

criteria 

• The price of feed components and commercial feed 

Management information 

• The effect of the harvesting of feathers on production 

• The effect of feed processing on production 

It is clear that the use of computer-based mathematical 

models holds great advantages for all commercial animal 

production industries. Scientific information on the ostrich 

industry is relatively scarce. It is essential 

that all scientific information collected in 

future be utilised in the best interest 

of the ostrich industry. The use 

of optimisation models offers 

an excellent technique for 

collecting scientific information 

and conveying it to 

the producer in a practical 

and useful form. 

By Prof. Tertius 

Brand 

Institute for 

Animal Production 

e-mail: 

TersB@ 

elsenburg. 

com. 

18

Clippings 

Silver for Ters 

19 

Professor Tertius Brand, specialist animal researcher 

from the Western Cape Department of Agriculture 

has recently been awarded a silver medal for his 

continued excellence in the field of research on nutrition 

and feeding systems by the South African Society for Animal 

Science (SASAS). 

According to the Society Tertius is considered as a 

truly leading South African nutritionist with his insight in 

complex problems, his innovative nature, his exceptional 

work ethics and his excellent record of reporting research 

to fellow scientists, funding co-ordinators and the general 

industry. He is presently regarded as an undisputed world 

leader in the field of the scientific nutrition of ostriches. 

As the leader of numerous projects on the nutrition of 

ostriches Tertius was able to attract external funding to 

the value of ±R4.5 million over the past six years. In the 

present situation where limited funds is being canalised to 

groundbreaking research, this is an achievement. Innovations 

stemming from this research include a range of near 

infrared spectroscopy curves for a range of feedstuffs, a 

computer model for the prediction of the optimum slaughter 

age for ostriches, and electronic feed database for 

typical South African feeds and a mathematical optimisation 

model for the prediction of the nutrient requirements 

of ostriches. He also played a major role in the patenting 

of a feeding system for the separate feeding of male and 

female ostrich breeders being maintained as pairs. Innovations 

like these are due to revolutionise the scientific 

feeding of ostriches (see article on p.17). 

Navorsers presteer 

Annelie Kruger van die program Tegnologie, 

Navorsing en Ontwikkeling se 

Dierproduksie Instituut op Elsenburg en 

Clovis Bhiya, toe nog deel van die Departement 

se Young Professional program, het onlangs 

hulle M Tech Grade van die Nelson Mandela 

Metropolitaanse Universiteit op George 

ontvang. Annelie is ’n permanente beampte 

op Elsenburg, terwyl Clovis onlangs as dosent 

by die Kaapse Instituut vir Landbou-opleiding: 

Elsenburg aangestel is. 

Annelie het die voedingsbestuursaspekte 

van volstruise ondersoek, terwyl Clovis na die 

ideale slagouderdom vir volstruise gekyk het. 

Clovis het ook ’n trofee vir die beste nagraadse 

studie in Landboubestuur van die 

Universiteit ontvang en het sy graad cum laude 

verwerf. 

Landboumanne se rugbyharte klop sterk 

Die PANNAR landboukolleges rugbyweek is onlangs 

by die Departement se Kaapse Instituut vir Landbou-opleiding: 

Elsenburg aangebied. Ten spyte 

van ‘n titaniese stryd teen veral Potchefstroom, Saasveld 

en Grootfontein, het die Elsenburgspan weer eens met die 

louere weggestap as die toernooi se algehele wenners. 

Ander kolleges wat deelgeneem het, was Fort Cox (Oos- 

Kaap) en Cedara (KwaZulu-Natal). 

Mundus van Niekerk van Potchefstroom het die 

meeste punte (60) op die telbord geplaas, gevolg deur Andries 

van Dyk van Grootfontein (51) en Johann du Plessis 

van Elsenburg (46). 


www.elsenburg.com 


20

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