How to optimise beef cattle production
Beef cattle production is often regarded as a lesser part of diversification on a crop production farm, with the animals being kept on marginal soils, grazing and grain stover. However, given the current economic realities and challenges, it can no longer be considered a low-input and low-income concern.
“The cattle component, while it has the potential to add considerable value to any diversified farming operation, irrespective of the size thereof, can be a highly lucrative source of income through effective management and the implementation of basic precision farming practices,” says Hennie Snyman, an animal scientist from Parys in the Free State.
“Commercial beef cattle production has developed beyond a low-input concern that is kept on the fringes of the main business, and should be managed as such.”
ANIMALS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
According to Snyman, the implementation of precision beef cattle farming principles does not
