Department of Agriculture

Plant Health (Phytosanitary) Policy for South Africa, 2014 GG No. 38102

Implementation Plan for the Plant Health (Phytosanitary) Policy

Plant Health Promotions

Status on current pests

Tuta Absoluta (tomato leaf miner) in South Africa May 2017
Media release on the Invader Fruit Fly
Article on Status and monitoring of the invasive fruit fly - Bactrocera Invadens in South Africa
Press Release on Tuta absoluta (Tomato Leaf Miner)
Media Release -Help to combat Invader fruit fly

Services

Publication | Info packs | Legislation

Animal Health

Anthrax:

Anthrax is a highly contagious disease of domestic and wild animals as well as of humans . The causes, symptoms and control are discussed.

Bees:

The capensis problem.

Brucellosis:

How to identify and treat this disease.

Congo fever:

Congo fever is transmitted by the bontlegged tick. Symptoms and protection against the disease.

Johne's disease:

Paratuberculosis, or Johne's disease, affects cattle, sheep, goats and certain wild animal species. Symptoms and control.

Lungsickness (CBPP)

Lungsickness, or contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), is a disease of cattle in Africa. This info pak provides basic information on the disease.

Lungsickness (CBPP)

A more advanced guide to the disease.

Mastitis:

Mastitis can lower milk production.

Mastitis:

Mastitis kan melkproduksie baie benadeel (Afrikaans).

Parasitic cysts and lesions in organs:

Parasitic cysts in meat can cause diseases in people.

Rabies - a killer disease:

Rabies affects all warm-blooded animals, as well as man.

Rabies - the law:

Vaccinating your pets. What the law requires.

Tapeworm:

Beef tapeworm also infects humans. Prevent contamination.

Tapeworm:

Beesvleislintwurms en masels (Afrikaans).

Tick-borne diseases:

Diseases spread by ticks such as heartwater, redwater and gallsickness.

Beef Cattle

Guidelines

Castration:

How to castrate beef cattle.

Dehorning:

How to dehorn beef cattle.

Legal identification marks:

How to mark your cattle.

Weaning of calves:

How to wean beef cattle.

Manuals

-  Establishing and managing small herd of beef cattle
-  Guidelines for animal traction
-  Weaning of calves
-  Guidelines for urban and peri urban
- Guidelines for planning and construction of a feedlot
-  Beef cattle management

Food safety

Safe meat:

Buy meat from a butchery, supermarket or spaza shop.

Goats

Information

Cashmere :

New marketing opportunities.

Goats:

Goats have many uses.

Vaccination programme:

Goats are susceptable to a number of diseases. A good vaccination programme can keep them healthy.

Manuals:

- Status of the South African Goat Industry

Livestock

Exports:

All the procedures to be followed when you want to export fresh meat from South Africa.

Health:

Is my animal healthy?

Imports:

Importation of animals and animal products is subject to compliance with the relevant import requirements, as stipulated on the veterinary import permit.

Slaughterings:

Slaughterings and consumer confidence.

Terminology:

Explaining some technical terms in the Animal Improvement Act, 1998 (Act No. 62 of 1998). Livestock Development Strategy

Pigs

Information

Boer met varke:

'n Inleiding tot varkboerdery. Rasse, reproduksie, voeding, produktiwiteit, seleksie en algemene versorging van varke word kortliks bespreek (Afrikaans).

Farming with pigs:

An introduction to pig farming, looking at breeds, reproduction, feeding, productivity, selection and general care of pigs.

Health:

How to know if your pigs are healthy.

Manuals:

Keeping pigs safe in swine fever

Management programme for small farm piggery

Poultry

Information

Muscovy ducks:

Muscovy ducks have a number of advantages over other poultry.

Newcastle disease:

Newcastle disease is a serious disease that poses a constant threat to poultry in Southern Africa.

Manuals:

Rabbits

Information

Keeping rabbits:

Farming with rabbits is becoming increasingly popular.

Manuals:

Sheep

Breeding:

Breeding in sheep and goats.

Dipping:

Hints for dipping sheep.

Aquaculture

Manuals:

- Database of fish farms within the provinces outlining threats and opportunities

- Aquaculture 2006

Info packs available at the ARC

Manuals and Books available per order from the ARC www.arc.agric.za
Beef Cattle Manual
Beef Production Manual
Dairy Cattle Manual
Dairy Herd Improvement in South Africa
Diseases of Ostriches and other Ratites
Heating of Broilers & Broiler Housing
Introduction to Poultry Production
Manual on Housing for Pigs
Mastitis by koeie
Mutton
Ostrich Diseases
Pig Production in South Africa
Small-scale broiler house
Small-scale milking shed
Small-scale poultry housing in South Africa

The core functions of each of these fields are to:

The core functions of each of these fields are to:
To provide information and advice on production to internal and external clients.
To co-ordinate production data inputs for country reports to SADC and to the FAO
To Coordinate the various fields activities such as National Working Groups
Liaison within stakeholders such as Provincial Departments of Agriculture, producer organizations and others
To develop technical info packs in the form of manuals, production guideline etc.
Identify potential projects for the resource poor and new entrant farming sector
Input on issues such as breed evaluation, integrated farmer settlement plans etc.
Service International Joint Commissions

Dairy

Dairy farming in SA focuses on raising female cattle for long-term production of milk which may be either processed on-site or transported to a dairy for processing and eventual retail sale. Most dairy farms sell the male calves borne by their cows, usually for veal production, rather than raising non-milk-producing stock. Many dairy farms also grow their own feed, typically including corn, alfalfa and hay. This is fed directly to the cows, or stored as silage for use during the winter season. Additional dietary supplements are added to the feed to increase quality milk production.

They are different breeds of dairy cattle that are farmed with in SA. The most popular breeds are the Holstein (Friesland), the Jersey, and the Ayrshire, but there are other breeds like the Guernsey, Milk Shorthorn, S.A. Dairy Swiss, Dexter, and the Simmentaler which are less popular in S.African dairy farming.

Large Stock

In the context of AP, large stock refers to equine and beef cattle
In the context of AP, large stock comprises of beef cattle and equine (donkeys, horses and mules). Beef cattle production was part of all community throughout the world dated centuries back. Equines also play important role as working and performing animals. Donkeys play vital role in the lives of most rural community as a means of transport, while horses are mainly used in as performing animals in the multimillions horse racing industry.
Beef cattle producers vary from highly sophisticated commercial (who rely on high technology) to communal subsistence producers (who rely on indigenous knowledge and appropriate technology). Three major groups of beef cattle farmers therefore co-exist in South Africa . These groups consist of:

The commercial beef producer (mostly white farmers), where production is relatively high and comparable with developed countries
The emerging black beef cattle farmer, who own or lease land.
The communal beef cattle farmer, who run his cattle on communal grazing land.

Current status of beef cattle

TABLE 2.1 : Estimated Cattle Numbers in the RSA (Thousands – 2002)

Province	Total Cattle	Commercial Dairy	Beef and Dual Purpose
Province	Total Cattle	Commercial Dairy		Communal
Eastern Cape	3 197 (22.9)*	315 (19.8)	612 ( 9.2)	2270 (40.0)
Free State	2 320 (16.6)	293 (18.4)	1962 (29.4)	65 ( 1.1)
Gauteng	276 ( 2.0)	75 ( 4.7)	201 ( 3.0)	N/A
KwaZulu Natal	2 805 (20.1)	318 (20.0)	955 (14.3)	1532 (26.9)
Limpopo	1 181 ( 8.5)	18 ( 1.0)	420 ( 6.3)	743 (13.0)
Mpumalanga	1 375 ( 9.8)	154 ( 9.7)	701 (10.5)	520 ( 9.1)
Northern Cape	491 ( 3.5)	25 ( 1.6)	466 ( 7.0)	N/A
North West	1 816 (13.0)	114 ( 7.2)	1 154 (17.3)	548 ( 9.6)
Western Cape	501 ( 3.6)*	280 (17.6)	203 ( 3.0)	18 ( 0.3)
TOTAL	13 964	1 592	6 674	5 696

Percentages are presented in brackets

Performance trends regarding beef cattle production between commercial and communal.

Measure	Communal	Commercial	Recommended
Average calving %	40%	65%	85%
Pre-weaning mortality rate	50%	4%	2%
Post-weaning mortality rate	15%	2%	2%
Calves weaned p.a	5	16	21
Calves available for sale (after replacement)	2	15	20
Average weight	150	180	205
Price per kilogram	R 3-50	R 8-00	R 8-25
Potential monetary value	R1 050-00	R21 600-00	R33 825-00
Potential monthly income	R87-50	R1 800-00	R2 818-00

Breeds Gallery


Afrikaner Angus Beefmaster Bonsmara Boran Brahman Braunvieh Charolais Dexter Drakensberge	Gelbvieh Nguni Pinzgauer S A Guernsey S A Hereford Sanganers Simmentaler South Devon Sussex Tuli

Afrikaner

Angus

Beefmaster

Bonsmara

Boran

Brahman

Braunvieh

Charolais

Dexter

Drakensberge

Gelbvieh

Nguni

Pinzgauer

S A Guernsey

S A Hereford

Sanganers

Simmentaler

South Devon

Sussex

Tuli

Equine
SA Boerperd


Arab Horse Breeder	Hackney Pony
Friesian	SA Miniature Horse
Kaapse Boerperd	South African Quarter Horse
Nooitgedachter	SA Vlaamperd
Percheron	SA Warmblood
Saddle Horse	Thoroughbred
Hackney Horse	Welsh Pony
Paint Horse

Articles

Management

A decision making model for stable beef production
Bloat Prevention and Treatment
Developing And Managing Small Herd Of Beef Cattle

Nutrition

Proximate chemical composition and fatty acid profiles
Alternative Feeding for Drought Stressed Beef Cow Herds
Ammonium Treatment of Low Quality Forages For Beef Cattle
The effect of different calving seasons on animal performance
Cottonseed for Beef Cattle Rations

Reproduction

Breeding Soundness of Beef Bulls
Assisting the Beef Cow at Calving Time

Bid Opening Certificates 2022/2023

Plant Health Promotions

Services

Info packs available at the ARC

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