The basis of breed improvement of nearly all kinds of livestock today is performance testing. Effective breeding records are used to calculate averages and deviations allows the breeder to accurately monitor the effect of his actions and enables him or her to take timely action where necessary. In our program of 10 August, Estienne Cronjé of the Deelfontein Afrikanerstud near Winburg tells us how his grandfather taught him how to accurately record and monitor breeding records. He believes that the records must be done objectively and correctly.
Myburgh Goosen of the Olienspruit Afrikanerstud is a well-known livestock judge. As a judge of beef cattle, it is important that a balance of traits needs to be selected to have a well-balanced animal that is proportionately correct. He also has an interesting story about Martin Ras and his Afric Afrikanerstud. Martin’s grandfather started farming with this cattle breed in 1935.
Robyn Joubert is the Chairman of SASAS, the South African Society of Animal Scientists (Northern region) She tells us more about the 52nd SASAS Congress that is held virtually on 11-12 August.
Leon de Lange, Lead Research technician at the ARC in Irene, talks about performance testing and the criteria used to evaluate the bulls.
Tune in to your favorite community radio station or listen to the program on your cell phone or computer using the Landbou Radio SoundCloud link. Farm with joy.
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