Technology, Research and Development: INSTITUTE FOR ANIMAL PRODUCTION
Recent achievements
The Jersey herd at Outeniqua Research Farm was presented an award by SA Studbook for the highest marks achieved for genetic merit of the cows. The adjudication takes the achievements of the herd over the past 12 months into account. Read the article from the latest AgriProbe here.
Photograph: Mr Gerrit van der Merwe on Outeniqua research farm with the trophy received.
Two of Elsenburg's researchers, Tertius Brand and Schalk Cloete, were recently awarded extraordinary professorships at the University of Stellenbosch.
Aquaculture: Some of the notable successes over recent years came from work with crayfish, where puruli were successfully harvested from the sea.
Research into, and the establishment of, small-scale aquaculture projects amongst formerly disadvantaged communities was achieved through cooperation with the University of Stellenbosch and volunteer work sponsored by an overseas NGO.
Ostriches: Great strides have been made with obtaining information crucial to improving the viability of ostrich farming, which is the result of research that was undertaken in association with the private sector.
Dairy: The Western Cape has featured high on the list of major milk producing areas of South Africa for a number of years. Consequently, many contributions have been made by the researchers at Elsenburg and Outeniqua Research Farm near George to the improvement of dairy farming through research into better feeding and management practices for higher milk production, while breeding and feeding programmes have been directed toward investigating ways for more cost-effective milk production.
Sheep: Farming with sheep is one of the major agricultural enterprises in the Cape and research to enhance sheep production has yielded a better understanding of the nutrient needs of sheep and breeding research has significantly improved wool quality.
Research with pigs has been aimed mainly at the evaluation of feeds.
