Address: Private Bag X1, Elsenburg, 7607
Elsenburg Research Farm, Muldersvlei Road, Elsenburg
Tel: 021 808 5175
Email: Bennie.Aucamp@westerncape.gov.za
GPS co-ordinates: 33.845259419 S 18.834721521 E
Elsenburg Research Farm
The 640 hectare Elsenburg Research Farm is located approximately eight kilometres from Stellenbosch and serves as the corporate headquarters of the Western Cape Department of Agriculture. The farm plays a central role in agricultural research, innovation, and extension services for the Western Cape province.
Established to support scientific research and farmer support services, Elsenburg is a pivotal hub where government, academia, and industry collaborate to address the region’s diverse agricultural challenges.
Since its establishment in the late 1800’s, Elsenburg has been dedicated to advancing sustainable agriculture through cutting-edge research, technology transfer, and capacity building. Its mission is to improve the productivity, profitability, and resilience of the Western Cape’s agricultural sector by providing practical solutions based on rigorous scientific research. Elsenburg, as well as the neighbouring farm Kromme Rhee (200 hectares), conducts multidisciplinary research projects aimed at tackling key issues affecting the province’s farming community. These include:
- Crop production and protection
- Livestock production
- Soil fertility and conservation
- Climate change adaptation strategies
Research is guided by the needs identified through close collaboration with industry bodies, farmer organisations, and other stakeholders, ensuring relevance and impact.
There are various sheep breeds on Elsenburg, two of which are breed founder flocks namely the Dormer and the South African Mutton Merino and are used mainly for genetic research. Kromme Rhee is host to beef cattle (Bonsmara) and sheep (Dohne).
The beef cattle are used in an emerging farmer support programme and they are used mainly for livestock nutrition research. Elsenburg also host a Percheron herd. The herd is important as a Farm Animal Genetic Resource Herd (FAnGR) and it participates in that programme on national level. The horses are also used for genetic studies in the equine field as well as for training and demonstration purposes.
Projects are led by researchers from the Western Cape Department of Agriculture, in collaboration with academic institutions, national research councils, farmer groups, and private companies
Meet the Elsenburg team
Marliné Burger
Scientist: Dairy Production
Tel: 021 808 5404. Email: Marline.Burger@westerncape.gov.za
Lauren Calvert
Scientific technician: Nutrition & Product Quality
Tel: 021 808 5238. Email: Lauren.Calvert@westerncape.gov.za
Nkululeko Mnisi
Farm aid: Nutrition & Product Quality
Tel: 021 808 5404. Email: Nkululeko.Mnisi@westerncape.gov.za
