Artificial insemination:

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1 NAFU FARMER TECHNOLOGY Artificial insemination: The best technique to improve your herd by Joel Nkuna, AI technician, Taurus The practice of AI (artificial insemination) with cattle, is one of the few inputs pertaining to the livestock industry that has far more financial gain than the natural mating process that it replaces. As a bonus, it results in far greater efficiency. AI gives easy access to superior bulls at relatively low cost. Successful AI programme Experience has shown that if you want to be involved in an AI programme, you should attend a recognised AI training course. Very little is achieved if the theoretical and practical AI training is not attended. If the farmer or the herdsman does not attend any training, he cannot exercise the control needed for a successful programme. The practical application of AI, heat detection and bull selection must receive special attention. Follow-up visits by animal technicians to farms, are recommended. These visits are essential for identification of practical problems with cattle, and to assist and advise the farmer. Animals suited to AI The only selection requirements set for AI cows, are: They must be healthy Heifers must weigh at least 60 to 70% of mature weight (no less than 250 kg) They must be no younger than 18 months, depending on the breed They must also be fertile and welladapted to their environment. The cows and heifers selected for AI must be on a rising plane of nutrition and must be in good condition, but not overweight. Providing licks for the herd can prevent possible nutritional deficiencies. Advantages and disadvantages Besides the more well-known advantages such as control of venereal diseases, there are economic and genetic advantages to not having a bull in your herd. One of the advantages of AI is that it allows for the prevention of reproductive diseases such as brucellosis, vibriosis, trichomoniasis, leptospirosis, IBR and other non-specified infections that can be spread by natural breeding. By performing AI, you can choose bulls from all over the world that will give you the Traits you want in your herd in terms of butterfat, protein, volume of milk solids and udders. The beef man can expect heavier weaning weights, faster feedlot gains and carcass improvement. Further advantages include: More uniform calf crops The ability to cross-breed your cattle No need to keep a dangerous bull in your herd Better protection against inherited defects brought on by in-breeding. The disadvantages of AI include: Semen from unreliable sources that may introduce venereal diseases into your herd Not detecting heat properly Not using sanitised AI equipment Not handling semen properly. For more information about AI and training programmes country-wide, call Joel Nkuna on or , or send an to farmdev@taurus.co.za. You can also visit the Taurus website on NF 23 AUGUST ISSUE 2006 AUGUST ISSUE

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3 NAFU FARMER TECHNOLOGY Legal identification marks for livestock by Hanlie du Plessis All owners of livestock have the opportunity to get a registered identification mark. The identification mark shows to whom an animal belongs. A legal identification mark is very useful. If lost or stolen animals are found, it will be possible to find the owner. How to register Get an application form from extension officers, magistrate s offices, stock-theft units of the South African Police Services, or from the Registrar of Livestock Identification in Pretoria There is an application fee of R110 that you only have to pay once. Rules for registering All identification marks must be registered. This means that your mark is put on an official list and no one else may use it You may not put an identification mark on your animals if you have not registered the mark You may use the same mark for your small and large stock If you buy animals or receive them as a gift, you must put an identification mark on them within two weeks Animals that you sell, should also have your identification mark on them. Identify your animals Permanent identification marks can be put on animals by hot iron branding, freeze-branding or tattooing: Hot-iron branding: The owner burns a mark on the skin of his animals with a hot iron. You should not brand calves younger than six months Freeze-branding: Freeze branding is done by means of dry ice and alcohol Tattoo mark: Tattoo tongs and ink are used to mark the animals. Calves can be tattooed from the age of one week. How does the mark look? An identification mark has no more than three letters of the alphabet or symbols (characters) The same mark may be used on cattle or small stock. Where to put the mark Put the identification mark as low as possible on the body, but where it can be seen easily Do not put the mark on the feet Remember - you can lose money on hides if you mark on valuable areas. If you want to know more about the identification of animals, you can ask at the nearest extension office, veterinarian or stock-theft unit of the South African Police Services. You can also phone the Registrar of Livestock Identification in Pretoria at telephone number , or you can write to: The Registrar of Livestock Identification, Private Bag X138, Pretoria NF AUGUST ISSUE

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5 Safe handling of irrigation pipes Many farms still use irrigation pipes on a large scale. They are very handy, but because of their length, it is easy to handle them incorrectly or carelessly. This can cause big disasters. As the pipes are made of metal, they are excellent electricity conductors. It is deadly if the person handling the pipes comes too close to power lines above the ground. Because of their length, this can easily happen and as a result an extremely high electricity charge will move through the worker s body to the earth that will probably immediately shock him to death. THERE IS A SOLUTION: Carry the irrigation pipe horizontally on your shoulder, parallel with the ground. This way you can walk underneath power lines without the danger of the pipe touching the power lines. Electricity is the life-artery of every farm. It is also dangerous if it is not handled correctly and with respect.