Our Cattle Feedlot

The beef industry has experienced tremendous pressures and changes over the past 10 years. Small to mid-sized family farmers, now must manage increasing price volatility and downward price pressure, invest in new production and information technologies, and find ways to participate in the value created beyond the farm if they want to survive.

Growing and feeding systems– In these operations, calves or wearners are either raised or purchased and then are fed (fattened for slaughter). In a weaners (yearlings) operation, weaner calves are acquired after weaning at 7 to 8 months of age. They are fed out and marketed in less than a year from the time of purchase. 

Some good enterprises are based pasture operations. Weaned calves are purchased in early spring, go on pasture (when the grass is at its best with regards to productivity), and are sold when the pasture season is over. On the other hand, calves cost less during winter; therefore, depending on the cost of winter feed, this may be the best time to purchase cattle for the next pasture season. Purchase price and selling price greatly influence profitability in this enterprise.

Beef production is a large and important segment of South African farming. Beef farming works well with other agricultural enterprises like grain (in particular), orchard, vegetable, or other crop operations. Cattle can make efficient use of feed resources that have little alternative use, such as crop residues, marginal cropland, and land not suitable for tillage, or land that cannot produce crops other than grass.