FARMERS CATALOGUE DISCUSSED AT AGRA PROVISION BREAKFAST MEETING
Published: 28 Feb 2014 

AGRA ProVision opened its bi-monthly interactive breakfast meeting today, 28 February, with an expert’s session on the “Farmer’s Catalogue.” The session was well attended by representatives from the various sectors, ranging from producers and financial institutions to agricultural feed producers. The livestock producers and prospective farmers were well represented at this meeting; and they all came to learn about the different components of the farmer’s catalogue. The event was held at the Agra/Bank Windhoek Ring, at the Show grounds.

Under the theme; “Know your catalogue,” the guest speaker, Dr Joggie Briedenham, gave an insight presentation about all the components of the catalogue. The catalogue explains the estimated breeding values of the bull in an easy to understand manner. The farmer’s catalogue specifically contains a list of cattle to be sold, describing in detail the different traits of the bull to be sold. It therefore empowers the buyer to make the right decision according to his/her needs.

The farmer’s catalogue is aimed at the producer and is a concise summary – in farming language. Dr Briedenhann said that the catalogue describes the bull’s genetic capacity for important re-productive characteristics, based on; the calving ease, growth potential, maturity type, adaptability, fertility and the bull’s mother’s and daughter’s achievements. He stated that these traits are then allocated marks which are based according to the SA Stud Book Breeding Value Indexes and Southern African Veld Bull data. He said, “The marks allocated are on the scale on 1 – 5, where score 5 is >120 breed value and 1 is <80 breeding.” He continued by saying, “Farmers have to take into consideration that the breeding values of the older bulls – with performance tested progeny are more accurate compared to that of younger bulls. There is thus a higher risk when purchasing younger bulls!”

At the same event, participants were also introduced to the low pressure Drip Irrigation Kits, known as the technology that improves on vegetable production. Danie Marais, ProVision’s Technical Advisor: Agronomy and Horticulture, presented and demonstrated how this DIY (do it yourself) technology works. He said that this technology targets small holder farmers with or without any technical ability, because it’s easy to install and maintain. The irrigation kit has been and is still being adopted widely by producers who have found it both profitable and easy to use. The key reason for this wide adoption is water efficiency.

This Interactive Breakfast session served the purpose of informing representatives and stakeholders about the farmer’s catalogue, describing the bull’s genetic capacity for reproduction. The presenter, Dr Joggie Briedenhann is the co-producer of the farmer’s catalogue and is currently working on a project to design an easy- to- understand Farmer’s Catalogue.

Agra ProVision offers Interactive Breakfast Sessions every 2 months to facilitate networking and brainstorming among individuals from various sectors in the government and private industry on topics regarding the agricultural industry. These Interactive Breakfast Sessions are open for invited guests only, but members of the public are welcome to declare their interest to participate at such events.