Nuusbrief / Newsletter Mrt 2015www.pmfsa.co.za

Livestock farmers have a constitutional right and responsibility to take care of their animals and to protect it from all potential threats such as extreme weather conditions (cold, heat, droughts, fires etc.) as well as theft and predators. The framework focuses on the best ways to manage predation and this month we are focussing on preventative measures for predation management.

Shepherds• Shepherds can only be used effectively if the herd is kept in a small enclosure. • Shepherds cannot be expected to overnight with the herd in the veld.

Also, refer to the YouTube clipping here under on how to protect flocks against predators.

Protective animalsVarious types of animals can be used to counteract predators, such as black-backed jackal, caracal, spotted and brown hyenas, leopards and cheetahs in the livestock industry and even the game industry. These animals, just like farm animals, should be managed with the necessary care and attention. They should have free access to food, water and shelter at all times.

1. Male ostriches. Use male ostriches to keep jackal out of the lamb pens.

2. Blesbok rams. A blesbuck ram in livestock pens deters black-backed jackal during the day or night successfully. There should not be any blesbok ewes in those pens.

3. Donkey stallions will deter black-backed jackal and caracal from the pens.

3.1 Remove the donkeys from the pens once the lambs arrive, as the donkeys might injure the lambs at the water trough.

4. Alpacas can also be used with great success to keep predators away from the livestock.

Best practices for managing predation in South Africa

Introduction to shepherding

This six-minute You Tube video clip on the NWGA website provides sheep producers with information on predators and gives options for protection of flocks. Watch here.

5. Dogs5.1 Anatolian shepherds are very effective to protect cattle, sheep and game from nearly all kinds

of predators, including lions. 5.1.1 Buy these dogs from reputable breeders who rear the dogs in a farming environment. 5.1.2 Anatolian shepherds should be inoculated against all kinds of diseases and should be

examined by a veterinarian regularly. 5.1.3 These dogs need fresh drinking water and food on a daily base. 5.1.4 Anatolian shepherds should be kept away from the other dogs on the farm. 5.2 Herding dogs. Other dogs, trained to herd cattle and sheep can be used. It is also necessary to

take good care of other kinds of dogs used in protecting livestock from predators.

CHASA affiliates geared to assist with control

At the most recent board meeting of CHASA (Hunters Confederation of SA), it was agreed that their affiliates would assist with problem animal control where possible. Contact the Secretary Desiré Thyse at 041 922 5600 for the contact details of a CHASA representative in your area.

Please note, however, that all parties must follow the relevant legislation of national conservations in their respective provinces, as rules and regulations differ from province to province.

Poging om oplossing te vind vir bosvarkprobleem in Suid-Kaap

Geskiedenis is gemaak toe Cape Nature, SanParke, PG Buison, produsente en jagters vergader het om oplossings te vind vir die bosvarkprobleem, wat veroorsaak dat boere groot finansiële verliese ly ten opsigte van mielie-oeste.

Die terrein en plantegroei in die Suid-Kaap maak dit uiters moeilik om probleemdiere te bestry. Honde met GPS-halsbande wat spesiaal opgelei is om varke te jag maar nie aan te val nie word hiervoor ingespan. Die honde word op ’n rekenaar gemonitor en waar moontlik, word bosvarke voorgelê en gevang.

Die probleem is egter dat betrokke instansies se reëls en regulasies ten opsigte van die jag van diere op hul grondgebied verskil en dus beheer beïnvloed.

Gesprekvoering sal in Junie voortgesit word nadat instansies met hul onderskeie hoofkantore gesprek gevoer het.

U word vriendelik versoek om gereeld enige inligting rakende predasie, wenke oor bekamping/voorkoming, insiggewende nuus, aktiwiteite wat in bedrywe aangaan, datums, sukses- verhale rakende sekere beheermetodes en interessante navorsing en foto’s aan Bonita by nwga@nwga.co.za te stuur.

Stuur inligting

Die San, uitstekende veewagters

Machiel Odendaal, ’n boer in die Standerton-distrik, Mpumalanga, maak al sedert die laat jare negentig met groot sukses gebruik van die San-mense gebruik om hul diere teen veediewe en roofdiere te beskerm. Hulle boer intensief met Merinoskape en vleisbeeste waar die kraaling van vee nie ’n praktiese opsie is nie.

Die San-mense is voormalige weermaglede wat hulle met hul gesinne in Smitsdrif in die Noord-Kaap gevestig het. Die wagte met hul vroue en nieskoolgaande kinders word afgehaal op Platfontein in Kimberley en bly in woonwaens wat strategies geplaas word. Hul kontrak is vir ongeveer vier maande geldig afhangend of hul langer wil aanbly.

Elke wag kry ’n selfoon met lugtyd sodat hulle onmiddellik probleme kan aanmeld. Die teenwoordigheid van wagte op ’n plaas vestig ’n onbekende faktor, en dus weet oortreders nie altyd dat hulle gesien word nie. Afge-sien van die feit dat die San gebruik word om veediewe op te merk, stel hulle die boer in kennis van veldbrande, siek diere, swak plekke in hei-nings, watersuipingsprobleme en waar die jakkals getjank vandaan kom.

“My wolskape uitpresteer my beesboerdery en is ’n belangrike skakel in weiding-bestuur en benutting daarvan. Indien ons skaapboerdery moet staak as gevolg van diefstal en predasie, sal oorlewing as boer in die Hoëveld van Mpumalanga moeilik volhoubaar wees”, sê Machiel.

Luister hoe predasieverliese drasties verminder kan word!

Leon de Beer, hoofbestuurder van die NWKV, ge-sels met Radio Pretoria se Klank Koerant oor die uitbreking van hondsdolheid in KwaZulu-Natal en die feit dat jakkalse die draers was. Die gesprek gaan oor roofdiere oor die algemeen en Leon brei uit oor die 30 monitorplase landswyd waar preda-siepraktyke toegepas word en die feit dat verliese tot soveel as 25% kan wees indien geen bestuur toegepas word nie. Luister hier.