Namibian
Brahman
Breeders Society
Brahman
Breeders Society
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May 2017 - Outreach to the communal livestock farming sector
An essential part of the objectives in the five-year strategic plan of the Namibian Brahman Breeders Society is to pay more attention to the communal livestock farming sector seen as an important market for Brahman genetics and the benefit of more commercialised farming practised in these areas. Farming information days have been held over the past years in Okamatapati, Epukiro and Talismanis, and this year in Aminius, and more recently in Okonjatu and Otjinene with at least two more events scheduled for the remainder of 2017. These days are sponsored by FNB with the participation of FNB staff as well as experts from feed companies, veterinarians and other institutions. Remarkable is the positive feedback by communal farmers and their keen support of these information days.
The Brahman Breeders Society has for the first time presented such an information day in the Northern Communal Area (NCA) on 8 April together with the Mangetti Farmers Association (MFA) in the Oshikoto Region. The informationsharing meeting took place at the homestead Oshana Shomhedi of the association chairman, Ismael Shailemo, some 60 km east of the Oshivelo tarred road into the sandy soils of Mangetti with two 4x4 spoor tracks. About 150 participants from the farming community attended the meeting which focused mainly on :
Numerous members from the traditional authorities sent a clear message to participating livestock farmers that they should change from subsistence farming to commercial farming to maximise returns. Among others the Ondonga king-in-waiting, Fillemon Shuuwumba Nangolo, and a prominent commercial farmer from Grootfontein and co-organiser, Simon Tuhafeni, who used to farm in the Mangetti, urged the farmers to change farming practices for the better, e.g. to sell livestock at a market-recommended younger age and to see livestock farming as a business. After being welcomed in the morning in a traditional Oshiwambo homestead by the chairman of the meeting, Rev. Mtuleni, the meeting ended in the evening with traditional food and a warm social gathering.
Participants, contributors and organisers hailed this as a successful information sharing day. Plans to hold similar farmer days in other northern regions are underway, with the next two scheduled for July in Ondangwa (for the business community) and for 12 August in the Ohangwena Region.
May 2017 - Outreach to the communal livestock farming sector
An essential part of the objectives in the five-year strategic plan of the Namibian Brahman Breeders Society is to pay more attention to the communal livestock farming sector seen as an important market for Brahman genetics and the benefit of more commercialised farming practised in these areas. Farming information days have been held over the past years in Okamatapati, Epukiro and Talismanis, and this year in Aminius, and more recently in Okonjatu and Otjinene with at least two more events scheduled for the remainder of 2017. These days are sponsored by FNB with the participation of FNB staff as well as experts from feed companies, veterinarians and other institutions. Remarkable is the positive feedback by communal farmers and their keen support of these information days.
The Brahman Breeders Society has for the first time presented such an information day in the Northern Communal Area (NCA) on 8 April together with the Mangetti Farmers Association (MFA) in the Oshikoto Region. The informationsharing meeting took place at the homestead Oshana Shomhedi of the association chairman, Ismael Shailemo, some 60 km east of the Oshivelo tarred road into the sandy soils of Mangetti with two 4x4 spoor tracks. About 150 participants from the farming community attended the meeting which focused mainly on :
- the advantages of adapted cattle, like Brahmans, with the further advantage of its hybrid vigour to produce a market orientated product (Mecki Schneider)
- stocking rates and good rangeland as well as good herd management (Mecki Schneider)
- banking facilities and financial support by FNB (Andre Mouton)
- the basics of lick supplementation by Feedmaster (Frank Kanguatjivi)
- animal health and diseases by a private veterinarian (Dr Jens Kohler), and
- the practical evaluation of cattle (Alex de Koning breed inspector)
Numerous members from the traditional authorities sent a clear message to participating livestock farmers that they should change from subsistence farming to commercial farming to maximise returns. Among others the Ondonga king-in-waiting, Fillemon Shuuwumba Nangolo, and a prominent commercial farmer from Grootfontein and co-organiser, Simon Tuhafeni, who used to farm in the Mangetti, urged the farmers to change farming practices for the better, e.g. to sell livestock at a market-recommended younger age and to see livestock farming as a business. After being welcomed in the morning in a traditional Oshiwambo homestead by the chairman of the meeting, Rev. Mtuleni, the meeting ended in the evening with traditional food and a warm social gathering.
Participants, contributors and organisers hailed this as a successful information sharing day. Plans to hold similar farmer days in other northern regions are underway, with the next two scheduled for July in Ondangwa (for the business community) and for 12 August in the Ohangwena Region.
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