Farmer's Weekly (South Africa)
To get the most, waste nothing
20
years ago
This father-and-son team integrated a remarkably diverse farming concern with an active conservation programme.
Herby Uhlmann and his sons, Vic and Rupert, farm to maintain what they have built up and to provide for the future. They therefore place strong emphasis on conservation and the full utilisation of their farm, Hopewell, in Dalton.
In order to use the farm to its full potential, they have diversified, with sugar cane being the main source of income. The original farm of 700ha, bought in 1969, was planted mainly to timber. Today, the farm is 11 000ha, with 120ha under timber, 85ha under pastures, 15ha under maize, 10ha under dry beans, 1ha of tomatoes and the remainder under sugar cane.
These Dalton farmers are noted conservationists, and their farm is a testimony to their sterling efforts. In 1989, Herby won the Themeda Award and, prior to this, the Ian Sclater Memorial Trophy, for soil and water conservation and land utilisation.
Although this father-and-son team are constantly eradicating noxious weeds using chemicals, they are also striving to improve indigenous bird and plant life on the farm.
Herby oversees the conservation aspect of the operation and cultivates tomatoes as a paying hobby, while his sons run the farm.
commercial herds
Vic is in charge of the cattle. Their Deep Valley Sussex Stud consists of 45 breeding cows. It was started in 1991 with 10 breeding cows, with the aim of breeding bulls for their own use in the commercial herd.
The commercial herd, consisting of Brahman, Hereford, Sussex and Simmentaler crosses, comprises 125 breeding cows.
Vic says they select strictly according to conformation and Beef Performance Tests. They demand one calf per cow per year. Cows that do not meet this criterion are culled.
Pregnancy tests are done once a year and bulls have to undergo a fertility test. A calving period of 66 days is utilised (from August to September), although the heifers calve a month earlier.
The Uhlmanns use single-sire herds, and a 1:25 bull:cow ratio. The average conception rate is 95%; the 5% that are barren are sold.
The inter-calving period is 416 days for the commercial herd, and 409 days for the stud.
“I am working very hard to get it below 400 days,” says Vic.
Calves are weaned at seven months, the average weaning weight being 250kg for male and 240kg for female calves.
The stud participates in the Beef Performance Testing Scheme.
The Uhlmanns do their own tests on the commercial herd.
“Everything is recorded on computer, which simplifies management significantly,”
Vic explains.
Calves are weighed, tagged and dehorned at birth. On average, the birthweight is 34kg.
Diseases
In this harsh redwater area, the cattle are not dipped often in order for them to build up resistance.
Calves are dewormed three times before weaning, and undergo a normal vaccination programme.
In the past, the Uhlmanns have found that the best way to wean calves is to keep them near their dams, whose presence serves as consolation.“The best way to do it is to dose the
calves and put them next to their mothers with an electric fence and barbed wire separating them. After three days they’ll settle down,” Vic explains.
Calves are no longer weaned on the farms. They are loaded on to a truck and sold on weaning day.
Cows graze on dryland pastures and veld. In summer they receive a phosphate lick, and are given a protein lick during winter. Maize is used as a winter feed and a feed for cows in calf. A hay supplement is sometimes provided. In the event of a feeding shortage, the animals are fed cane tops.
Heifers go to the bulls at two years of age. The average age of first calving is 34 months, and a herd replacement rate of 20% to 25% is maintained.
Sugar cane
Rupert manages the sugar cane operation on the farm. As a result of good rain and no frost, they provided an exceptional yield of 125t/ha in 1997. Their yield is sold to the Illovo Noodsberg Mill. Unlike other Natal sugar cane farmers, farmers in the Dalton area transport the products to the mill themselves.
Cultivars N12 and N16 are planted by hand, in rows 1m apart. Last year, the Uhlmanns started applying chicken manure as a top dressing. It is applied as soon as the cane is harvested in order to reduce soil acidity. The process is still in the experimental stage, but seems to be working well.
Smut has been a problem on the farm, but the local Pest and Disease Committee regularly carries out checks on the farm to monitor the situation. Harvesting of cane, which is done by hand, takes place from April to November. As a result of good yields, they have been able to start in March this year, and the harvest will continue until December.
The labour force consists of 100 permanent workers who live on the farm. They all have houses with electricity and running water. Maize grown on the farm is used mainly for feed. Dry bean and tomato crops are sold to farmworkers and the local people.
Farming operations are all carried out with conservation in mind. The diversity of the farm is what has made it such an enormous success.
Nothing is wasted. Every aspect of the operation is integrated, not only to safeguard present production, but also to preserve the farm for future generations.