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FORESTRY
We have approximately 2250 ha planted under timber. Fifty percent
of our plantations are planted with black wattle, five percent
with pine and forty five percent with gum.
We are in the process of converting some of our Eucalyptus Grandis
compartments to GxN and Dunii. The yields of these species are
considerably higher. We rotate our gum and wattle trees on a ten
year cycle. In the past we regenerated our wattle compartments but
we now replant with seedlings. Gum is replanted every second
cycle.
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BREEDING SIMBRA
Piet Retief is a tough cattle farming area. Sour veldt, ticks and
tick related diseases are plentiful. This breed can adapt and our
cattle are proof of their adaptability. We farm extensively and
our cattle feed off grass and a summer and winter lick.
Our vision is to produce genetically superior, easy care and
highly functional Simbra cattle for the South African market.
It is our policy not to show cattle. Showing cattle is very
expensive, unnatural and effects breeding values adversely.
Instead we have field days on our farm, invite fellow breeders and
prospective clients to visit our farm to see our cattle in working
clothes and share knowledge. We make use of the internet and
printed press to promote our stud.
Selection is one of our most important strategies. To produce
genetically superior cattle the selection criteria must be
stricter and the pool bigger. It is our quest to increase our
Simbra breeding cattle to 800 head. Fertility is our number one
selection criteria. Medium size, mature mass with above average
milk figures are our target progeny. We prefer red animals with
slightly more ear. We are not obsessed with breeding SP animals
nor polled animals. We strive to breed the best we can with the
best, polled or not, F1 or SP animal.
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AGRICULTURE
We have amalgamated our agriculture division with CH Maree and
formed a new partnership C&T BOERDERY.
C&T BOERDERY
is growing from strength to strength. The partnership produces
maize, Soya beans, wheat, potatoes and cabbage.
We plant a wide variety of maize cultivars and yield approximately
11 tons per ha under irrigation and 6 tons per ha on dry lands.
We plant 22ha of potatoes twice a year. Mondial is an outstanding
performer in our district. |