VetoSkill Animal Husbandry Consultancy

12/10/2025

As We Prepare For The Summer Heat

Clean water is essential for healthy cattle!​
​
Did you know that adult cattle require approximately 45 to 50 litres of clean water per day? That’s about twice the amount of water compared to their feed intake!​
​
If the water is dirty or contaminated, it can affect their health and reduce their water consumption. Without sufficient water, cattle may not eat properly, which can negatively impact their growth and productivity.​
​
Ensuring a safe and reliable water supply is one of the most important steps in maintaining a healthy herd.

📸EMI🇸🇿
📸Embeka🇸🇿
📸KaNdzango 🇸🇿

11/10/2025

Protect Your Cattle with Proper Dipping & Deworming​

Ticks and other parasites spread diseases like redwater, heartwater, and gall sickness—leading to major losses and lower calving rates. Effective dipping and deworming can safeguard your herd and improve overall cattle health.​

Contact us, so we deliberately engage on:
1. Importance of parasite control and how it can impact your farm’s success.​
2. ⁠Animal health programs, to control external and internal parasites.
📸1st sourced from Dr DVM
📸2nd Timbutini 🇸🇿

10/10/2025

Weaning calves the right way is important in herd management success.

Calves are usually weaned at 6-7 months old depending on the breed ( growth rate differs according to breed).The key to successful weaning is weight, not just age! An Ideal weaning weight varies according to breed, normal it ranges from 170-200kg

❌Calves weaned underweight may struggle to grow and adapt.

*Also Ensure that the cow is protected:*
•Wean before she drops below a Body Condition Score of 3 to keep her healthy for the next breeding cycle.

Good weaning practice = healthy calves + productive cows!

📸Taken at Sidvokodvo🇸🇿

10/09/2025

In case you thinking of improving your animal breed, here is a nice bullock very good for breeding it comes with a pedigree 📂…interested please contact +268 76612183

27/08/2024

THE IMPORTANCE OF MONITORING WEIGHT IN FEEDLOTS FOR CATTLE

Monitoring the weight of cattle in a feedlot is crucial for several reasons that directly influence the health of the animals and the profitability of the farm. Here’s a detailed overview:

1. Growth Performance: Regularly tracking cattle weight allows farmers to assess their growth rates. It helps determine whether the cattle are gaining weight at the expected rate, which is essential for reaching market weight efficiently.

2. Feed Efficiency: Weight monitoring provides insights into feed conversion ratios, which measure how efficiently cattle convert feed into body mass. By understanding these ratios, farmers can optimize feeding strategies to ensure that cattle are receiving the right nutrition without overspending on feed.

3. Health Management: Sudden weight changes can indicate health problems such as illness, parasites, or inadequate nutrition. Early detection of issues through weight monitoring can lead to timely veterinary care, reducing mortality rates and improving overall herd health.

4. Market Timing: Farmers can use weight data to make informed decisions about when to sell their cattle. Selling at the right weight can maximize profit margins, particularly in response to market trends and consumer demand.

BENEFITS OF USING A WEIGHT BELT

Investing in a weight belt system can greatly enhance the management of feedlot cattle:

1. Convenience: Weight belts provide a quick and efficient way to obtain accurate weight readings without the need for cumbersome scales. This speeds up the process of weight monitoring, allowing farmers to check multiple animals in a shorter time.

2. Less Stress on Animals: Traditional weighing methods can be stressful for cattle. A weight belt can reduce handling stress, as it allows for immediate readings without the need for cattle to be moved and handled as frequently.

3. Data Collecting and Tracking: Many weight belts come with technology that allows for data recording and tracking over time. This data can be invaluable in analyzing trends, improving management strategies, and making informed decisions.

4. Resource Optimization: By knowing the weight and health status of their cattle more accurately and frequently, farmers can optimize feed costs and manage resources better, contributing to overall efficiency and profitability.

PROFITABILITY INSIGHTS

1. Feed Costs: Monitoring and optimizing growth rates through regular weight checks can significantly lower feed costs, as farmers can more accurately budget feed purchases and prevent wastage.

2. Increased Returns: By selling cattle at the right weight and time, farmers can ensure they are taking advantage of the best pricing available in the market, resulting in higher returns.

3. Efficiency and Productivity: Efficiently managed feedlots with regular weight monitoring can sustainably produce more beef per acre, ultimately leading to increased production efficiency and profitability.

CONCLUSION
Regular weight monitoring in feedlots is indispensable for healthy herd management and financial success. Using a weight belt can enhance this process, providing convenience, accuracy, and reducing stress on the cattle. By connecting weight data to overall management practices, farmers can significantly improve profitability while ensuring the welfare of their animals.

19/08/2024

Choosing the Right Breed for Your Beef Feedlot: Key to Success! 🐄✨

Starting a beef feedlot business is an exciting venture, but one of the most crucial decisions you'll face is selecting the right breed of cattle. Here’s why this choice matters and what to consider:

1. Growth Rate and Feed Efficiency:
Different breeds have varying growth rates and feed conversion efficiencies. Breeds like Angus,Boran, Brahman, Hereford, Charolais and many more are known for their robust growth and ability to efficiently convert feed into muscle, which can enhance profitability.

2. Carcass Quality:
Selecting a breed with desirable carcass traits can significantly impact market prices. Breeds that excel in marbling and yield grade, such as Angus and Wagyu, often fetch higher prices at slaughter.

3. Adaptability to Environment:
Consider the climate and environmental conditions of your feedlot location. Some breeds are more resilient to harsh conditions, and selecting those that thrive in your climate can lead to higher survival rates and better performance.

4. Management Practices:
Different breeds may require different management styles and feeding regimes. Do your research on what breed aligns best with your management capabilities and the resources you have available.

5. Long-term Sustainability:
Think about the long-term goals of your operation. Choosing breeds that are known for reproductive performance and overall health can lead to a more sustainable and productive herd over time.

6. Market Demand:
Understanding consumer preferences in your target market is essential. Research which breeds are in demand locally and when marketing your beef products, aligning your breed choice with market trends can enhance sales.

Conclusion:
Selecting the right breed is not just about initial costs; it’s about building a successful operation that will pay off in the long run. Make an informed decision that aligns with your goals for your beef feedlot business!

Feel free to reach out to us for further consultation on breed selection and optimizing your beef feedlot operations.
=========================
Contact us for further:
1. Feedlot Consultancy
2. Feedlot Facility Design
3. Feedlot Construction and costing
4. Feedlot Financial Projections and Business Plan
5. Feedlot Beef Market linkages

Whatsapp: +26879020565

"We are your Livestock Business Consultants."

20/12/2023

27/09/2023

Feeding Programme for beef cattle

It doesn’t matter which approach you choose, feeding will be a critical component and one that will contribute greatly to your success or failure.

The business of beef cattle is to convert feeds into meat and your business is to ensure that happens by provision of quality feeds. Beef cattle have different nutritional requirements which are determined by the breed and the physiological status -- pregnant cows will for example require more nutrients compared to the other animals.

Breeds need to be selected that fit into a designed production system. For example, East African Zebu or the Boran may cost less in terms of feeding but will take a longer to mature and is therefore suited for large ranches.

The production system for cow-calf producers should include a cross-breeding programme that utilises two or more breeds. The breeds chosen need to produce calves that are appropriate for their end use.

In conclusion, a good beef-production farming programme should be drawn with the assistant of an animal health and production expert who will advise on the best strategies to employ based on the local conditions.

=========================================
Contact us for further:
1. Feedlot Business Development
2. Feedlot Facility Design
3. Feedlot Construction and costing
4. Feedlot Financial Projections and Business Plan
5. Feedlot Beef Market linkages
6. Other Livestock Business Development....

Whatsapp: +26879020565
Telephone: +26879705077

"We are your Livestock Business Consultants."

20/09/2023

BASIC FEEDLOT ECONOMICS 🇸🇿🇿🇦🇿🇼
The profitability calculation of a feedlot operation is based on the price margin, the feed margin
and other expenses. Price margin includes the difference between purchase price and selling
price of cattle influenced by beef price fluctuations, and improvement in carcass quality due to
feeding.
The feed margin is defined as the profit or loss made by a feedlot as a result of live mass gain in
relation to the cost of feed consumed. The best quality feed at the best price, good management,
and the use of growth stimulants can improve the feed margin by achieving optimal growth rates.
Other expenses will include abattoir costs and losses, transport, interest on capital, labour and
operational costs, processing costs, healthcare and mortalities.
Producers with maize and weaner bulls must make the decision whether to sell the weaner and
maize or to feed the maize to the bulls. Normally the feed needed for a feedlot calf will consist of
73% starch, 12% roughage, and 15% beef fattening concentrate.
=========================================
Contact us for further:
1. Feedlot Business Development
2. Feedlot Facility Design
3. Feedlot Construction and costing
4. Feedlot Financial Projections and Business Plan
5. Feedlot Beef Market linkages
6. Other Livestock Business Development....

Whatsapp: +26879020565
Telephone: +26879705077

"We are your Livestock Business Consultants."

18/09/2023

Nutrition regime is of paramount importance and will vary according to many factors – genetic,
environmental, the current body status and market preferences. You need feed formulations
that are nutritionally adequate, economic and palatable. You will have to invest heavily in
quality feeds if you choose this system in addition to the infrastructure and labour.

To maximise intake, the feed and clean water should be available at all times – note that at the
finishing stage appetite falls relative to bodyweight. Stress is likely to happen as animals are put together; minimise this by grouping animals of the same age and size.

The feedlot system has been a concern for animal welfare activists; if not well planned it can
raise concerns and can have negative effects on the environment. In the developed world,
farmers who plan to engage in this system must pass an animal welfare audit and have an
environmental impact assessment done prior to feedlot production.

Don’t forget that you must identify and secure a good market because you have already
invested too much and you need to get a good price for your product to cover the costs and
make a profit.
=========================================
Contact us for further:
1. Feedlot Consultancy
2. Feedlot Facility Design
3. Feedlot Construction and costing
4. Feedlot Financial Projections and Business Plan
5. Feedlot Beef Market linkages

Whatsapp/Tel: +26879020565

"We are your Livestock Business Consultants."