Farming in Africa is tough, making climate-smart genetics a necessity. Livestock expert Ndumiso Gule, who works closely with the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (RPO), explains how matching cattle genetics to your specific regional climate data protects your herd from extreme weather.
True sustainability in livestock farming begins with selecting animals that can thrive in their specific environment. Ndumiso Gule, director of Gule Agri Consulting, joins us to discuss climate-smart genetics.
He explores how breed selection serves as a primary defence against climate change and why indigenous and adapted genetics are key to a low-input, sustainable future.
In working with the RPO, Gule conducts farmer training sessions and information days, helping producers make informed decisions that align with their specific geographic realities.
Related stories
- Livestock health: Why biosecurity starts at the farm gate
- Innovations in red meat industry: Technology shaping the future
- No market access, no future: The heavy cost of FMD
- Red meat’s new story: Healing land through grazing
Selecting a suitable breed
In this episode, we explore how matching cattle genetics to climatic data can protect a farming operation from the elements and how the RPO promotes agricultural innovation through heritage and composite breeds.
“When a farmer finds themselves on a farming setup, they need to make a decision on which breed to farm with,” Gule says. “They will look at the environment…if it is in a hot, low-rainfall area and then look at the vegetation, the amount of grass, and things like humidity.
“They look at average temperatures throughout the year and whether they are likely to get frost or snow in winter. With all that climatic information collected, they can then select the suitable breed for that location.”
The power of indigenous breeds
When considering why indigenous options, such as Nguni and Afrikaner cattle, remain highly suited to South Africa’s climate, Gule emphasises that survival must come before aesthetic appeal.
“Africa is harsh; it’s hot, and at times it’s tropical,” says Gule. “Nguni cattle have been occurring in South Africa for the longest of times and are acclimatised. They have faced and seen different challenges, and the Afrikaners are tough animals as well. It is better to have an alive animal than to try to bring in a fancy genetic animal that dies. They survive.”
Gule highlights how these heritage breeds continue to anchor the modern red meat industry through cross-breeding programmes.
“They continue to play a big role in the beef industry in terms of how they’ve been used to create formidable beef breeds. The Afrikaner is the backbone of the Bonsmara; without the Afrikaner in that cross, the Bonsmara wouldn’t exist today.”
READ NEXT: Eskort expands high-tech pork network with two new hubs
