The 2024 National Master Dairyman Awards brought joy and celebration to Foundation Farm, a family-run dairy in Weenen, KwaZulu-Natal, co-owned by Barry and Jane Schiever. The winners were announced by the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) on Wednesday, 13 November, at Lanzerac Estate in Stellenbosch.
This prestigious competition, a highlight of South Africa’s agricultural calendar, annually recognises outstanding performance by the country’s top dairy farmers.
Winners are celebrated across various categories for breeding genetically superior animals, using performance recording, and applying testing as key tools.
Large-Scale Master Dairyman of the Year
Foundation Farm’s journey has been one of grit, family, and relentless dedication. Barry recalled their humble beginnings in 1990 with only 20 cows. Today, they care for nearly 2 000 cows, supplying top brands like Nestlé, Douglasdale, and Dairyland.
Reflecting on their success, Barry attributes it to “hard work, family support, and determination across generations”. He believes a shared vision turned small beginnings into a flourishing dairy operation.
Barry emphasised that milk recording, done in partnership with the Agricultural Research Council, has been instrumental in improving herd performance. “It’s a valuable tool, helping us enhance each cow’s potential.”
Their focus on genetics, teamwork, and local supplier support has also been vital in achieving their goals.
Jane, who finds joy in seeing their farm produce quality milk and nurture healthy animals, shared her hopes for more women in agriculture. “Women play an essential role, whether directly on the farm or as support. I’d love to see more women in this sector, valued for the unique contributions they bring,” Jane said.
Other award winners
The winners of the 2024 ARC National Master Dairyman Awards included Pieter Steenkamp and Dirk van Papendorp of Tweekop Boerdery in Heidelberg, Western Cape, who won Medium-Scale Dairyman of the Year. Gugulomuzi Ngcobo from Donnybrook, KwaZulu-Natal, won Small-Scale Dairyman of the Year.
Other winners are Etienne Zeeman from Swellendam, Western Cape, for the Herd with the Best Somatic Cell Count, with 157 000 cells/ml, and Heinrich Hurter from Plettenberg Bay, Western Cape, for the Herd with the Best Intercalving Period, with an intercalving period of only 391 days.
The awards ceremony included a panel discussion on sustainable youth development. Moderated by Breyton Milford, the general manager of Agri-Expo, the panel featured Prof. Norman Maiwashe, general manager of animal production at the ARC, Daneel Rossouw, head of sales of agriculture at Nedbank, and Marguerite van Niekerk, a dairy science lecturer at Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute.
Maiwashe highlighted the importance of investing in skills and research, recommending that the industry allocate more resources and work together to engage young people in agriculture through initiatives such as agricultural shows. Van Niekerk echoed this, calling for greater industry access for students, both during and after their studies, to help them gain practical experience.
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Partners in agricultural excellence
Dr Litha Magingxa, the president and CEO of the ARC, and Joyene Isaacs, chairperson of the ARC, both underscored the impactful role of partnerships in achieving synergy and excellence within South African agriculture.
The 2024 awards event was hosted by Agri-Expo on behalf of the National Milk Recording and Improvement Scheme of the ARC, with support from partners including the department of agriculture, the department of land reform and rural development, Nedbank, Nova Feeds, Agri-Expo, Semex South Africa, World Wide Sires South Africa, Meadow Feeds, Chemuniqué, Ecolab, and Axiota® Animal Health.
The ARC’s National Milk Recording and Improvement Scheme plays a critical role in the dairy industry through the provision of genetic improvement services, accredited by the International Committee for Animal Recording (ICAR).
The objective of the scheme is to enhance the sustainability and profitability of production, ultimately contributing to food security, job creation, and human capital development.
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