September 2022 Issue 07 FREE Broiler Management Training 4 Crop Management Systems 18 Importance in t he r ole of Bees 11 9 FREE GESTATION TABLE FOR COWS 2 0 LIVESTOCK MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS – FOR CATTLE, GOATS & SHEEP Contents 4 14 7 9 17 20 3 Editors Note 4 Solar Bottle Bulb – DIY 6 Cattle Auction in October 7 Agriculture Robots Vs Humans 8 Irvine’s Botswana 9 Identify Your Soil Type 10 Lifecycle of Chickens 12 Crop Management 13 All about Cow Gestation 14 FREE Gestation Table for Cattle 15 Kids Experiment – Lava Lamp 16 The Bonsmara Breed 17 Online Agricultural Courses 19 Brain Twisters 20 Fun Facts about Sheep 22 Livestock Management System “Together we can share knowledge, and feed our Nation” TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 3 Dear Readers , My heart is very passionate about our planet, animals and mother earth. Our well - being solely depends on this planet which gives food and water to all living things, so it is our responsibility to take care of it. I believe that a clean environment is essential for healthy living, and enhancing our relationship with nature. It is our duty to protect our earth, because caring for our earth means maintaining the existence of living beings and our future generations. I trust that every reader shall thoroughly enjoy our 7 th Issue of this magazine under the Temo Thuo Farmers Directory. EDITORS NOTE Jerileigh du Preez Temo Thuo Farmers Directory Founder It’s time to bring into being a new future, feeding the world, caring for the earth. In this edition of the Temo Thuo Farmers Directory Magazine, we will be shining a light on a recycled solar bottle bulb, agriculture robotics, and measuring soil types. We are also giving away a FREE Cow Gestation chart. TTFD is also offering all farmers our NEW livestock management system, available for cattle, goats, and sheep. I certainly hope this issue highlights some interesting agricultural news. We are in search of creative solutions as well as inspiration for readers to set goals and become the new era of entrepreneurs Jerileigh du Preez (+267) 754 84 559 info@farmersdirectory.co.bw Issue 7 – September 2022 TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 4 We take for granted our electric lights, windows, and skylights to access the sun’s glow, but for those living in close - together shacks with corrugated - metal roofs, a stray ray is welcome, and something that can spread light to the darkest interior corners can be a dream come true Let’s run through how this easy concept works Materials required to complete your Solar Bottle Light : - 1 liter or 2 liter clear plastic - bottle and cap - Chlorine bleach - Distilled water - Roof sealant STEP ONE : Fill the bottle with distilled water within a few inches from the top , then add a few tablespoons of bleach and allow the bleach to mix on its own with the water WARNING - Do not shake the solution Due to This system was developed by Litre of Light, and they assist poor communities in assembling their own lights and using old plastic bottles filled with water and bleach Litre of Light is a global, grassroots movement committed to providing affordable, sustainable solar light to people with limited or no access to electricity Through a network of partnerships around the world, Liter of Light volunteers teach marginalized communities how to use recycled plastic bottles and locally sourced materials to illuminate their homes, businesses , sheds, outside lighting, and chicken coops, etc Liter of Light has installed more than 350 , 000 bottle lights in more than 15 countries and taught green skills to empower grassroots entrepreneurs at every stop impurities and chlorine, tap water should not be used. The solution of water and bleach will prevent mold growth in the bottle. It will last up to several years before you must change the solution. STEP TWO: Screw the cap on the bottle tightly and wrap the electric tape around the cap to block direct sunlight from weakening it STEP THREE: You must cut a hole in your roof that is the same circumference as the bottle - On a sheet of paper, trace around the base of your bottle with the marker Cut out the circle and trace around it with the marker where you will insert the solar light bottle THE SOLAR BOTTLE BULB OLD PLASTIC BOTTLES HAVE BEEN USED TO LIGHT UP MORE THAN 850 000 HOMES AROUND THE WORLD Issue 7 – September 2022 STEP SEVEN : Follow the same procedure to make and install more solar light bottles in a large room, or for more than one room You will no longer need electric power to light up a dark room during the daytime This solution should effectively light your room for about two to five years Once the bleach/water solution becomes clouded, replace your solar bottle light and solution, or just the solution If you replace only the solution, be sure to rinse the bottle well This will stop the mold and bacteria from growing STEP FOUR : Use the specific hole saw for your roof type and saw the hole for your new solar light bottle STEP FIVE : Set your bottle in place about halfway through the hole The UV rays striking the upper half of the bottle will activate the solution and give the room as much light as a 55 - watt bulb STEP SIX : Use a roof sealant around the bottle where it contacts your roof Put an even coating around the bulb to hold it in place It will also prevent leaks As an alternative method installing your solar light bulb, insert the bottle into a cut - out fitted hole to a 1 meter - by - 1 meter square of sheet metal before setting it over a cut - out hole in your roof Make sure that the hole in the roof is a larger circumference than the bottle, and use a metal screw to screw down each corner of the sheet metal square Apply roof sealant along each edge TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 5 Temo Thuo Farmers Directory Magazine takes no responsibility or liability for any damages or injuries caused by individuals using this method, use this method at your own risk Issue 7 – September 2022 TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 18 WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF ROBOTICS IN AGRICULTURE? Electric farm and factory robots with interchangeable tools, including low - tillage solutions, soft robotic grasping technologies and sensors, will support the sustainable intensification of agriculture, drive manufacturing productivity and underpin future food security These autonomous machines are able to perform many different tasks related to crop maintenance, including weeding, seeding, applying pesticides and herbicides, harvesting fruits and vegetables, thinning plants, and tilling the soil The main applications for autonomous farm technology are the preparation and ploughing of the soil, known as tillage, as well as milking, harvesting, weeding, and pest control TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 7 Can robots replace farmers? In the future, robots will increasingly replace farm workers, probably sooner than we think, using artificial intelligence to plant, grow and harvest our food In fact, many farms globally are already using fleets of robots, which attend to fruits and veggies more efficiently than a human can It seems a bit conflicting , doesn’t it ? I mean, our reliance on technologies to make our lives better and easier, versus our apprehension towards other technologies that might threaten our occupation or expertise What will happen to those who are reliant on their hands - on work with agricultural crops ? Are Agricultural robotics a threat to farm workers? If robots could keep individuals from throwing out their backs while completing laborious and repetitive tasks in agriculture, or coat their skin in chemicals as they spray pesticides across the field, or work under the blazing sun beating on their backs, why not employ them? Why should individuals be doing all this, even for the sake of income, if there are technologies that can help alleviate their work life? Issue 7 – September 2022 (+267) 392 2326 (+267) 72 728 717 / (+267) 76 700 083 IDENTIFY YOUR TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 9 Step one : Fill a clear glass jar halfway with your soil sample Step two : Fill the remaining half with water, leaving 1 inch of air Step three : Attach the lid, then shake the jar vigorously until you have broken up any clumps of soil Step four : Set the jar aside to rest overnight, undisturbed After 24 hours, your jar’s contents will have settled into distinct layers By examining the proportions of these layers, you can gain a sense of what type of soil you have, and what you need to add to improve your soil quality Here are some examples to use for comparison The ideal soil consists of equal parts of sand, silt and clay To have a productive garden, a good soil mix is essential to promote healthy plants that are less susceptible to pests' attacks In general, the soil used for growing edibles should be loamy and well - draining Good soil allows roots to quickly develop and spread, which in turn increases the water and nutrient intake necessary for healthy and productive plants The ideal soil texture consists of equal parts of sand, silt, and clay ; this type of soil is referred to as “loam ” Loamy soil has that perfect balance — it holds moisture but also drains well, allows oxygen to reach plants' roots, and is rich in decayed organic material Let’s preserve the earth’s soil by using organic agrochemicals, as soil provides ecosystem services critical for life SOIL TYPE SAND SILT CLAY 25% Clay 25% Silt 50% Sand 30% Clay 40% Silt 30% Sand 50% Clay 25% Silt 25% Sand Water Clay Silt Sand Issue 7 – September 2022 TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 10 CHICKEN Day 2 : Tissue development starts as does blood circulation Day 3 : Heart starts to beat and blood vessels are visible Day 4 : Amniotic sac starts to develop Day 5 : Elbows and knees develop and their eyes are visible whilst candling Day 6 : Beak starts to form and voluntary movement starts Day 7 : Comb begins to grow Day 8 : Feather follicles start to appear and ear canals open Day 9 : Claws begin to develop and the embryo now looks bird - like Day 10 : Egg teeth and claws are formed Day 11 : Tail feathers start growing Day 12 : Feathers starting to appear Day 13 : Leg scales start to appear and they have a light covering of feathers over their body Stage 1 : Egg Fertilization The first stage of the chicken life cycle is the egg getting fertilized R oosters will try to court the ladies and put themselves forward as the best rooster for a flock husband However, hens are quite fussy in their selection of a mate They consider things like attentiveness, appearance, and food finding, which gives her an idea of the roosters’ health, his ability to find food, and whether or not he will make a good flock leader Mating behaviour involves tidbitting where the rooster finds something interesting and starts calling hens He starts by picking up food and dropping it repeatedly until a hen approaches to investigate The rooster that wins is usually the healthiest out of the bunch Stage 2 : Egg Embryo Day 1 : Development of the germinal disk begins Day 14 : Head turns to pip position Day 15 : Chick will consume egg white Day 16 : They are now completely feathered Day 17 : Egg white is now absorbed and their head is between their legs Day 18 : They are almost fully grown now The yolk sac is still outside the body and their head is under their right wing If your eggs are in the incubator this is lockdown day Day 19 : Yolk sac moving into the body and embryo now occupies all the space except the air cell Day 20 : The Yolk sac is absorbed and the umbilicus now closed The embryo starts to breathe air and becomes a chick Day 21 : Hatching is usually accomplished within eighteen hours but can drag on a little Issue 7 – September 2022 Chicks learn things very quickly especially if they are raised by a broody hen She will teach them all the good things to eat, things to stay away from and dangers to be aware of A mother hen and her chicks is an endearing sight S tage 4 : Pullet (Teenager) A chick becomes a pullet or cockerel at four weeks of age and lasts for around 12 weeks Once you have determined the sexes it is time to separate them It is also the time that they start to assert themselves and find their place in the pecking order Older and higher ranking hens will ensure that the social order is kept and the pullets will have to work their way up gradually Stage 3: Chick Once the hatched chick is dry and fluffed up they can safely be moved to a brooder area. Once in the brooder the chick should be introduced to water and feed and placed under the light or brooder plate The food should contain enough protein, vitamins and minerals for sustained growth over the next several weeks The chick is initially covered in a fine down coat, but t hey will start to lose this coat at 6 - 8 days of age. The second small molt will start around 7 - 12 weeks. At this point the feathering will start to differentiate the boys from the girls. Stage 5 : Hen (Adult ) Now we come to the final stage of their life cycle Hens usually start to lay around the twenty - week mark on average Their first eggs will be small and infrequent The average chicken can live anywhere from 3 to 8 years Keep the space clean, as the build - up of parasites and bacteria can cause many problems from worms to coccidiosis These creatures have a structured hierarchy, great memories, and are able to learn and give much pleasure to humans TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 11 CROP MANAGEMENT MONITORING SYSTEMS ON - SITE MONITORING REMOTE MONITORING Cell: (+267) 71 61 4007 Email: jerrysteamenergy@gmail.com Powered by: Expected calving dates are very important for a number of herd management practices and also knowing when things will be really busy on the farm The gestation length does vary by breed and by sex of the calf Gestation length ranges from about 279 to 287 days For most breeds, 283 days would be the most common Cows carrying bull calves tend to have a slightly longer gestation compared to cows carrying heifer calves Recent research ( Donkersloot , 2014) on more than 58,000 New Zealand animals found the average gestation length to be: 282.7 days for bull calves 281.2 days for heifer calves TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 13 ALL About Gestation length by the dam’s age : In the same study, shows the average gestation length was however shorter in first - calving, which was : cows - 279 5 days for first calvers and 280 8 days for second calvers Animal evaluation using gestation length : Animal evaluation uses calving and associated mating information, along with the sires’ gestation length BV in determining which bull sired which calf The rules around whether a sire is assigned to a calf also depend on calf gender and whether the calf is a single or one of multiple Animal evaluation uses 282 days for heifer calves, 283 days for bull calves, and 276 days for multiple births Mating's that fall within an 11 day window of the estimated mating date are accepted The calculated mating date is worked out using the actual calving date minus 282 , 283 , or 276 days depending on calf gender and whether it’s a multiple, and then adding half of the sire’s gestation length BV, as roughly half of the calf’s genetics come from its sire Calving Difficulty : Higher birthweights are generally linked to difficult calving's, although the dam and calf conformation can mean that heavier calves don’t always cause complications The trouble with managing calving difficulty in the dairy industry is that huge numbers of calves are born every day, and farmers cannot be expected to record birthweights when there’s so much else to do on the farm at that time of year C ows under stress causes a reduction in blood flow to the uterus, triggering premature calving When nights do not cool down, the cow's body does not reach a thermo - neutral state, and the heat stress builds cow gestation Issue 7 – September 2022 TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 14 Get your FREE printable Cow Gestation Table! Available to download from our website or our Facebook page Issue 7 – September 2022 Step one: Fill the bottle up about 1/4th (1 quarter) with water Step two: Pour the vegetable oil in the bottle until is almost full. You may want to use a measuring cup with a spout or a funnel. Step Three: W ait a couple of minutes for the oil and water to separate. Step four: Add a few drops of your favourite food colouring, and watch as the colour sinks through the oil. Did your drops of colour mix with the water immediately or float in between for a few minutes ? Break your fizzy tablet in half and drop part of it into the bottle. Get ready ... because here come the bubbly colourful blobs! You can even get a flashlight, turn off the lights and drop in another half tablet. This time shine the flashlight through the lava lamp while the blobs are bubbling ! The science of how this experiment works: The oil floats on top of the water because it is less dense or lighter than water. The food colouring has the same density as the water so it sinks through the oil and mixes with the water. When you add the tablet it sinks to the bottom and then starts to dissolve. As it dissolves it makes gas and carbon dioxide. Gas or air is lighter than water so it floats to the top. The air bubbles bring some coloured water with them to the top. When the air comes out of the coloured water blob, the water gets heavy again and sinks. It does this over and over again until the tablet is completely dissolved. INSTRUCTIONS HOW TO MAKE A SELF WATERING MINI GREEN HOUSE TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 15 One great thing about this specific science experiment is that you only need a few supplies and you probably already have most of them in your home Supplies needed : - A clean plastic bottle (try to use one with smooth sides) - Water - Vegetable Oil (or you could use Mineral or Baby Oil instead) - Fizzing tablets (such as Alka Seltzer) - Food Colouring LAVA LAMP SCIENCE EXPERIMENT Issue 7 – September 2022 TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 16 The Bonsmara has been scientifically bred and exactly selected for economizing production in the expansive cattle grazing regions of South Africa The Bonsmara has come so popular that it has grown to be numerically the strongest beef breed in South Africa in less than 25 years encourages cow efficiency, and the outstanding mothering ability under all environmental circumstances, even extensive african climates, and this is the reason for their admiration, hence, why the Bonsmara should be at the top of the commercial cattle farmer’s list Bonsmara breed is used mainly for beef, and produce high quality meat Bonsmaras have a calm temperament, which makes it easy to work with them, and the cows have a good maternal ability Physical characteristics : The breed has a uniform red and brown coat, medium horn, a slight hump in the bull and a good beef formation Average Originating in South Africa as a scientific experimentation of professor Bonsma , the Bonsmara was created after numerous cross mating's and back - crosses conforming of five - eighths Afrikaner( Sanga - type), three - sixteenths Hereford, and three - sixteenths Shorthorn( both taurine types ) The breed was recognized in 1964 , and was officially registered in 1972 At present, the Bonsmara breed isn't solely in South Africa, but is also found in Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Swaziland, Mozambique, DR Congo, Angola, Rwanda, as well as Argentina, Australia, Brazil, and in US Bonsmaras are selected and bred through a system that effectively height at withers in adult males is about 123 cm Weights : Mature cows weigh on an average between 500 to 550 kg, producing calves with an average weaning weight of around 230 kg each, where as the bulls can weigh around 800 kg The main difference between beefmaster and bonsmara : B oth breeds comprise 25 % Hereford and 25 % Shorthorn, but the Bonsmara has 50 % Afrikaner, whereas the Beefmaster has 50 % Brahman Greenway Bonsmara Jan Bekker (+267) 716 26 752 janbekker1972@gmail.com EVERYTHING TO KNOW ABOUT Issue 7 – September 2022 ENROLL NOW (+ 267) 76 25 22 44 education@farmersdirectory.co.bw TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 18 Temo Thuo farmers Directory is in collaboration with Agricolleges international which is a modern, cloud - based online learning institution. We provide students with affordable, accessible and industry - relevant education and training in the fields of agriculture and related agri - industries ACI’s unique offering provides access to information in an online, blended and shared learning environment, available from anywhere at any time. ACI offers various short courses in Agribusiness, Plant and Animal Production, as well accredited one - year NQF Level 4 National Certificate courses Contact us today for more information education@farmersdirectory.co.bw (+267) 76 25 22 44 INTRODUCTORY COURSES; ⇝ Introduction to Agribusiness. ⇝ Introduction to Animal production. ⇝ Introduction to Plant Production. FUNDAMENTALS COURSES; ⇝ Fundamentals of Agribusiness. ⇝ Fundamentals of Avocado production. ⇝ Fundamentals of Good Agricultural Practices. ⇝ Fundamentals of Macadamia Production. ⇝ Fundamentals of Maize production. CITRUS COURSES; ⇝ Citrus Harvesting. ⇝ Citrus Packaging. ⇝ Citrus Planting Management. ⇝ Citrus Propagation, Plant Structures & Functions. ⇝ Citrus Pruning. ⇝ Integrated Pest management for Citrus. NATIONAL CERTIFICATES; ⇝ National Certificate in general Agriculture. ⇝ National Certificate in Plant Production. ⇝ National Certificate in Animal Production AVAILABLE COURSES Issue 7 – September 2022 B RAIN - T WISTER 1. A farmer had 500 sheep and took one shot that got them all. How did he do it ? 2. I run all around the pasture/field But never move. What am I ? 3. A farmer in Botswana grows a beautiful pear tree, which he harvests to supply fruit to all the nearby grocery stores. One of the store owners has called the farmer to see how much fruit is available that he can buy. Unfortunately, the farmer isn't currently near the tree, so he has to work it out in his head. He knows that the main trunk of the tree has 24 branches. That each branch has 12 boughs and that each bough has only got 6 twigs. Each one of these twigs bears one piece of fruit, so how many plums will he be able to sell to the store owner ? TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 19 ANSWERS 1. With a camera. 2. A fence. 3. None! He doesn't own a PLUM tree... he owns a PEAR tree! DO YOU HAVE ANY TRICKY FARMING RIDDLES , ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING FARMING FOR OUR NEXT Q&A PAGE, OR ARE YOU A CREATOR OF COMIC STRIPS AND WOULD LIKE TO BE FEATURED IN OUR MAGAZINE ? Give us a call, send us an email, or a WhatsApp for more info. CARROTS LETTUCE “Hey! Those are not menus!” Issue 7 – September 2022 TEMO THUO FARMERS MAGAZINE 20 prevent or treat disease, and teach their young to do the same There are over 1000 breeds of sheep With all of these different breeds, there exist some very unique characteristics Sheep do not have top front teeth Sheep have a hard upper palate that the lower teeth press up against to break down food Sheep are very social animals Sheep form strong bonds with one another, such as those between a mother and her lamb, and other friendships Studies have revealed that sheep can distinguish between different emotional Sheep have rectangular pupils Rectangular pupils allow for a wide field of vision, around 270 to 320 degrees This means that sheep can see almost everything around them, except for what’s directly behind them, without having to turn their heads ! Sheep have an excellent sense of smell One way sheep communicate with each other and their surroundings is through scent Sheep have scent glands in front of their eyes and between the digits of their hooves that produce smelly secretions used to communicate with one another ! Sheep can self - medicate Sheep use plants and other substances that otherwise hold no nutritional value to them to expressions, such as pictures of sheep with calm, startled, or fearful expressions Sheep are emotionally complex with distinct personalities Sheep are capable of experiencing a wide range of emotions, just as humans do Many studies have highlighted the ability of sheep to feel afraid, angry, bored, sad, and happy Not only are sheep able to feel basic emotions, but their feelings can be very complex Issue 7 – September 2022