The farmers of Rietsdale, Umzimkhulu, in KwaZulu-Natal, are likely to see a huge revolution in their cattle stock. A MUT staff member is running a project that will make it possible for the cows of 33 farmers to streamline the birth of their calves. The project, titled Application of Assisted Reproductive Technologies to improve reproductive performance of beef cattle and small stock animals in the smallholder/communal farming Sector of KZN, is funded by the CEAD (Community Engagement and Development) directorate. Its objective is to address the low reproductive rates and introduce superior livestock genetics in communal farming sector through advanced farming technologies.
Project leader, and one of the few registered female reproductive operators in the country, Helen Mapeka, said that the project, called Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), was launched in August 2024. “The project began with a two-week knowledge and skills transfer workshop for Rietsdale farmers in Umzimkhulu, in the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal, near the Eastern Cape border. The training participants included unemployed youth from Rietsdale and women in Agriculture, as well as MUT Agriculture Animal Production students. This is the first project to serve the Rietsdale community, aiming to improve farmers’ overall livestock breeding management practices, enhancing reproduction rates and subsequently increasing production. By adopting and implementing the skills acquired through this project, farmers will be able to contribute to the mainstream red meat industry and improve food security. Additionally, the project aligns with goals 1, 2, 4 and 5 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG),” said Mapeka.
On 22 January 2025, MUT’s CEAD’s Director, Professor Busisiwe Nkonki-Mandleni, and Researcher in the directorate, Dr David Ighodaro, and 18 third year Animal Production students from the Faculty of Applied and Health Sciences, were with Mapeka during the on-farm implementation of ART. Through a gloomy, overcast day that threatened with rain, 90 cows were ear-tagged for identification, a first for these farmers, and diagnosed for pregnancy. Out of these, 49 cows were synchronized with hormones to induce their oestrus cycle in preparation for artificial insemination guided by the synchronization protocol. Mapeka, a Lecturer in the Department of Agriculture, said that this was a procedure/technology used to artificially impregnate livestock, using frozen-thawed bull sperms without involving natural bull mating.
The students said they were learning a lot from the project. Kwanele Hlongwa said she learned that the small scale farmers still need more programmes like the ART “because they do have livestock and land, but they lack information”. Hlongwa never thought record keeping was so important. “Yesterday I saw the importance of having records of your cow from birth. I also learnt from farmers because they have their own farming knowledge and experience which added on our knowledge from lecturers. I can say we have to mix traditional farming experience and advanced farming experience and knowledge to be successful in farming industry as black people,” Hlongwa said.
The farmers were very appreciative of the initiative. Bhekameva Mbotho, Chairperson of the farmers said he was encouraging this kind of help. “The farmers are taking their farming seriously because of MUT’s intervention. The tone is changing. There is more expectation. MUT has given us more hope. Now there is a light at the end of the tunnel,” said Mboto.