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The Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (LDARD) in the Vhembe West Agro-Ecological Zone, in partnership with Boere Koporasie Beperk (BKB) Livestock Auctioneers, recently held livestock auctions at Mashamba TVET College and in the Dzanani sub-zone.
The initiative aims to provide local farmers with easier access to livestock auctions, allowing them to sell, buy or exchange animals within their own communities. The sessions also offered farmers an opportunity to share knowledge on production practices, essential farming principles, biosecurity, animal movement regulations and the importance of proper branding, all of which influence auction prices.
Livestock farmers in rural Limpopo often experience severe market instability, particularly during dry seasons when prices tend to drop. The initiative seeks to reduce the cost of transporting livestock to distant markets and to create a more accessible and profitable trading environment for farmers.
Farmers were briefed on various factors affecting auction outcomes, including the quality, age and breed of animals, as well as broader market conditions.
Agricultural officials highlighted the importance of complying with animal movement rules and stressed that branding is essential for traceability and disease control. They also underlined the need to maintain Makhado as a disease-free zone, particularly with regard to foot and mouth disease, to safeguard livestock health and support the local economy.
Farmers were encouraged to adopt improved livestock management practices to strengthen sustainable farming and enhance profitability.
October 31, 2025/South Africa-Limpopo/
https://www.ldard.gov.za/
