A farm with no animals and poultry is unthinkable. Therefore our farm, Vlakfontein, is endowed with cattle, chicken, duck, geese, turkey, and peacock. Cattle have been dealt with elsewhere, but poultry haven’t been covered yet on our web site. As guests and particularly children are keen on seeing animals and poultry on a farm, it is appropriate to show them. Children always  like to “feed the birds.”

A slide show of some birds on the farm follows in a few seconds.

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A frequently asked question by visitors concerns the marketing of livestock, and in particular cattle. It is therefore apt to publish a brief summary on the web site on how the system works.

The farmer (producer or seller) can sell his product direct to the public, butcher or abbatoir. However, because he feels often vulnerable with the direct marketing of his product, he prefers to use an intermediary or agent. Usually it is done through the more orderly means of auctions where the farmer offers his product, and the prospective buyer makes a bid. Normally the farmer sells to the highest bidder.

The process is facilitated by an agent or auctioneer, who presents the product to the prospective buyers  present. Cattle are brought into a weigh ring enabling seller and buyer alike to immediately calculate the value at current price/kilogram. If the farmer accepts the product goes to the buyer who bids the highest.

By using an registered agent, farmers can be assured that their interests are best served by an accredited person. The agent earns a commission for services rendered. Agents are required to register with the Agricultural Produce Agents Council (APAC).

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The farm Vlakfontein, originally in excess of 2000 hectare and presently 572 hectare,  was established in 1865 when the first title deed was registered in the name of Frederik Jacobus Mare, great grand-father of Frederik, who is still living on the farm. (See also Farm History.)  The first structure on the farm was a stone and earth  cottage of  48 m2,  presently hosting an old ox wagon.

The old kraal for cattle was also erected the same time against a slope in view of the cottage.

The cottage soon became too small, and a more spacious house was built close by with a lean-to storage room and stable. A section was  converted to a residence for a manager. The remaining portion is presently being used as a shed for farm equipment.

Before the Anglo-Boer War a still larger homestead was erected,  but destroyed during the War. It was re-built in 1908 and later further enlarged. It is still in use by the owners and family. The early residents and relatives were buried on the farm in the family graveyard.

The rest of the farm structures consist of out-buildings, viz. sleeping quarters for workers, storage facilities, chicken house, kraal, etc.

The old canal water system was up-graded to a pumping and pipe-line  reticulation network from the eye of the spring to the farmhouse, employee housing, chalets, and cattle watering troughs. Three fase Eskom electricity is available. A Sentech (FM radio) antennae, as well as  a Telkom line, Vodacom and MTN base stations service the farm. Roads consist of farm roads regularly maintained. Refuse and sewage management is properly taken care of.  (See “Environment” on this web-site.)

The clean and neat farmyard, as part of a farm infrastructure, is characteristically alive with poultry, viz. geese, duck, turkey, peacock, chicken creating a real rural ambience and attraction for children.

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The Drakensberger is indigenous to South Africa.

In 1497 when Vasco da Gama landed at the Cape he traded valuables for cattle, which were black in colour, from nomadic tribes, viz. the Khoi. However, it was only in the time of Jan van Riebeeck, and more precisely Simon van der Stel, that cattle farming started in earnest.

At the time of the Great Trek in 1836 – 37, some of the Voortrekkers left the Cape, and trekked northward with teams of black oxen for their wagons. These cattle were by then known as the Vaderlander.

Many Voortrekkers settled and farmed along the Drakensberg region. One of these families, the Uys family, who farmed in the Volksrust district, was dedicated to the breed, and began refining it. Eventually these cattle became known as the Uys cattle. In 1947 it was officially and appropriately re-named Drakensberger after the Drakensberg range where they were mostly concentrated. Ultimately the breed spread through most of the country.

A young pure bred Drakensberger bull

The Drakensberger thrive extremely well on sourveld grazing in cool, harsh climatic conditions. Hench they also adapt well in the Eastern Highveld where the farm Vlakfontein, and Treeferns Trout Lodge are situated.

Young Drakensberger beef cattle

The Drakensberger is a medium size sturdy breed, glossy black in colour, and known for its excellent tender beef, good milk production, and mothering ability. They are even tempered, and therefore easy to handle, and also very resistant to diseases.

At Vlakfontein farm the stud is being upgraded with breeding stock from J.S.(Kobus) Davel of the Moeilykheid Stud near Dullstroom.

The results are already visible as can be seen from the slide show:

Vlakfontein is also a going farming concern, and the agricultural activities mainly comprise cattle and crop farming. The farm is 572 hectares in size and was planned by the department of Agricultural Technical Services as a viable economic unit. Drakensberger cattle are indigenous to South Africa, well adapted to the high cooler regions, and known for the production of milk and fine tender beef.
 

Maize are produced mainly for own use and forage.