Animal Husbandry of the Hottentots
In a controversial article from the 1930s, Epstein seeks to provide and agricultural and ecological history of the Nama of Southern Namibia, with emphasis on livestock.
H. Epstein
Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Science and Animal Industry, Vol. 9, No. 2. October 1937
1937
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The history of veterinary medicine in Namibia
Until the middle of the 19th century, very few references exist regarding the occurrence of animal diseases in Namibia. With the introduction of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) in 1859, this picture changed completely and livestock owners implemented various forms of disease control in an effort to contain the spread of this disease and minimise its devastating effects. After the establishment of the colonial administration in 1884, the first animal disease legislation was introduced in 1887 and the first veterinarian, Dr Wilhelm Rickmann, arrived in 1894. CBPP and the outbreak of rinderpest in 1897 necessitated a greatly expanded veterinary infrastructure and the first veterinary laboratory was erected at Gammams near Windhoek in 1897. To prevent the spread of rinderpest, a veterinary cordon line was established, which was the very beginning of the Veterinary Cordon Fence as it is known today. After the First World War, a small but dedicated corps of veterinarians again built up an efficient animal health service in the following decades, with veterinary private practice developing from the mid–1950s. The veterinary profession organised itself in 1947 in the form of a veterinary association and, in 1984, legislation was passed to regulate the veterinary profession by the establishment of the Veterinary Council of Namibia. The outbreak of foot and mouth disease in 1961 was instrumental in the creation of an effective veterinary service, meeting international veterinary standards of quality and performance which are still maintained today.
Herbert P. Schneider
http://www.jsava.co.za/index.php/jsava/article/view/4
Journal of the South African Veterinary Association
2012
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Karakul: Gift from the Arid Land (Namibia 1907-2007)
"This is the story of the Karakul in Namibia - their origin, how they came to be in the country and their status today. It documents the development of the Karakul industry and the commitment of the Karakul Board, the Karakul Breeders' Society, the stud breeders and the commercial pelt producers as well as the dedicated pioneers. The development of large parts of arid areas in Namibia would not have been possible had it not been for the Karakul. It gave agriculture a stimulus that not only benefited the economy but also leads to the establishment and maintenance of a healthy balance between the ecosystem and its agricultural utilization for the welfare of man. The Karakul sheep was a perfect solution for turning arid sandy and rocky wastes into productive land, because it could be raised profitably in an inhospitable environment. Since the 1960s, Karakul pelts from Namibia are known as swakara (trade mark) (South West African Karakul) and are marketed as such internationally. The spectacular and beautiful Shallow Curl and Watered Silk pelts soon earned world recognition and from the outset renowned fur designers and craftsmen were eager to work with this magnificent, new and easy to handle, unique type of Karakul fur. The role of the Government in the 100 years of Karakul industry has been of great significance. Patient breeding techniques began to pay off. The development of the Shallow and Watered Silk Curl at Neudamm was decisive for the Karakul industry, expanding from its modest beginnings in 1907 into a multimillion dollar enterprise. Karakul research and breeding experiments carried out on three research stations, stimulated a fast-growing branch of farming. Government research and applicable results were disseminated to all parties concerned over the years and contributed considerably to attaining the current standard of excellence. The Karakul (also referred to as the Black Diamond) made it possible to farm and make a living in the vast arid south of Namibia. The Karakul is the gift to the arid land and the pelts they produce are the gift from the arid land."
Brenda Bravenboer (with B. von Kunow)
Karakul Board of Namibia
2007
© Brenda Bravenboer
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Farming Systems in Namibia
"Farming has thus forcefully shaped human history over the past 11,000 years. But what of Namibia, where agriculture has only been practiced during the last thousand years or so? How has farming changed, and what sections of Namibian society are hunter-gatherers, pastoralists, crop producers or the beneficiaries of surpluses produced by others? What kinds of agriculture may help us escape poverty? Can we produce surpluses that are simply edible, or can they be sold to generate money to buy food grown by other people, perhaps in other countries? And setting ourselves higher goals, how can Namibia secure enough surplus food to have time and energy for technological and economic development? These are big questions. This book focuses on more modest questions, such as: how do Namibians farm and what factors influence agriculture? But without addressing the smaller questions, it may take much longer to get at the bigger challenges."
John Mendelsohn, Selma el Obeid, Nico de Klerk and Piers Vigne
Namibia National Farmers Union, RAISON (Research and Information Services of Namibia)
2006
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