Introduction
Welcome to the web site for Elandshoek. The site is intended to share information of the farm called Elandshoek Guest Farm.
Elandshoek Guest Farm is farm living at its best. A number of agricultural activities are undertaken at Elandshoek, currently the most intense being the management of the Elandshoek Jerseys, a stud Jersey herd producing fresh high fat milk on a daily basis.
Visit our products page if you are looking for a premium milk and juice products with high value for money.
The Farm
Elandshoek Guest Farm is now a Close Corporation with registration number 2007/084138/23 and is operated on a 71 Hectare property within the Cullinan District. Cullinan, where the world's largest diamond was found, is located in Nokeng, north east of Tshwane (Pretoria) in the province of Gauteng, South Africa.
The farm was purchased in 2001, and was only utilised as a private dwelling. The idea was always there to develop a Guest Farm and get more involved in the agricultural and tourist industry.
We are now in the position to take the next step, and that is to develop the Guest and Training facilities and therefore looking for one investment partner to finance this development.
If you or your company are interested in such an investment in South Africa, and be part of a unique opportunity to train and develop persons from any SADC country in animal husbandry, animal reproduction, animal health and dairy value added products, please contact Kevin on kevin@elandshoek.co.za for further details. This opportunity to find the right partner will close on the 29th of February 2008, and we reserve the right to change this closing date, and the selection will be at the sole discretion of the sole member of Elandshoek Guest Farm.
The training to manufacture dairy value added products will range from Yogurt, Maas, Feta and also but not limited to a range of other cheeses.
The intention is to develop but not limited to:
- ten self catering log cabins and content;
- dining room and furniture;
- Lapa and tea garden;
- training room and equipment,
all, to accommodate tourists visiting this wonderful part of South Africa, or for delegates interested in attending any of the above planned courses.
The Team
The farm is owned by Kevin Rainsford, born in Gweru, Zimbabwe, with a background in the electronics and telecommunications industry, finds the outdoors, agriculture and tourism far more challenging and rewarding than the corporate environment. To find out more about Kevin, visit his private web site at www.rainsford.co.za
The farm is managed by Piet van Eeden, born in Kempton Park, Gauteng. He grew up in Waterval Boven in Mpumalanga and completed his schooling and agricultural studies at the Morgenzon Agricultural Academy in Mpumalanga. Piet has a passionate interest in the animal improvement of the Jersey breed within South Africa. Piet also participates and gives valuable input to the planning and development of this agricultural and tourism venture.
Elandshoek Jerseys
There are a number of dairy breeds available in South Africa of which the most popular are Holstein-Friesland, Jersey, Guernsey, Ayrshire, Swiss (Brown- and Dairy-), and Dairy Shorthorn.
The decision was made in the first quarter of 2005 to acquire Jersey Cattle. The first ten Jerseys were bought in March 2005, one cow and nine heifers and a further ten heifers added in May. A further 35 animals were added to the herd in June 2006.
Mature Jersey cows weigh between 380 and 450Kg. The breed has its origin on the Jersey Islands. The first Jersey animals were imported to South Africa in 1881. The outstanding characteristic of the Jersey is its "yellow" milk which has a very high butterfat content. Jersey milk has the highest protein content of all the dairy breeds, and the Jersey is increasing in economic viability and popularity.
All heifers born on the farm are kept and reared for replacements, and all bull calves are sold. The heifers born on the farm are all given names. The first born for 2007 is called "Rainsford Garth Echo" her surname is "Rainsford" the name of her breeder, her second name is "Garth" the name of her father or sire and her first name is Echo. All heifers born in 2007 will have their names starting with the character E, and in 2008 their names will start with an F, using the next character of the alphabet for every next year.
All our Jersey cattle are registered with Jersey South Africa and all our heifers are also registered with their full names. Each heifer born in the herd of Elandshoek Jerseys is identified by a three character breeder code and a unique four digit number indicating the year of her birth and a sequence of birth.
The characters EOZ is registered to Elandshoek Jerseys as the breeder code and tattooed into the heifer's right ear and the number 0701 in the left ear. The 07 indicating the year 2007 in which she was born and the number 01 as the first born for that year.
On registration, each animal is issued a Recording Certificate by the South African Stud Book and Livestock Improvement Association. The certificate also gives the names of her parents and grand parents.
The parents and grand parent's information is given on the certificate to assist with the selection of the bull to be paired with the heifer for genetic improvement, thus preventing the in breeding of the Jersey breed.
All feed for the animals are purchased from Afgri, Delmas in Mpumalanga. The pre-bagged feed is delivered every fortnight to our warehouse on the farm. The animals are divided op into four groups that receive different feed rations. The four groups of animals are the cows in lactation, the dry cows, the heifers older than four months of age and heifer calves under the age of four months.
The lactating cows are fed a total mixed ration or TMR four times a day, they are also given a high quality eragrostis grass for ad lib grazing. The dry cows are fed the same eragrostis grass with a concentrated ration added twice a day. From the age of four months, the heifers are fed a calf grower ration to the age of twenty four months, the ideal age for a Jersey heifer to calf for the first time. The heifer calves are fed a complete calf ration from 3 days old to three months of age.
Piet ensures artificial insemination is carried out on all that the cows and heifers when they come into estrus, or on heat as we often refer to. The animals are artificially inseminated with the semen from either of the following bulls, Luger, Garth, Lancelot or Goran.
Taurus is our official supplier of all our animal reproduction consumables, located in Irene, Pretoria
Our veterinarian from the Embriosem visits the herd once a month or whenever requested. The state veterinarian visits every six months, and every twelve months to test for Tuberculosis and Brucellosis. All heifers are vaccinated with S19 at the age of five months.
Elandshoek Dairy
Elandshoek Dairy is where the cows are milked twice a day, first at five in the morning and next at four in the afternoon. The dairy parlor is equipped with a four point milking system and therefore only four cows at a time enter the parlor to be milked. Each cow is prepared for milking by cleaning each of the four teats with a steralising solution and water and then dried with a clean paper towel. The cluster is then applied to the teats to remove the milk automatically. When all the milk has been removed, the cluster is removed and each teat is then treated to prevent any contamination of the teats. The milked cows then leave the parlor, and the next four enter.
The cows produce an average of 21 liters of milk per day in the parlor. Our highest producer delivers 31 liters per day. Records are also kept of the milk produced at each milking, by each cow for every day of her 304 days in lactation. The fresh milk is immediately pumped into a bulk storage tank, where it is cooled down from 37 degrees Celsius to 3 degrees Celsius in less than two hours. The cold milk is then pasturised using a 1000 litre per hour pasturiser and transferred to a second 1200 litre bulk storage tank. Milk pasteurisation takes place by heating the cold milk to 72 degrees Celcius for around 17 seconds and re-cooled to around 10 degrees Celsius before it enters the next bulk tank. The second tank cools it down further to 3 degrees.
The cold pasteurised milk is now ready for packaging or transportation.
Strict hygiene practices and procedures are maintained to ensure high quality milk from Elandshoek Dairy.
Elandshoek Quality
We boast with strict processes and procedures to ensure the quality of workmanship, resulting in tasks undertaken is of the highest standard.
Milk samples are taken from each cow every five weeks. The samples are sent for testing at Lacto Lab (Pty) Ltd in Irene, Pretoria. The tests are for Fat, Protein, Lactose, Somatic Cell Count and the Urea in the milk.
A Milk Recording E-Report is generated and returned to Elandshoek Jerseys. The report gives feedback on herd production statistics, herd condition and herd health. The happier our cows are the better the milk they produce.
To ensure worlds best practice in the dairy industry Elandshoek Dairy adheres to the Code of Practice and its references to legislation as documented by the Dairy Standards Agency of South Africa.
For Elandshoek Dairy, this document, though inexpensive, is invaluable and a comprehensive source of information to maintain world class dairy products.
Quoting the Dairy Standards Agency, "The Code of Practice is based on existing legislation, applicable to milk and dairy products, together with the SABS 049 that is not industry specific. The document is presented in a simple, colour-coded layout and divided into chapters that cover the activities from the primary producer to the distributor as well as other requirements, necessary to produce safe milk"
We at Elandshoek Dairy believe that the "more natural the more healthy" our products will be. One thing we do not do, is we do not homogenise our milk.
There are many articles written on the health concerns and health risks around homogenized milk. Mary G. Enig, PhD wrote, "One widely held popular theory singles out homogenization as a cause of the current epidemic of heart disease".
With homogenised milk, the cream does not separate in the milk, and commercially this is more acceptable to most consumers. However, with un-homogenized milk the cream will form a layer at the top of the milk when left for some time, thus not appealing to the consumer. We would rather want to inform our consumers that natural milk need only to be shaken or stirred to remix the cream back into the milk.
Elandshoek Products
We at Elandshoek cut out the middle man, and focus on products that deliver high value for money and unparalleled in this market. Consumers are very conscious of their health, and today, eating the right food ranks number one as the most important health aspect. For this reason, premium milk and juice should form part of a healthy diet.
Visit our products page to view more detail.
Pasturised full cream milk is now available in a 500ml sachet. The sachet is currently only available for delivery to the north east part of Tshwane (Pretoria). For more information on the availability and for a price list please contact us by e-mailing info@elandshoek.co.za
Elandshoek now offer the following premium products more affordably to our customers. Seven flavours of Nectar and Nectar Blends in convenient 500ml bottles and also three of the flavours in 500ml sachets.
The Nectars include a 50% Orange, a 40% Guava, a 40% Tropical Punch and a 40% Litchi.
The Blends include a 40% Mango Orange, a 40% Peach Apricot and a 40% Orange Granadilla.
Three of the Nectars are also available in convenient 500ml sachets, being the 50% Orange, the 40% Guava and the 40% Tropical Punch.
The 500ml bottles are stored and transported in standard crates, each crate holding 25 bottles. The sachets are also stored and transported in the same crates, however 45 sachets are packed into one crate.
Elandshoek also offer approved customers an Elandshoek Branded beverage cooler at no additional cost, conditions do apply! This fridge is 1140mm wide, 2020mm high and 635mm deep. It has eight shelves to carry only Elandshoek products. This convenient cooler has sliding doors thus saving on floor space in your retail outlet.
For more information on the availability, and for your price list, please contact us at: info@elandshoek.co.za
Elandshoek Guest Farm
We currently offer visits to the farm, however, we are in the process of planning guest accommodation on the farm. What better way to get out of the city and visit a truly remarkable farm. Take a breather on the 71 hectare land. Early morning walks, milking cows, and trips to local historic spots are all part of the visit to Elandshoek Guest Farm.
Guests include students from universities wanting to gain practical experience, and also to gather information for tasks assigned by their respective universities. The students participate in all activities ranging from milking the cows in the parlor to feeding the heifer calves. All processes and procedures are covered with our guests and administrative activities are also discussed including but not limited to budget and finance.
It is a great learning experience for children. They will learn where milk really comes from, experience farm life first hand, and partake in milking their own cow.
Get out of the city and experience fresh, clean air at Elandshoek Guest Farm.
Elandshoek Disclaimer
Elandshoek Guest Farm provides no warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of any material, link or service provided on or through this web site and accepts no liability for loss or damage of any nature whatsoever, as a result of or which may attribute to the use of, or the reliance upon, material, links or services provided on or through this web site.
No information published on this site may be used or reproduced without prior permission from Elandshoek Guest Farm.
