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A WORD FROM GUSTAV

As far as growth and profitability are concerned, 2015 has been our best year ever. All the sections were firing on all cylinders and performed – without exception –

above budget. This would not have been possible without the excellent support services at our office. A special word of thanks goes to the logistics coordinators and the personnel responsible for the operational administration, financial administration, reception, cleaning service and messenger service.

The spouses and families also deserve special recognition. Without their supportive roles at home the individual staff members would not have been able to perform and reach new heights.

Wishing you all a prosperous festive season.

CHICKENS GO GREEN (AGAIN)

EDITION 11 l DECEMBER 2015

By Leon Ekermans

For decades, in-feed inclusion of antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) at subtherapeutic levels was practised

successfully to prevent diseases and to improve performance in farm animals. Lately, however, with the global trend of consumer perceptions of quality and safety of animal products, feed manufacturing has become exponentially more complex in terms of accountability and traceability of feeds and their component ingredients.

Bester supports the drive by AFMA (Animal Feed Manufacturers Association) to reduce or eliminate most – if not all – of the possible antibiotic related products in farm feed. According to AFMA, the new-generation feed additives rather enhances the digestibility of nutrients (like enzymes), competitively excludes harmful pathogens (like “friendly” in-feed microbes), pro- and prebiotics that work similarly to the competitive exclusion products, as well as stimulating the natural immune system or increasing the production of vitamin B12, bacteriocins and propionic acid. Organic acids have also recently been considered as a new generation of growth promoters, since it is proposed that they provide energy and improve protein digestion.

New on the block are plant-origin products, such as herbs, spices and various plant extracts that have received increased attention as possible antibiotic growth promoter replacements, as they are considered to be natural products that consumers would accept. Plant additives are reported to possess useful antimicrobial phytochemicals, such as phenolics and polyphenols (simple phenols and phenolic acids, quinones, flavones, tannins and coumarins), glucosinolates, terpenoids and essential oils, alkaloids, and lectins and polypeptides.

Good examples of polyphenols are cashews, lemon balm and burdock (perdeblom). Henna produces quinines, green

tea is used for flavonoid and caraway produces coumarins. Blueberry and cranberry are rich in fructose, which inhibits E. coli growth. Our own rooibos (bush tea) is rich in polyphenols and has high antioxidant properties. Chicken spices will have a new definition. The garlic, onion, buchu, black pepper, dill and rosemary should rather be used to produce healthy chickens, and not to spice up after the event!

Our new venture, Bester Fruit & Nuts, might well be in a good position to investigate the possibilities to contribute towards the supply of these natural products for chicken feed.

My surname is not Noakes, but I will assure you that any of the above is also applicable to your own nutrition and wellness.

The old issue is still to be resolved: which came first, the chicken or the egg?

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ALL EYES ON CHINABy Mia Conradie and Hendri Oosthuizen

The first pecan nut season of Bester Fruit & Nuts is certainly a memorable one. We had to face several challenges and

the learning curve had an acute upward motion, as with any new venture. However, we took the bull by the horns and ensured a good start.

As the South African crop is essentially earmarked for the Chinese market, we thought it proper to visit our Chinese clients. The visit strengthened our relationships with the Chinese and painted a clearer picture of this market.

In 2015 several events influenced the Chinese economy, consequently leading to uncertainty in the South African pecan nut industry. We came to the conclusion that there will definitely be a demand for pecan nuts in the Chinese market, but it will be determined by the quality and price. Pecan nuts can easily be replaced with other nuts; therefore it is important to remain competitive towards the entire nut basket. The Chinese market is seemingly not yet saturated and the potential for growth still exists.

It is typical of the Chinese culture to entertain and sometimes business is not a high priority. Our clients went to a lot of trouble to make our Chinese experience a very

pleasant one. Their hospitality was overwhelming, but after a week’s cultural experiences, we were ready to head back home. Yes, as the saying goes, “There is no place like home”.

AGRI MEGA WEEK 2015The Bester winter grain purchasing team

once again had a successful Mega Week in Bredasdorp, where we were fully represented at the well-known “Bester stall on the corner” in the BKB Cattle Centre. Bester clients were welcomed in a friendly manner and new clients had the opportunity to talk to the entire purchasing team.

Gido Jansen van Rensburg represented Bester at a very successful agricultural debate. He highlighted the grain marketer’s viewpoint in a changing agricultural environment where wheat production has to be increased.

DROUGHT/RAINFALL IN THE SWARTLAND 2015By Bertus Bester

Over the past ten years the Swartland had an average of 525 mm rain per year. We wanted to compare this

year with 2003/2004 when we had 325 mm and 340 mm rain respectively, but it was soon clear that the weather pattern was completely different.

In April the planting machines got moving when farmers started establishing their grain crops between the dust and clods. But the rain stayed away in April.

There was a flicker of hope when 7 mm was recorded on 30 May. In June the rainfall was 61 mm and in July 67 mm, giving us a good start. All grain crops could germinate and the season looked promising in the Swartland, in spite of the late start.

Thereafter the plug was pulled. In August only 24 mm fell, and in September – a vital month for wheat – a mere 8 mm. Hopes of a bumper crop faded and some of the wheat started perishing, as rain is essential for proper development. According to MSD 177 mm was recorded for the year – the driest in 75 years. The dams are not even 20% full and there is every indication that this drought will have far-reaching effects.

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Bester is actively involved in primary agricultural activities. We are therefore at first hand aware of the disastrous

drought currently experienced in the entire country. Our close association with several producers over many years inspired us to offer our help by donating coarse fodder to Agri Western Cape, Agri Northern Cape and Agri Free State.

We use our own baler for the loads and Bextrans then transports the bales free of charge to the farmers in the designated areas.

We trust that other organisations will also use this initiative to join hands with organised agriculture, to support farmers and to make a contribution to food security in South Africa.

DROUGHT RELIEF

Choctaw pecan nutsWichita pecan nutsLucerne on Bester Farms – Hartswater

Pecan nut trees on Bester Farms – Hartswater

The farming activities of BexGroup, Bester Farms, are situated in the

Hartswater district in Northern Cape, central South Africa. Top export quality Lucerne (Alfalfa) hay and Pecan nuts are produced on these farms.

The deep fertile soil, extreme climate and irrigation from the Vaal- and Harts rivers make this the ideal location for the farming of Pecan nuts and Lucerne hay. These farms use only the latest and most sophisticated technology in the production process to assure top export quality products. The farms are located close to Bester Vaalharts Depot, our Pecan nut processing plant, as well as Bester Lucerne Depot.

Pecan nut cultivars on the farms:• Choctaw – is one of the cultivars

that yields the biggest size nuts in the cultivar spectrum. Furthermore, Choctaw performs well in areas where humidity are absent as well as areas with low rainfall, which makes the

location of the Bester farms ideal for Choctaw cultivation.

• Wichita – is a well performing cultivar, contributing to the diversification on the farm.

These two cultivars are excellent for the international in shell market as it can obtain high meat yields.

Lucerne (Alfalfa) cultivar on the farms:• Multi Leaf (ML99) – ML99 is a

relatively new cultivar in South Africa, with a very high dormancy (10).

ML Lucerne has been developed to incorporate a new level of quality and production in Winter active Lucerne driven by high expression of multi-foliate leaves plus all the qualities currently required by Lucerne growers and users. The cultivar has been tested under intensively irrigated and dry land conditions to meet international expectations.

Pecan nut trees on Bester Farms – Hartswater

BESTER FARMS IN THE HARTSWATER DISTRICT

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SWARTLAND SHOW 2015By Attie Thomass

Bester manned a stall at the annual Swartland Show in Moorreesburg this year. We had a good time mingling with existing and new clients. Bester was also a sponsor of the cattle and horse

sections. We are looking forward to representing Bester again in 2016.

James ThomasIan Esterhuizen

GREYLING TIES THE KNOTGreyling Weideman tied the knot on 3 October 2015. Congratulations!

NEW APPOINTMENTS: BESTER AND BEXGROUP

From left to right: D’ian Enderstein (Administrative assistant: Animal feed), Carla Aylward (Administrative assistant: Grains) and Chandré McLoughlin (Administrative assistant: Animal feed).

From left: Linelle Kotzé (Assistant brand manager: BexGroup), Jody Bergstedt (Human resources assistant: BexGroup), Benje Cilliers (Administrative assistant: Animal feed) and Betina van Schalkwyk (Administrative and logistics coordinator: Winter grain).

NEW BABIESCongratulations to Belinda Esterhuizen and Attie Thomas with the birth of their babies.

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Stellenbosch Office: Tel: +27 (0) 21 809 2500 l Fax: +27 (0) 86 618 8925 l E-mail: info@bester.co.za l Website: www.bester.co.zaPlatinum Square, 20 Techno Drive, Techno Park, Stellenbosch, 7600 l P.O. Box 7329, Stellenbosch, 7599

YEAR-END FUNCTION 2015Bester’s year-end function took place on Saturday, 12 December 2015 at Little Welmoed.

Congratulations to the following staff members with these outstanding achievements:

Beyonder Awards: From left, Kevin Robertson, Gemine Schindehutte, Charlene Bekker and Leon Ekermans.

10 Year Service: Nellian van Zyl (left) and Maria Oerson (right).

50 000 Tons Club Award: From left, James Jackson, Kevin Robertson, who presented the awards, and Riaan Jooste. Nan Keyser also received this award but was unable to attend the event.

Special Mention Award: Front, from left, Estelle Rossouw, Brenda Coertzen, Tanya Dramat-Wyngaard, Nicole Nortjé and Simoné Taylor. Back, from left: Bertus Bester and Lise Thiart. Johnson Thomas also received this award but was unable to attend the event.

Merit Awards: Front, from left, Zatoen Williams and Mariska de Jager. Back, from left: Jolene Strydom, San-Mari Blignault, Victoria Davidse and Charlene Reed.

Elite Beyonder Awards: Front, from left, NJ van Rensburg, Wouter de Bruyn, Rika Vollgraaff and Annalene Badenhorst. Back, from left: Gideon Louw, Gustav Bester, who presented the awards, and Gido van Rensburg (who also received the USD Millionaire’s Club Award). Insert: Annali de Bruyn.

Elite Beyonder, USD Millionaire’s Club and Marketer of the Year: Aubrey Nelson.