This article may contain graphic and/or adult content unsuitable for minors and sensitive readers an exclusive podcast on the life of Vicki Terblanche Dive into the expansive world of motoring with Naresh Maharaj Join Mark Marshall as he shares his extraordinary encounters with everything from bees to reptiles i A burgeoning titan of the pork and dairy industry Number Two Piggeries (N2P) has become a leading producer across South Africa and Namibia The vast agriculture industry has encountered some tough and turbulent times throughout the last few years with severe weather conditions such as droughts and floods closure of export borders and the unforgiving consequences dealt out by the COVID-19 pandemic Economic conditions also remain troubling for the industry at present interest rates and energy costs piling on the pressure Feuth was exposed to the business side of agriculture from a young age his intention was to pursue a career as an accountant but after obtaining the relevant qualifications he was drawn back into the world of farming and took the opportunity to apply his qualifications in the agriculture business “I always remember the slogan of the agricultural department of the university where I studied – a country that looks after its agriculture looks after its future – and I believe that it got stuck in my subconscious somewhere,” recalls Feuth “Commercial farmers have an incredibly important role to play in food security on the continent”   N2P was formed in the mid-1970s in Queenstown in the Eastern Cape and David Osborne established a pig farming partnership Osborne arrived in South Africa from the UK in 1970 and apart from being an incredibly skilled entrepreneur brought with him a wealth of pig farming knowledge This expertise contributed greatly to the success of the business and laid the foundation for a bright future N2P is a diversified agricultural holding company focusing on primary production and processing within the pork and dairy industry As a significant primary agricultural producer in Southern Africa the company is proud to be a market leader in pork production for the region the company also sells a portion of its livestock to externally owned abattoirs we sell fresh milk to large dairy processing companies and also process some of our own milk into cheese and butter,” adds Feuth our maize and soya harvests are either sold to local off-takers or used internally for our own livestock feed purposes.” Having completed a tremendous slate of projects N2P has experienced exceptional growth in the last five years Some of the recent world-class projects undertaken include the completion of the Cookhouse Creamery in the Eastern Cape which marks the first step for the company towards adding value in the dairy division 2021 saw the fruition of several pivotal projects for N2P such as the Mountain View Dairy – a 1,500-cow pasture-based dairy with a 66-point rotary milking parlour N2P carried out a successful expansion of its slaughter capacity and upgraded the facilities to handle increased volumes from new piggeries Fairfield Piggeries is one of  N2P’s latest developments The piggery is situated in the North Eastern Cape the facility will consist of a Breeder unit Weaner unit and the Grower and Finisher unit All the units will be set out situated far enough from one another to ensure that all bio-security measures are met Steynsburg Piggery is another new development for the company and is situated off the R74 It is a Farrow to Finish unit that will have an average sow herd of 4,800 and an average of 60,000 pigs on the farm N2P has simultaneously commissioned numerous renewable energy projects at its farms and processing sites to supplement the company’s energy requirements and lessen the overall environmental impact Regarding the constant development of its pork production N2P subscribes to the Pork 360 Programme that was developed by SAPPO (South African Pig Producers’ Organisation) This initiative was designed to address consumer concerns around food safety and welfare The membership requirements include environmental stewardship adherence to animal welfare standards and residue control N2P also believes that adhering to a good quality assurance programme creates optimal internal discipline in the group for creating the best farming and business practices On top of this swathe of projects completed the company’s growth over the past few years has created numerous opportunities for many  positions within N2P’s new units we have tried to resource new units with existing employees firstly to provide growth opportunities for those individuals but also to ensure our company culture and standards of excellence are transferred and embedded in these new units,” Feuth tells us continuous in-house training and upskilling are required to ensure N2P’s existing teams are performing at their optimum and ready to take on new opportunities if they present themselves While N2P’s people are critically important to the overall operation the company would not be in existence without its animals and standard operating procedures is fundamental for the business to ensure animal welfare N2P’s supply partners represent a major part of its ongoing recipe for success “Our relationships with these partners are of extreme importance to the business We are partnered with world-class suppliers on all fronts of the business that add tremendous value to it as well,” shares Feuth Some of these supply partnerships have been thriving alongside the business since the original inception of N2P and have grown with and supported its vision and mission like it was their own Equally crucial to the company’s prosperity are its people N2P now employs about 1,800 staff through its various divisions “Our staff are the most important and valuable asset that we have Some of our staff have been with the business for a very long time and I believe that’s a testament to our ability to create good working environments that allow people to grow and share in its success.”  With the assistance of N2P’s recently added professional HR Department the company has increased its focus on growing future leaders from within the business This is achieved with professional student training programmes and constant input from senior managers and division heads to ensure the transfer of necessary skills coupled with the continuous development of all key performance areas there are always internal growth opportunities for people to be promoted to units with higher responsibility levels Staff are also rewarded with good incentive programmes that recognise their contributions to farm and business performance N2P further believes that it must continually strive to be the best corporate citizen it can be with an increased focus on ESG (Environmental Social and Governance) and how the company can make a difference in the environments in which it operates The expansion of N2P’s vertical integration strategy will also continue to be a major immediate focus with the aim of getting closer to its inputs and consumers I believe it must be our first priority to maximise the efficiency of all our units and make sure every farm and abattoir operates to its maximum potential at the least possible cost,” outlines Feuth striving for excellence in everything that the company does leaving the world a better place for the next generation We use cookies to ensure your best experience on our website. If you continue using our website, we'll assume you agree to our cookie policy Arnold the rehabilitated martial eagle didn’t mess about flying more than 200km in two days to get home.True to form and the species’ strong natal instinct he flew unerringly 250km in two days back to his territory in Steynsburg.. A subscription gives you full digital access to all our content Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@heraldlive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00 Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now Please read our Comment Policy before commenting Two funeral parlour workers were killed after the mortuary vehicle they were travelling in overturned on the R391 between Burgersdorp and Steynsburg on Saturday The Provincial Transport Department says one person believed to have been picked up while hitchhiking sustained serious injuries and was taken to the Burgersdorp Provincial Hospital. Unathi Binqose says the Toyota with the three men was travelling from Steynsburg when the driver lost control He says it is suspected that alcohol use may have played a role in the accident Police are investigating a case of culpable homicide Kāhui Ako provide an alternative and greatly valued career path for about 4000 teachers around the motu and they need clarity about their future says Chris Abercrombie PPTA Te Wehengarua president Kim Anderson (aka Kim Can Draw) is of Māori and Singaporean Chinese descent She says the Fellowship provides her with the “time energy and resourcing” needed to develop a graphic novel translator & community leader Tauanu’u Perenise Tapu Sitagata the book is designed to introduce children to the rich cultural heritage of Samoa and the environment by drawing on a wealth of traditional wisdom that can appeal to younger readers of all ethnicities in Aotearoa Headway is issuing a strong and urgent warning to whānau and young people about the deeply troubling ‘Run It Straight’ trend a challenge gaining popularity among rangatahi that encourages participants to charge at each other in full-speed collisions This is not a sport; it’s a direct assault on developing brains offering clear skies and mild winds — a rare gift in the Tararua Range which averages over 160 days of gale-force winds and 200 days of rain annually The Commissioner will work alongside the Secretary for Education who will remain actively involved in the negotiations Their advice and expertise will be central to his decisions