Grootfontein Agricultural Development Institute

The Grootfontein Agricultural Development Institute is located outside the town of Middelburg in the Great Karoo, Eastern Cape, South Africa. It is commonly referred to as the “Grootfontein College of Agriculture” or just “Grootfontein”.

Grootfontein was established in 1911 and, as one of the oldest agricultural colleges in South Africa, it has a proud training and research history contributing to the prosperity of livestock farming in the Karoo and other arid regions.

The vision of Grootfontein is to be the world's leading centre of excellence in training, research and extension in small stock and in agricultural production in semi-arid to arid climates.

Key Services

Grootfontein offers a wide range of services in its area of specialisation:

Education and Training
- National Diploma in Agriculture (NQF level 6) presented on-campus
- Skills training of new farmers and farm labourers (NQF level 2-4) presented off-campus
Research & Technology Development
Extension and Outreach

Middelburg RSA

Latest News
Grootfontein Navorsingstrust Dohne Merinostoet Produksieveiling - 2020-02-21
Grootfontein Diplomadag - 2019 - 2019-12-06
Golfklubhuis verwoes - 2019-08-25
Grootfontein Netball tournament - 2019-08-10
Grootfontein studente Boogskietspan - 2019-07-20
Elana Alberts oppad na Portugal as Kaptein van die SA W60+ veterane tennisspan - 2019-06-17
Grootfontein Diploma Ceremony 2018 - 2018-12-07
First Advisory Board Meeting in history of Grootfontein. - 2018-12-04

Latest Articles
Grass, Shrub and Tree cover in the 1983 and 2019 droughts - a comparison using repeat photography in the Cradock district, South Africa - du Toit J.C.O., van Lingen M. & Hoffman M.T.
Practical Breeding for resistance and resilience to Haemonchus Contortus in South African Sheep - Snyman M.A. & Fisher A.D.
Semen Freezing and subsequent Insemination results in South African Angora Goats - Snyman M.A. & Jooste F.
Correlations among Mohair Traits, Body Weight and Reproduction in South African Angora Goats - Snyman M.A.
The effect of different inclution levels of Diatomaceous Earth in feedlot diets on the performance of lambs - Nkwana A.T., Hoon J.H., & Fourie P.J.
The effect of Sheep Farming on the long-term diversity of the vegetation of the Karoo - a review - van den Berg L., du Toit J.C.O., van Lingen M. & van der Merwe H.
Genetic parameters for Faecal egg count, FAMACHA(c) score and body condition score in a Dohne Merino sheep flock subjected to high levels of Haemonchus Contortus - Snyman M.A. & Fisher A.D.
Genetic variation and resistance to Haemonchus Contortus in the Wauldby and Grootfontein Dohne Merino flocks - Snyman M.A., Dlamini N.M., Visser C., Muchadeyi F.C. & Soma P.
Hair production, Reproduction and Income of Angora Goat ewes that had five or six kidding opportunities in the flock - Snyman M.A.
Genetic parameters for traits associated with resistance to Haemonchus contortus in a South African Dohne Merino sheep flock - Snyman, M.A. & Fisher, A.D.
Genomic evaluation of resistance to Haemonchus contortus in a South African Dohne Merino flock - Dlamini, N.M., Visser, C., Snyman, M.A., Soma, P. & Muchadeyi, F.C.
The effect of Cape aloe powder product in controlling sheep roundworms in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa - Jansen, M.S., Welgemoed, J. & Snyman, M.A.
Hair production, reproduction and income of Angora goat ewes that had six kidding opportunities - Hoon, J.H. & Snyman, M.A.
Relationship among body weight and hair production traits of Angora goat ewes over their lifetime in the flock - Herselman, M.J. & Snyman, M.A.
Prediction of lifetime productive and reproductive performance of Angora ewes from early production - Snyman, M.A.

Latest Articles

Grass, Shrub and Tree cover in the 1983 and 2019 droughts - a comparison using repeat photography in the Cradock district, South Africa - du Toit J.C.O., van Lingen M. & Hoffman M.T.

Practical Breeding for resistance and resilience to Haemonchus Contortus in South African Sheep - Snyman M.A. & Fisher A.D.

Semen Freezing and subsequent Insemination results in South African Angora Goats - Snyman M.A. & Jooste F.

Correlations among Mohair Traits, Body Weight and Reproduction in South African Angora Goats - Snyman M.A.

The effect of different inclution levels of Diatomaceous Earth in feedlot diets on the performance of lambs - Nkwana A.T., Hoon J.H., & Fourie P.J.

The effect of Sheep Farming on the long-term diversity of the vegetation of the Karoo - a review - van den Berg L., du Toit J.C.O., van Lingen M. & van der Merwe H.

Genetic parameters for Faecal egg count, FAMACHA(c) score and body condition score in a Dohne Merino sheep flock subjected to high levels of Haemonchus Contortus - Snyman M.A. & Fisher A.D.

Genetic variation and resistance to Haemonchus Contortus in the Wauldby and Grootfontein Dohne Merino flocks - Snyman M.A., Dlamini N.M., Visser C., Muchadeyi F.C. & Soma P.

Hair production, Reproduction and Income of Angora Goat ewes that had five or six kidding opportunities in the flock - Snyman M.A.

Genetic parameters for traits associated with resistance to Haemonchus contortus in a South African Dohne Merino sheep flock - Snyman, M.A. & Fisher, A.D.

Genomic evaluation of resistance to Haemonchus contortus in a South African Dohne Merino flock - Dlamini, N.M., Visser, C., Snyman, M.A., Soma, P. & Muchadeyi, F.C.