Microsoft Word - Joubert-carts-ZA-www.DOC

A National Animal Traction Survey carried out in South Africa in 1994, indicated that a substantial number of commercial as well as small scale farmers are using or would like to use draught horses on their farms. A major draw back for such farmers is the unavailability of suitable animadrawn implements. As a result, although many farmers would like to use draught horses, few do because of the difficulty they have in obtaining suitable equipment. Recent research in the United States of America has resulted in the development of a range of horsedrawn hitch carts, behind which, with the more simple types it is possible to use trailed tractor drawn implements, while with the more sophisticated models it is possible to use most Category one tractor mounted implements. This paper discusses these developments, the capital and operating costs involved and the possibilities, which exist for using such hitch carts in South Africa.