1000 trained ducks tend vineyard
The ducks at this South African wine estate eat snails and other pests which threaten the grapevines, allowing the farm to avoid using toxic pesticides while also utilizing the droppings as fertilizer.
- A picture taken at Vergenoegd wine estate on June 3, 2016 near Stellenbosch shows a trained duck-herd of approximately 1000 Indian Runner ducks in the vineyards. The ducks eat snails and other pests which threaten the grapevines, allowing the farm to avoid using toxic pesticides, and they also fertilise the ground with their droppings. The ducks sleep in an enclosed pen, and are herded out to the vineyards in the day, then for a swim in the dam, and then back to their pen in the late afternoon. (AFP Photo/Rodger Bosch)
- A picture taken at Vergenoegd wine estate on June 3, 2016 near Stellenbosch shows a trained duck-herd of approximately 1000 Indian Runner ducks in the vineyards. The ducks eat snails and other pests which threaten the grapevines, allowing the farm to avoid using toxic pesticides, and they also fertilise the ground with their droppings. The ducks sleep in an enclosed pen, and are herded out to the vineyards in the day, then for a swim in the dam, and then back to their pen in the late afternoon. (AFP Photo/Rodger Bosch)
- A picture taken at Vergenoegd wine estate on June 3, 2016 near Stellenbosch shows a trained duck-herd of approximately 1000 Indian Runner ducks on their way to the vineyards. The ducks eat snails and other pests which threaten the grapevines, allowing the farm to avoid using toxic pesticides, and they also fertilise the ground with their droppings. The ducks sleep in an enclosed pen, and are herded out to the vineyards in the day, then for a swim in the dam, and then back to their pen in the late afternoon. (AFP Photo/Rodger Bosch)
- A trained duck-herd of approximately 1000 Indian Runner ducks pass the manor house, on their way to the vineyards, as tourists watch at Vergenoegd wine estate on June 3, 2016 near Stellenbosch. The ducks eat snails and other pests which threaten the grapevines, allowing the farm to avoid using toxic pesticides, and they also fertilise the ground with their droppings. The ducks sleep in an enclosed pen, and are herded out to the vineyards in the day, then for a swim in the dam, and then back to their pen in the late afternoon. (AFP Photo/Rodger Bosch)
- A trained duck-herd of approximately 1000 Indian Runner ducks pass the manor house, on their way to the vineyards, as tourists watch at Vergenoegd wine estate on June 3, 2016 near Stellenbosch. The ducks eat snails and other pests which threaten the grapevines, allowing the farm to avoid using toxic pesticides, and they also fertilise the ground with their droppings. The ducks sleep in an enclosed pen, and are herded out to the vineyards in the day, then for a swim in the dam, and then back to their pen in the late afternoon. (AFP Photo/Rodger Bosch)
- A trained duck-herd of approximately 1000 Indian Runner ducks pass the manor house, on their way to the vineyards, at Vergenoegd wine estate on June 3, 2016 near Stellenbosch. The ducks eat snails and other pests which threaten the grapevines, allowing the farm to avoid using toxic pesticides, and they also fertilise the ground with their droppings. The ducks sleep in an enclosed pen, and are herded out to the vineyards in the day, then for a swim in the dam, and then back to their pen in the late afternoon. (AFP Photo/Rodger Bosch)
- A Vergenoegd wine estate’s employee shepherds a trained duck-herd of approximately 1000 Indian Runner ducks as a tourist watches, at Vergenoegd wine estate on June 3, 2016 near Stellenbosch. The ducks eat snails and other pests which threaten the grapevines, allowing the farm to avoid using toxic pesticides, and they also fertilise the ground with their droppings. The ducks sleep in an enclosed pen, and are herded out to the vineyards in the day, then for a swim in the dam, and then back to their pen in the late afternoon. (AFP Photo/Rodger Bosch)
- A picture taken at Vergenoegd wine estate on June 3, 2016 near Stellenbosch shows trained Indian Runner ducks swimming in the farm dam after spending most of the day looking for snails and other pests that threaten the vines. The use of a trained duck-herd of approximately 1000 Indian Runner ducks, allows the farm to avoid using toxic pesticides, and they also fertilise the ground with their droppings. The ducks sleep in an enclosed pen, and are herded out to the vineyards in the day, then for a swim in the dam, and then back to their pen in the late afternoon. (AFP Photo/Rodger Bosch)
- A picture taken at Vergenoegd wine estate on June 3, 2016 near Stellenbosch shows a trained duck-herd of approximately 1000 Indian Runner ducks on their way to the vineyards. The ducks eat snails and other pests which threaten the grapevines, allowing the farm to avoid using toxic pesticides, and they also fertilise the ground with their droppings. The ducks sleep in an enclosed pen, and are herded out to the vineyards in the day, then for a swim in the dam, and then back to their pen in the late afternoon. (AFP Photo/Rodger Bosch)
- A picture taken at Vergenoegd wine estate on June 3, 2016 near Stellenbosch shows a trained duck-herd of approximately 1000 Indian Runner ducks in the vineyards. The ducks eat snails and other pests which threaten the grapevines, allowing the farm to avoid using toxic pesticides, and they also fertilise the ground with their droppings. The ducks sleep in an enclosed pen, and are herded out to the vineyards in the day, then for a swim in the dam, and then back to their pen in the late afternoon. (AFP Photo/Rodger Bosch)
- A picture taken at Vergenoegd wine estate on June 3, 2016 near Stellenbosch shows a trained duck-herd of approximately 1000 Indian Runner ducks in the vineyards. The ducks eat snails and other pests which threaten the grapevines, allowing the farm to avoid using toxic pesticides, and they also fertilise the ground with their droppings. The ducks sleep in an enclosed pen, and are herded out to the vineyards in the day, then for a swim in the dam, and then back to their pen in the late afternoon. (AFP Photo/Rodger Bosch)
- A picture taken at Vergenoegd wine estate on June 3, 2016 near Stellenbosch shows a trained duck-herd of approximately 1000 Indian Runner ducks in the vineyards. The ducks eat snails and other pests which threaten the grapevines, allowing the farm to avoid using toxic pesticides, and they also fertilise the ground with their droppings. The ducks sleep in an enclosed pen, and are herded out to the vineyards in the day, then for a swim in the dam, and then back to their pen in the late afternoon. (AFP Photo/Rodger Bosch)
- A picture taken at Vergenoegd wine estate on June 3, 2016 near Stellenbosch shows a trained duck-herd of approximately 1000 Indian Runner ducks in the vineyards. The ducks eat snails and other pests which threaten the grapevines, allowing the farm to avoid using toxic pesticides, and they also fertilise the ground with their droppings. The ducks sleep in an enclosed pen, and are herded out to the vineyards in the day, then for a swim in the dam, and then back to their pen in the late afternoon. (AFP Photo/Rodger Bosch)
- A picture taken at Vergenoegd wine estate on June 3, 2016 near Stellenbosch shows a trained duck-herd of approximately 1000 Indian Runner ducks on their way to the vineyards. The ducks eat snails and other pests which threaten the grapevines, allowing the farm to avoid using toxic pesticides, and they also fertilise the ground with their droppings. The ducks sleep in an enclosed pen, and are herded out to the vineyards in the day, then for a swim in the dam, and then back to their pen in the late afternoon. (AFP Photo/Rodger Bosch)