08 Jul 2024

Neatly tucked in the thicket of bushes in Seruruma, near Mmaphashalala, sprawls a white Brahman breeding facility that is known for producing high quality cattle.

The facility belongs to Ms Boikhutso Mokwena, who boasts 30 herds of high quality white Brahman.

She told BOPA in an interview that she developed passion for farming at a tender age because it was in the family.

She said naturally she loves white colours hence her  preference over other breeds and that white Brahman’s nutrients conversion rate is very high, therefore needs less food, which translates into less costs of production.

Ms Mokwena said a Brahman was used for herd improvement, adding that it transformed other breeds quicker in cross-breeding programmes and also grew fast hence cost of maintenance was low.

She said the taste of Brahman meat was very good and that was why it was used in many cross breeds, arguing that the base of cross breeding was in Brahman.

Ms Mokwena sells for meat and to other breeders to improve their breeds.

However, said Brahman  faced threats from other breeds citing Simental, Limousine and Charolais that by appearance were big in size and had more meat.

She opined that the Brahman had  the same weight as other breeds and also had both a competitive and comparable advantage because of its low maintenance.

She was of the view that the Brahman was in the market to stay given its resilience prowess, weight and grows fast, and very productive, noting that at least every year the breed should calve.

As for the turnover, a Brahman breeder can get at least P300 000 a year from 50 animals.

Ms Mokwena also has small stock under her belt.

Having started with only six Tswana goats in 2009, her farming venture grew exponentially to 70 goats in 2014 and currently have 50 because they were in high demand.

She said that in 2014 she went to benchmark in South Africa at Clinton and Asunet Cillers at Swartruggens with a view to increase and improve herd quality,  which paid dividends.

Following the benchmarking exercise, Ms Mokwena developed interest in boer goats and bought three.

She also visited PW Botha in South Africa and saw beautiful goats, which enticed her to buy 20 in batches and that’s when her business turned around.

For small stock sub-sector to hit optimum levels of production, she said, it needed dedication and passion from farmers.

Meanwhile, at the Kgagodi Future Genetics Show, Tholo Holdings breeders stole the show scooping numerous awards; a dual purpose breed and Simmental under their brand in the female grand champion category scooped position two in heifer zero tooth class while position one went to Leadwood breeders through their Limousine heifer breed.

In the bull grand champion category, Tholo Holdings scooped position one and two under bull zero tooth and bull four tooth classifications, respectively, with their dual purpose and Simmental breeds.

Leadwood breeders got position one in grand champion of the yard category under grand champion female classifications with their Bos Taurus and Limousine breeds while in the grand champion male,

Tholo Holdings got position two with their dual purpose and Simmental breeds.

In the progeny champion best breed group category, Tholo Holdings scooped position one with their Simmental breed while Leadwood breeders got position two with a Limousine breed.

In the calve category, position one went to 4TS breeders through their Simmental breed while Leadwood got position two through their Limousine breed. Ends