For over 15 years, Emmanuel Mudau a livestock farmer in Limpopo has been the source of knowledge for farmers in the region intending to venture into livestock farming.
His farm hosts a herd of 60 cattle, 300 goats, and 500 sheep. The farmer specializes in Savanna, indigenous, and Boer goats, and Bosvelder sheep.
According to Mudau who also offers training on livestock management, nutrition, and goat breeding, for one to succeed in livestock farming, one should employ some strategies which include:
Choosing the right breed
He explains that researching and getting the right breed is the first step to a successful livestock enterprise.
He warns farmers against selecting animals based on physical appearance. Through research, he advises farmers to select breeds that exhibit the desired traits.
“You should not choose animals like pets based on appearance, colour, or size. If you want your goats or sheep to serve a purpose, such as for dairy, meat, wool, or other products, you need to choose breeds that meet your goals,” he told Food for Mzansi.
“You need to investigate the breeds you want to combine to achieve good results and meet your goals,” Mudau adds.
He employs a range of selection tools, including visual assessments, pedigree and performance data, genetic evaluations, breed standards, and animal records.
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Crossbreeding
The farmer says a crossbred animal has several advantages over the purebred, especially in important traits such as increased fertility, longevity, feed efficiency, and disease resistance.
For instance, he explained that his initial livestock included Damara sheep, indigenous goats, and their hybrids.
However, diseases – particularly tick-borne diseases and worms – posed significant challenges for his herd.
To address these issues, Mudau introduced the Pedi sheep, known for its adaptability to veld conditions.
While the Pedi sheep improved resilience, it presented a new challenge: despite its hardiness and good mothering qualities, it produced a less desirable carcass.
Mudau then crossed the Pedi with the Meatmaster breed. The resulting crossbreed, which combined the traits of Damara, Pedi, and Meatmaster sheep with the Dorper breed, adapted well to the environment.
Smart Marketing
He notes that one of the strategies that have propelled him to success is selling starter packs and packages, rather than individual animals.
“When we get this new life of social media, we use social media platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp statuses to market our business,” he says.
