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Soutpansberg proves ideal for hardened Boer Goat stud farming

Date: 11 September 2016 By: Isabel Venter

The Boer goat is a hardy breed that is indigenous to South Africa.

Traditionally, this breed has thrived under extensive livestock farming conditions, mostly for commercial purposes, but more and more budding young farmers are trying their hand at stud farming right here in the Soutpansberg district.

One of these up-and-coming Boer goat stud farms is Voorbok, located in the Waterpoort area (about 45 km north from Louis Trichardt). The stud is owned by Petrus Visagé and his fiancé, Lize Fevrier. They first started out with 10 goats that they had bought from various local farmers. “We wanted local goats because they are not only more adapted to the area but have a better immunity against heart-water,” explained Lize and Petrus.

The herd is allowed to graze on the Mopane field, and penned in at night for protection against predators. “The boerbok herd is very adaptive to the Mopane veldt and during the winter months they eat the green leaves,” said Lize. Some of the stud goats that hail from the North Cape are just as adaptive to the Mopane veldt. “They graze on the Mopane leaves as if it is their favourite,” explains Lize.

In addition, the goats snack on the protein-rich mathote (mopane bread). It is an edible insect secretion believed to be formed on the mopane’s leaves by a type of scale insect or stink bug. There is a short time, towards the end of winter, when green leaves are in short supply when the goats resort to grazing on fallen leaves. Petrus ensures, however, that the goats get all the necessary supplements in the kraal to prevent any deficiencies.

Ever since their small beginning, the herd has gradually expanded into a stud herd. Team effort has played a big role, and Lize and Petrus’s diverse fields of interest complement each other superbly well in the combined management of the stud.

An industrial psychology graduate, Lize has always preferred farming. Her love for the Boer goat started as a little girl when she was growing up on her father’s commercial farm. “He has a wealth of knowledge and invaluable experience that one cannot get from a book, which I regularly tap into,” said Lize.

Lize is mainly responsible for the administration (pedigree record keeping, registration of new goat kids, etc.), health management and vaccination programs. Petrus is more hands-on with the nutrition and proper management of the grazing paddocks and so forth. However, it is truly a team effort. Like the saying goes - two heads are better than one. 

Since 2012, they have worked passionately to grow the herd and become successful. So far, Voorbok has implemented a rotation kraal system to ensure proper hygiene and healthy growth of the herd. They have employed some chickens in the kraal to help keep the flies and fly-related diseases under control. Voorbok also makes use of a specially trained herd dog, named War Dance, to keep a watchful eye on all their goats.

In February this year, Voorbok invested in a ram named Voorslag from the Lukas Burger stud that set a new SA record for the most expensive ram sold on auction. So far they have been very satisfied with Voorslag’s performance and hope that they will have lots of new kid goats to add to their stud later when it is time for the official classifying. Aside from the stud, the goats are providing some income alongside their traditional crop farming.  

The commercial market for the goat meat is trending at the moment – albeit not on such a large scale as mutton yet. With less than a third of the fat of beef and fewer calories than chicken, goat meat has less cholesterol, and the demand for it is gradually growing in the health-conscious world.

According to Lize and Petrus, the demand is growing by the day for goat meat, but the supply market needs to catch up. “There is currently not enough commercial goat farmers to supply the demand, hence goat meat is still not available in your local supermarket,” they explained.

The Boer goat has, over generations and with selective breeding, evolved into a hardy red-headed animal that is very different from the standard goat. In fact, the South African Boer goat’s genetics have become increasingly popular all over the world.

A very exciting idea about this meat is that, with a little selection against internal and external parasites, it will be quite possible to present the meat of the South African Boer goat as organic meat.

With the help of farmers like Lize and Petrus, the future of the Boer goat is looking bright.

 

 
 
 

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Isabel Venter

Isabel joined the Zoutpansberger and Limpopo Mirror in 2009 as a reporter. She holds a BA Degree in Communication Sciences from the University of South Africa. Her beat is mainly crime and court reporting.

 
 

More photos... 

The power couple behind Voorbok Stud, a local Boer goat stud, Lize Fevrier and Petrus Visage. Photo supplied.

Oscar and Felix with Voorslag (from the Lukas Burger stud) that set a new SA record for the most expensive ram sold on auction.

Lize Fevrier with a new kid goat. 

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