28 Jan 2019

Passion and interest in small stock production have driven 27-year-old Mr Chris Kootsene to venture into breeding Kalahari Red goats, a project he started early last year.

In an interview at his farm about nine kilometres from Phakalane, Mr Kootsene said his passion in small stock production started with his interest in Boer goats while he was growing up until he learnt about Kalahari Reds at the National Agriculture Show and did research on the breed.

Mr Kootsene said he then started Chrizoo Kalahari Reds Stud project from his pocket. He started while at tertiary and bought his first batch of two goats from South Africa and a billy goat worth R20 000 later on.

He said from henceforth he started buying from local suppliers, but indicated that lack of space at his farm limited his desired stocking rate.

“My target is to have 100 high-quality Kalahari Reds so that I can compete at different agriculture shows around the country and Southern Africa,” he added.

He said due to his passion in farming he decided to live at his farm, a move he said motivates him to work hard on his quest to one day be a renowned farmer.

He said the Kalahari Red’s body structure attracted him as it has good features for good quality meat products, and that he has already supplied other breeders and competed at agriculture shows.

Mr Kootsene revealed that farming had its challenges and that it was vital to consult experts and those who have been in the industry to learn about care, diseases and treatment.

He said with assistance and advice, he had always made sure that his goats were vaccinated for diseases such as heart water.

Mr Kootsene said any kind of business start-up needed a committed person equipped with knowledge rather than jumping in a business that would have a short life span. Ends