11 Aug 2019

Vice president of the council for Botswana Boer Goat Breeders Society and Botswana Dorper Breeders Society says small stock farming has a potential which Batswana could explore.

Giving a keynote address at the Kgatleng District Agricultural and Trade Fair in Mochudi, Mr Peter Kirby said it was disheartening to see small stock livestock roaming the streets in Botswana without being cared for and farmers not realising the economic value attached to the animals.

He said there was a huge export market for goat meat.

“In the recent state of the nation address given by His Excellency the President, he reminded us that there is a huge potential market for goat meat overseas,” he said, adding that it had been known for some time that both the United Arab Emirates and Qatar seek producers for large quantities of meat.

Mr Kirby said goat meat was the preferred red meat for being low in fat and cholesterol.

He noted that recently, he had an enquiry from South Africa about supplying 700 live animals for slaughter.

“After all, we are well known, highly esteemed and have a long standing reputation of being an exporter of quality beef products, can we not be smart and do the same with goat products,” he quizzed.

Mr Kirby said even the local market was under supplied with goat and sheep meat products adding that it was time Batswana change their mindset and create a viable and sustainable small stock industry.

“In so doing, we will not only diversify the economy but will create much needed local employment. Please note that the small stock industry has the capability to produce milk and meat to the local markets on our way to becoming an export driven industry,” he continued.

He said Botswana was blessed with a suitable climate and natural vegetation to rear small stock.

Mr Kirby further said ‘small stock thrives in low rainfall areas and this is evidenced by large herds of small stock that roam freely without much care and attention with a natural instinct to survive.’

“Yet despite these large numbers of animals, we do not consider small stock as a viable commercial enterprise,” he said.

He stated that ‘if we consider that the national goat herd is approximately 1 million animals, same with the national sheep herd, why does the local market claim that Batswana can only supply approximately 32 per cent of current demand?’

“Is it because Batswana only use their goat and sheep herds in an informal way as relish at weddings, religious feasts, funerals etc. or is this due to the low prices offered by the retail market or is it that we producers are unable to supply the required quality,” asked Mr Kirby.

Even though the theme for the event was Enabling Food Security Through Profitable Communal Farming Practices, Mr Kirby noted that raising small stock in a communal farming system does not benefit anyone.

It does not benefit the farmer or the animals because the small stock is forced to compete with other animals for grazing, water and general survival, he said. 

Mr Kirby further said it was regrettable that the overall national mortality rate was high and the percentage kidding rate was below industry standards.

He said farmers needed to note that kids and lambs could not thrive when they compete for food with adults at all times even when in the kraal, as was the practice with most local farmers.

Mr Kirby pointed out that in his view, it was bad practice to release stock from the kraal at 10am and expect them to find sufficient grazing before returning to their kraal at 5pm.

“They need as much time as you can give them,” he said.

Mr Kirby said having identified that there was a great potential for small stock, he encouraged farmers to take advantage of the various assistance packages available such as the Youth Development Fund (YDF), LIMID, poverty alleviation programmes and assistance offered by CEDA and LEA.

Education is needed for potential entrepreneurs in all aspects of the business to ensure successful and viable small stock farming, he added.

“In my private capacity, I operate a stud breeding boer goat and Kalahari red project at Oodi known as Gold Star Goat Stud and this operation currently assists in training,” he said, adding that government had created a small stock breeding farm at Lobu to help in breeding quality commercial and stud animals for sale to small scale producers.

For his part, Kgatleng District Agricultural and Trade Fair chairperson, Mr David Sefwake said the aim of the event was to link farmers, entrepreneurs, service providers and customers together.

He encouraged the youth to get involved and help with suggestions on how best to grow the show.

He raised concern about the  vandalized structures at the showground.

Mr Sefwake thanked all the sponsors who made the show success and promised to hit the ground running with preparation for next year’s show.

Exhibitors included farming equipment suppliers, livestock feeds producers, goat, cattle and sheep farmers, guinea fowl farmers, poultry producers, honey suppliers and financial service providers. ENDS