Last year, Keneilwe Raphesu faced a devastating loss, losing more than half of her cattle and pigs due to unforeseen challenges. However, she did not let that stop her. In this episode of our Farmer Mentor podcast on Farmer’s Inside Track, Raphesu shares her inspiring story of resilience and determination.
When challenges bring you to a dead-end, it is time to take a different path. This is exactly what Keneilwe Raphesu from Vereeniging, Gauteng did when she lost more than half of her cattle and pigs.
The CEO of Mogalemone Pty Ltd and KR Farming Enterprise, has become a beacon of resilience in South Africa’s agricultural sector. Taking over her father’s farm in 2020, she expanded their farming business in a way that would make her father proud.
Raphesu’s journey into farming began at the age of 18, working alongside her father, Dr Mamabolo Raphesu, learning the intricacies of planting, livestock management, and breeding. Her passion for Bonsmara cattle led her to specialise in their breeding and care.
However, her entry into the agricultural sector wasn’t without its challenges. “There was a lot of discrimination and undermining,” she recalls. “But that did not work with me because I know what I am talking about.”
Despite the setbacks, Raphesu persisted and is now recognised as an award-winning farmer. Her farm, spanning 405 hectares, operates as a mixed farming enterprise, focusing on both grain and livestock. With grains, they concentrate on soybeans and maize, while their livestock operations primarily focus on cattle.
When it rains, it pours
However, Raphesu and her farm faced significant challenges in November last year and suffered a major loss when they were ambushed, losing more than 40 cattle.
“That affected everything. Literally everything,” she explains. “From supplying markets, having a steady cash flow, paying employees, and managing the business. The business suffered a lot.”
The challenges didn’t end there. Flooding caused by heavy rains resulted in the loss of many pigs. “So many people are relying on you, then this happens,” Raphesu laments. Forced to let go of certain markets, Raphesu and her team had to strategise and restructure their business.
Initially considering focusing solely on grain farming, they feared it wouldn’t guarantee a steady income. Instead, they chose to rebuild their cattle operations. To streamline their business, they opted to focus on one breed of cattle, choosing Bonsmara over Simmental.
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From setbacks to success
Innovative strategies became the cornerstone of their recovery plan. Raphesu decided to incorporate yellow maize, which she plants herself, into the animals’ feed. “Yellow maize has a lot of nutrition, and planting maize helps us cut costs. We gradually introduced yellow maize into the feeding program so that the cattle’s digestive system could get used to it.”
Raphesu emphasises the importance of gradual dietary changes to avoid digestive disturbances in cattle. “Sudden changes in diet can lead to digestive disturbances. So slowly incorporating maize into the ratio helps,” she advises.
Despite the setbacks, Raphesu’s story is one of resilience and determination. In addition to managing her farm, Raphesu now runs a consulting enterprise, offering her expertise to farmers seeking advice in the agricultural sector.
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