Not new to the realities of goat farming and breeding, Mpendulo Mbatha has shifted focus from his publishing business and taken goat farming to a whole different level. He is also willing to make bold predictions when it comes to goat meat.
“I’ll say this with confidence, goats are the next meat alternative and this is based on scientific research,” he says.
“I’ve come across a lot of people who haven’t eaten meat because they should have their diets based on medical issues, and then I’ll tell them to try out goat! Then they realise how good it really is.”
For Mbatha, the traditional goat farming methods of simply mixed breeding and exporting goats are simply not enough. He believes that the goat industry is ripe with many different opportunities.
Combining the best of both worlds
Mbatha is a publisher by profession and a brand creator. He completed his studies at the University of Pretoria, where he obtained his qualification in publishing and marketing. Afterwards, he completed a diploma in animal science. By combining both worlds, he decided to go into goat breeding and agricultural marketing.
“I know for a fact that a lot of people have a lot of interest in goats and their products, the markets more or less. So because of my background in marketing and innovation, I have applied that knowledge instead of just sitting at home doing nothing. Holistically this all just merged together.”
Giving goat farmers a voice
Currently, he oversees over 150 goat farmers across the country under an organisation he co-founded, called Qhakaza Goat Farmers Association. This passion came from the gap he saw in the rather underdeveloped goat industry in South Africa.
With his team of farmers and trainers, they have managed to help goat farmers reach a sizeable market and successful breeding methods.
Mbatha shines a light on how diverse the goat market is, ranging from processed meat to famous cashmere clothing, shoes, and even milk.
“We also really want to profile this animal that has been looked down on simply because of the major way that it has been used for, which is culturally and traditionally.”
Satisfying a huge demand
His love for goat breeding started off back in 2014 when he discovered that KwaZulu-Natal alone imports about 850 000 goats from other provinces and Swaziland. This proved to him how in-demand goats are.
“It definitely left a mark on me and I’ve been interested in the idea ever since,” he says.
He states that South African goat farmers have been exporting their goats to European markets, central and Southern American markets, and Australia.
How to successfully breed goats
Mbatha explains that the gestation period with goats is 150 days and this means that within a year, goats will give birth twice. This might be lucrative for traditional keepers and could go on for three years if the goats are taken care of.
There are over 300 goat breeds that are available all over the world. Mbatha explains that South Africa has about 15 of the most common breeds, namely Boer goats, Kalahari Reds and Savanna goats for meat production because they are larger in size. Then you have your British alpines and Nigerian dwarfs, for milk production. And finally, Angora goats which are popular in the cashmere industry.
“People make the mistake of breeding all of these together, but they should actually separate them into groups. If you breed them all together, you have fewer chances of reaching a market,” he says.
The challenges are real
After starting his business in 2019, promising times lay ahead, until the pandemic came. At that point, there was no choice but to allow the business to slow down as farmers slowly trickled away.
“In 2019 I had to deal with a lot of challenges during Covid because many farmers struggled. But now we are picking up pace,” he says.
However, that isn’t his biggest challenge, not while theft and lack of support for goat farmers take first prize. He tiredly expresses how much this has been a burden to him and other goat farmers.
“Goats are a high theft industry because people really want them for absolutely anything. I guess that’s why many people run away from goats. Their mortality rate is also high.”
Mbatha explains that due to the common use connected to traditional rituals and ceremonies, most farmers are a hotspot for theft. The government also regards them as small-scale breeders and producers, and a fixed market for them is somewhat non-existent.
“But it really isn’t about just that and that’s where I come in. I make sure farmers know that they can do more with their goats!”
Recharging his batteries
When the work boots have been kicked off, this open-minded thinker likes to sit back and enjoy a thought-provoking conversation. With his religious background and playing instruments at church, he enjoys playing the drums, the base guitar and the piano. He enjoys playing jazz and recalls an opportunity when he once played for the late Hugh Masekela in 2015.
“I like music and I’m a goat breeder! Isn’t that just complicated?” he jokes.
Mbatha is a prime example of just what the right mixture of brains and ambition is. Within the next two years, he wants to have reached out to more goat farmers and have goat meat officially graded in South Africa.
“That’s why I keep asking ‘why not goats?’. Because they have an impact on a number of things,” he says.
“Goat farming has been a huge financial aid to families, especially in rural areas. I know of cases where families would sell three or four of them just to get money for schooling. The more we penetrate the market, the more we can compete with other meat industries.”
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