Livestock farmer Emmanuel Mudau does not only excel as a goat farmer of note but through his Mathuba Genetics training institution, he is on a mission to expose as many youth as possible to agriculture.
A few years ago, Mudau who is based in Ha Ravele, Limpopo decided to transform his livestock business into a training institute. There, he shares his knowledge on livestock management, nutrition, and goat breeding.
“People love to have animals but don’t know about them. As an experienced farmer with more than 15 years in farming, I am trying to prepare them for challenges that they may come across as emerging farmers,” Mudau says.
Building from the ground up
Mathuba recognised the need to assist other farmers who wish to learn to breed goats. He began livestock training in 2020 from his farm in Ha Ravele, a unique bushveld region filled with sweetgrass, sekelbos and acacia trees.
It is here where Mudau decided to start his farming business in 2008 after leaving his job as a sales representative. He bought three goats for R750 each and started to build his herd with money from his pension fund.
It was not long before Mudau expanded his flock significantly. He now has a thriving livestock herd of 60 cattle, 300 goats, and 500 sheep.
Ha Ravele, he says, is the perfect location to raise his animals, as bushveld plants provide a wide range of beneficial nutrients.
“For farmers looking to provide their livestock with the best possible nutrition, sweetgrass and sekelbos are a must-have.”
These plants contain a wide range of vitamins, minerals, and other compounds that promote good health, he explains.
He emphasises the critical significance of selecting an optimal farming location, ensuring that the available vegetation aligns with the nutritional requirements of the livestock.
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Teaching the next generation
Mudau specialises in savanna, indigenous, and Boer goats, as well as Bosvelder sheep. He sells his livestock three times a year at auctions and sometimes sells meat in the Vhembe district.
He also has regular customers from KwaZulu-Natal, students from Stellenbosch University who visit his farm for practical experience, students from the Tshwane University of Technology, and students from Venda University.
“My business growth has shown me that hard work, dedication, and a positive attitude can take you far.”
Students come to his farm to gain practical experience in a variety of areas, including breeding, animal health, nutrition, and livestock management, he says.
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Inside the training programme
The training programmes and farmer information sessions offered by Mathuba Genetics are designed with the singular purpose of empowering individuals with invaluable farming expertise.
The training includes the history and domestication of farm animals, as well as management practices such as handling facilities, fencing, housing for specific purposes, body condition scoring, record-keeping, age determination, castration, hoof trimming, and some relevant methods of livestock farming.
Also included in the training are animal health, disease management methods, animal inspection, and common signs, symptoms, and treatments.
Nutrition, which is a vital aspect of animal husbandry, forms part of his training which includes the components of animal feed, as well as the importance of supplementation and veld management.
He also covers reproduction and breeding, including topics like puberty, oestrus detection, mating systems, breeding soundness examination, gestation and parturition, breeding objectives, and breed selection.
Farming with indigenous breeds
Like any other business, Mathuba Genetics has had its share of challenges over the years. Mudau admits that there is always more to learn, and the journey of a farmer is never easy.
“We struggled a lot to make people understand when we [were] changing as we grew but we made sure to check the challenges and mistakes we had [made] in the past. It helped to do what the consumers preferred but with time people also adapted to our new system.”
One of Mudau’s key pieces of advice is to stick with indigenous African animals when raising livestock, as they are well-adapted to the climate and environment. He believes that their genetics are especially robust and can withstand the challenges of climate change.
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