Diversification is a cornerstone of success in the dynamic world of agriculture. For Boer goat farmer Selinah Ntjana from Musina in Limpopo, expanding beyond traditional farming practices has been key to building resilience and ensuring long-term profitability.
Ntjana has redefined the potential of her goat farming business by venturing into the niche yet rapidly growing market of natural skincare products made from goat milk.
While Boer goats are typically associated with meat production, Ntjana saw an opportunity to tap into the value of goat milk – a resource more commonly linked with dairy breeds like the Saanen.
By sourcing goat milk from reliable suppliers, she has developed a unique and flourishing line of skincare products. Her journey underscores the importance of research and innovation in agriculture, particularly when it comes to adding value to farm products.
“It was a very good experiment, because, through the journey of farming, I’ve realised that I have to do research in goat milk and the benefits of goat milk as well,” she says.
Product development & processing
Ntjana’s skincare line includes products such as body lotion, bathing salts, lip balm, and glycerin-based bathing soaps, all crafted from goat milk and natural ingredients. Her approach to product development is meticulous, covering every essential step from formulation to storage and distribution.
This method ensures the quality of her products and aligns with the demand-driven nature of her business, allowing for flexibility and maintaining high standards.
“We don’t do production daily; we only do our production on demand,” she notes.
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Formulation (research and development)
The first and most crucial step in Ntjana’s skincare production process is formulation. This phase involves determining the desired outcomes of the product, such as anti-ageing, moisturising or soothing properties, and selecting the appropriate additional ingredients like oils, essential oils, and butter.
“This will involve selecting additional ingredients, such as oils and essential oils and butters,” she explains.
To ensure the efficacy and safety of her products, Ntjana conducts small-scale testing to evaluate the texture, stability, and overall effectiveness of the formulation.
“We do some testing whereby we test a formulation on a small basis to evaluate the texture and the stability and the effectiveness of the product itself. We also test the pH balance and the safety of the product for safe [topical] use.”
Base mixing
Creating the base of the skincare product involves combining goat milk with other primary ingredients, including oils, different kinds of butter, and waxes. Depending on the specific product – whether it’s lotion or cream – precise measurements are critical to ensure consistency and quality.
“When we do the mixing of our skin product, we have the base creation, where we combine goat milk and other ingredients such as oils, butters, waxes, depending on the product,” Ntjana shares.
This step requires thorough mixing to achieve a homogeneous mixture, ensuring that all components are evenly distributed.
Emulsification
For products like lotions or creams, emulsification is a vital step where oil and water-based ingredients are blended into a stable mixture. Ntjana notes that an emulsifier is essential to achieving the desired consistency.
“This is when we make the lotion or cream. An emulsifier is added to the mix of oil and water-based ingredients. Remember, when we’re mixing oils and water, we have to put the emulsifier so that it can be stable,” she explains.
Heating process
Some ingredients, particularly beeswax and hard butter, require melting to incorporate them into the mixture. Ntjana emphasises the importance of gently heating the ingredients to prevent degrading their quality.
“The heating process is when we heat the mixture gently while stirring the ingredients properly to ensure all the solids are fully dissolved,” she says.
Cooling process and additives
After heating and blending, the mixture is allowed to cool down gradually, a crucial step for setting the product to the desired consistency. During this cooling phase, preservatives are added to extend shelf life and prevent microbial contamination.
“We cool down the process. Then we [add] preservatives [to increase] the shelf life and also to make sure that we don’t have microbes in our product,” Ntjana explains.
Packaging and quality control
Ntjana selects packaging not only for its visual appeal but also for its ability to protect the product from contamination. Hygiene during packaging is paramount to maintaining product integrity.
“We have to package our product and make sure that we apply [good] hygiene as well to ensure that our product does not become contaminated,” she notes.
Before the products reach customers, they undergo a final quality check, and Ntjana ensures that storage instructions are clear to guarantee product longevity.
Sourcing and certification
While Ntjana primarily raises Boer goats, she outsources Saanen breed goat milk from certified suppliers known for their commitment to quality and hygiene. She highlights the importance of obtaining a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) certificate and passing the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) exam to sell natural products to the public.
“We have the exams that we write with the SABS about hygiene and the HACCP which I’ve acquired already. So that’s how I’m selling the products in a natural or organic form,” she says.
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