By Lebogang Mashala
After 15 years as one of South Africa’s most respected breeders of Simbra and Simmental cattle, Dr Obakeng Mfikwe of Lekatu Simbras and Simmentals Stud is officially stepping away from stud breeding. He will now focus on expanding his growing vertically integrated red meat business.
Mfikwe manages a mixed farming operation across five farms located in Lichtenburg in the North West Province and Magaliesburg, which is on the border of North West and Gauteng. Until recently, this operation included two stud herds of Simbras and Simmentals, along with a commercial herd of the same breeds. Additionally, it features a poultry operation with over 170 000 birds per cycle, grain cultivation, a large feedlot, and an abattoir that processes 100 cattle daily.
“A year ago, I decided to sell all our stud breeding animals to concentrate on our red meat operations. It was a tough choice, but this shift will enable us to focus on the core functions of our feedlot and abattoir,” said Mfikwe.
The Lekatu total dispersal sale is taking place in Lichtenburg at the Show Grounds today and started at 11:00.
Mfikwe reflects on his journey with registered Simbra cattle, which began with his first purchase in July 2009.
Looking back on his 15-year journey, Mfikwe recalls a bull that significantly impacted his herd: Jacmar Libido. “I purchased Libido during the third year of our stud’s existence, in 2012, at the National Championships. At that time, he was already eight years old, but his progeny stood out from the rest. We only had Libido on the farm for two and a half years, but he produced a long line of exceptional animals,” Mfikwe shared. “Libido was long, broad, and had an impressive bone structure. He passed these qualities on to his progeny.”
In 2014, Mfikwe embarked on a road trip across five provinces, covering 2 000 km in just a week. “I visited several Simbra breeders, arriving as a stranger and leaving as a friend. I was warmly welcomed by wonderful families who took the time to show me their animals, from KwaZulu-Natal to the Northern Cape,” he remembers.
By the end of this trip, he was determined to purchase a bull. One of the two he focused on was Wisp Will Lood.
“Lood was the next bull who added significant value to our genetic improvement journey. He was thick, well-muscled, and had a remarkable hindquarter and topline, not to mention a top scrotum,” Mfikwe explained. “He was also naturally polled. He bred very feminine heifers, and his bulls were always well balanced, showcasing capacity, length, a strong topline, beautiful udders, and consistently excellent scrotums.”
In 2019, Mfikwe purchased another special bull, Richter Buks. “This time around, I approached the auction with my eyes set on a specific bull. However, on the day of the auction, I noticed something I didn’t like about the chosen bull – something I had missed when I saw him a month earlier. So, I decided to go with my second option, and it turned out to be a fortuitous choice,” Mfikwe recalls.
Richter Buks added elements that he had been searching for, including length, width, capacity, and bone structure, but he also introduced a strong sense of masculinity in the offspring – from the head, neck, and shoulders.
Richter Buks produced some outstanding animals, with the highlight being Lekatu Buick, who was crowned Simbra Champion of the World in 2023, in addition to being the National Senior Champion and National Grand Champion Bull that same year. He also excelled in numerous other shows, winning at the Hoogland Jong Bul Dag 2022 in the Free State. Furthermore, Richter Buks sired the most expensive Simbra heifer in South Africa for a significant period.
When Covid-19 hit and changed the landscape of live auctions, the first online auction Mfikwe participated in was with Richter Simbras. Two weeks prior to the auction, he went to view the bulls and had his sights set on a very special bull named Rolls Royce.
He purchased Rolls Royce for R270 000, and the bull has since made a significant impact on the Lekatu herd. Mfikwe explains, “He embodies all the attributes that form the cornerstone of our breeding philosophy: fertility, growth, bone structure, balance, capacity, width, length, good scrotums and underlines, as well as good udders.”
Rolls Royce will be one of the 15 bulls available during the dispersal sale.
“The Simbra breed has been central to my farming operations ever since. I was introduced to the Simbra breed by my father, which inspired me to name my stud Lekatu—a name he was affectionately known by in his younger years. This name will remain a part of cattle pedigrees for many years to come. I can confidently say that no other breed will ever replace the Simbra breed in my life!” said Mfikwe.
