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Within a year, VEA Stud Breeders’ Boer goat stud, under the VEA Agri and Tourism umbrella, has taken the industry by storm with quality breeding material.
With top rams such as Next Level and Formula One in their herd, it’s hard to believe so little time has passed since VEA Stud Breeders purchased its first Boer goat ram, Coke (762-22-1014), and 13 exceptional ewes at the Black Tie Blue Blood auction in March 2024.
“Everything happened practically overnight when the Boer goat stall of Gerrie Ferreira of Karoo Livestock Exports caught the attention of one of our directors during Nampo Cape 2023. He immediately took an interest in the industry,” says William Smit, managing director of VEA Agri and Tourism.
At that time, VEA Agri and Tourism was looking for a sustainable small stock unit to farm with on its new farm, Goats Window Luxury Safari Lodge, between Stormsvlei and Bonnievale in the Western Cape.
“We realised that something other than sheep was needed to succeed in this harsh region with its low rainfall of around 350mm per year. Gerrie’s business concept made perfect sense and we had to set up the farm for it very quickly,” says William.
Their model of building a top-quality herd with selective breeding material quickly made waves in the Boer goat industry. In the past year, they paid record prices of R1,05 million and R2,3 million respectively for the rams Formula One (762-21-467) and Next Level (762-22-1427) from Lukas Burger Boer Goats in Griekwastad.
‘The Perfect Animal Does Not Yet Exist’
“Everyone strives to breed the perfect animal, but such a thing does not yet exist. Our purchasing strategy is aimed at achieving that in the future. We want to own the breeding material that any stud farm would like. And, of course, to breed a 200kg Boer goat!” says William jokingly.
With everything in place, their numbers should grow to 500 stud and herd ewes, and about 2 000 commercial animals within the next two years. VEA Stud Breeders’ long-term vision is also to bridge the physical difference between these three groupings through selective breeding with their excellent bloodlines.
“The birth weight of a stud lamb and a commercial lamb can differ by up to 2kg. Why wouldn’t you also want to breed a lamb ‘without papers’ that grows optimally, is quickly marketable and will look like a stud animal?” asks Kobus van der Merwe, the farm manager.
No Ceiling In Market
William says the Boer goat market is insatiable and is currently one of the fastest-growing agricultural sectors. His dream is to walk into a chain store and be able to pick this healthy and tasty red meat off the shelf, but currently the industry cannot meet the demand. Although meat prices are good, he believes that infrastructure is the biggest issue for a meat goat farm.
Their management system involves keeping all animals in a pen at night to protect them from predators and so that they can receive supplementary feeding. A lambing pen system has also been established to ensure that the record-keeping of the flock is accurate. Once the lambs are strong enough, the ewe and lamb are grouped in small camps with others of the same age.
“One of the winning recipes for reducing weaning shock is to remove the ewes from the camps after two months rather than the lambs, who have become accustomed to their conditions,” says Van der Merwe.
The semi-Karoo conditions on the farm, with its renosterveld and slopes, make their Boer goats particularly adaptable.
“A Boer goat loves heat and the more it walks, the healthier and stronger it grows. They will do well anywhere in South Africa. A piece of green pasture is like pudding to them,” Van der Merwe says jokingly.
They are full of praise for the Boer goat industry and say it is a community where farmers are happy to share their advice with others.
“Agricultural shows and auctions not only offer a showcase where you can measure your animals against the most beautiful of the beautiful. They are also conversational opportunities where – almost like in our case – the interest of new potential breeders is piqued,” says William.
For more information contact William Smit on willliam@veaagriandtourism.co.za or 0823748811.
