In just six years, a WhatsApp group for a few aspiring Boer goat farmers has become a network spanning six countries and generating hundreds of thousands of rands through livestock sales. At its heart is a simple yet transformative idea: Connect farmers with knowledge, mentorship and market access to turn ambition into sustainable profit.
By Lebogang Mashala, Editor at African Farming
Desré Ferreira, a Boer goat stud breeder from Vryburg in the North West, has long recognised the challenges faced by newcomers to the sector. While many aspiring black Boer goat farmers are highly enthusiastic, they often lack technical knowledge and access to markets.
“I noticed a gap,” she recalls, “especially for farmers who were serious but didn’t have the networks or resources to move forward.”
Determined to bridge that gap, she formed a WhatsApp group in 2019 where farmers could share information, ask questions and receive practical guidance. With support from the SA Boer Goat Breeders’ Society and her local Ghaapseberg Boer goat group, Desré dedicated her energy to mentoring members.
Importantly, Desré didn’t just offer advice, she provided her mentees with genuine market exposure by allowing them to sell goats under the commercial animal category at her production sales. She believes this was essential in helping them grasp the commercial dynamics of the industry.
A Mentee With A Vision
One of the farmers who joined early was Kehentse Mosimanyane, manager of Tsepamo & Co., a family-owned Boer goat stud located outside Vryburg in the Morokweng area. Working part-time in the business, Kehentse was eager to develop it into a recognised stud and explore wider market opportunities.
Under Desré’s mentorship, he gained a deeper understanding of herd management, genetic improvement and market presentation. “The first thing she did was help us develop a management plan. It explained the breeding programme, when to prepare goats for breeding, how to match rams and ewes, and how to maintain herd health,” he says.
A key lesson was the importance of a quality breeding ram. “A ram services 35 to 40 ewes per season. That’s 60 to 70 lambs a year when you consider twins and triplets. So the ram is responsible for all the lambs you get in a season – it’s the most valuable animal on the farm,” Kehentse explains.
He also learned the importance of clear breeding objectives, good record-keeping, and the distinction between treatment (including antibiotics and doses) and vaccination (preventative health measures).
Desré emphasised vaccinating ewes against diseases like enzootic abortion at least a month before breeding and supplementing them with production licks or ewe pellets.
Morakeng Farm Camp
Around this time Kehentse met Lesedi Serapelwane, who had recently established the Morakeng Farm Camp (MFC). Six years earlier, Lesedi had resigned from a corporate role in Johannesburg to return home and farm with her father in Morokweng.
Initially, she invited friends to visit the farm to “experience farm life”. Those visits developed into a larger concept, an organised farm experience event where young farmers could gather, share ideas and learn from more experienced producers.
Initially, it was just social,” Lesedi recalls. “Then I realised it could be a platform where young farmers meet, discuss ideas and learn from each other. We also bring in experienced farmers to share knowledge.”
When Lesedi and Kehentse met, the idea of adding a small stock auction to the camp came about. They involved Tumiso Sebogodi, a newly qualified auctioneer and started recruiting breeders, many of whom were mentored by Desré.
WATCH | R250K+ in sales! Morakeng Farm Camp’s Boer goat auction sees massive growth
The Auctions
The first MFC Boer goat auction, held alongside the camp event, was modest, with fewer than 20 animals sold and generating under R100 000 in sales. However, the organisers saw potential. By the second year, they had refined the event, recruited more breeders and generated strong buyer interest.
The results spoke for themselves:
- Total animals sold: 34 (29 ewes, five rams)
- Total revenue: R251 300
- Top ram price: R32 000 (Lot 33, an 11-month-old buck from Tsepamo & Co., sold to Rapelang Maibi)
- Second-highest ram price: R20 000 (also from Tsepamo & Co.)
- Top ewe price: R26 000 (Lot 29, a pregnant four-tooth ewe from Mosa Baitsiwe of Baitsiwe Boerdery, sold to Thabo Banda of Banda Accountants)
- Pregnant ewes averaged R7 370; ewes with rams averaged R3 780; dry ewes averaged R3 800. Rams averaged R21 100.
The Mentorship Thread
Kehentse quickly credits the improvement in quality and prices to the mentorship they received. Desré’s emphasis on holistic farming, which includes animal husbandry, health, nutrition, and economics resonated deeply with her mentees. “Desré taught us to prepare animals for auction, how to use confirmation to select animals, proper feeding and grooming of animals. She also taught us to view our farms as businesses. Whether you are commercial or stud, the cost of raising the animal remains the same, but with stud animals, the return is much higher. It’s about sustainable profit,” says Kehentse.
Strength in Collaboration
The MFC team also enlisted respected industry elders to enhance their platform. Dr Sejako Senatle, a legal practitioner with extensive farming expertise, advised on production and legal compliance, while Mpho Applegreen contributed valuable indigenous knowledge and market insights.
This multigenerational approach enriched the camp, drawing buyers and participants from various backgrounds. Approximately half the buyers at the second auction were camp attendees, while the remaining buyers were invited through targeted outreach.
“The auction didn’t originate from breaking away from our mentor,” Kehentse emphasises. “It derived from each of us contributing our strengths. Lesedi had the platform and people, I had the knowledge to share and Tumiso possessed auctioneering skills. Together, we created something that benefits all of us.”
Also read: From our editor: Mentorship under tents – A journey to Morokweng that changed my perspective
Building for the Future
The MFC auction continues to develop. The organisers are seeking ways to create a more formal and consistent platform, potentially including more training workshops, on-site demonstrations and collaborations with breed societies and service providers.
They also want to expand breeder participation beyond their immediate network, providing more small stock farmers, especially those without access to established auction platforms, with an opportunity to showcase and sell their animals.
Mentorship remains central to the vision. The goal is a self-sustaining cycle: each generation of breeders supports the next.
Why it Matters
In a sector where market access has historically excluded many small-scale black farmers and knowledge gaps have existed, initiatives like this demonstrate what’s achievable when mentorship combines with collaboration. By integrating technical skills, business insight and innovative marketing platforms, the MFC team and their network are rewriting the story of Boer goat breeding.
It’s a model that combines tradition, and learning from elders and established breeders, with modern tools like social media and targeted networking. And it’s proof that with the proper support, rural entrepreneurs can develop profitable, sustainable businesses.
From a humble WhatsApp group to a lively auction platform, the MFC team’s journey highlights the strength of shared knowledge, teamwork and a clear vision. For Desré, it’s the realisation of a mission she began in 2019: to empower emerging farmers to stand on their own feet in the market.
For Kehentse, Lesedi and their peers, this is just the start. As they keep improving their herds, broadening their reach and mentoring others, they demonstrate that the future of Boer goat farming isn’t limited to just farming – it also lies in the connections between farmers, mentors and markets.
Also read: Unlock the potential of Boer goat farming
