At just 21, Mbuleleni Manuel made a bold decision that most wouldn’t dare – dropping out of agricultural college to run his family’s livestock farm full-time. With a R35 000 savings account accumulated from lunch money, airtime sales, and childhood hustles, he didn’t just step into his father’s muddy boots – he laced up his own and built a thriving agribusiness. Today, the Ganyesa-based farmer manages 80 Bonsmara breeding cows, runs an animal breeding enterprise, and aspires to own up to 2 000 hectares of farmland. African Farming Editor Lebogang Mashala visited him on his family farm outside Vryburg.
Mbuleleni’s story begins in Dryharts, a small settlement outside Taung in the North West’s Greater Taung Municipality. Farming, particularly livestock farming, is in his blood. His father, a farmer and livestock speculator, farmed the communal lands of Khaukhwe village, approximately 35 km from Dryharts, and also operated a small grocery store.
From an early age, Mbuleleni was involved in both worlds. Weekends and school holidays were spent helping out with livestock and working behind the counter. These were formative years, particularly his time at the cattle posts in Khaukhwe, where he developed a deep connection with animals and the farming lifestyle.
In 2011, the family took a big step forward. His father, Twene Israel Manuel, was approved for a government-leased farm, and they moved to a property located between Ganyesa and Vryburg, bringing along 88 breeding cows, 40 calves, and 130 Dorper sheep.
It was a move that planted the seed for what would eventually become a thriving agribusiness, even if the road ahead was not always smooth.
After finishing high school, Mbuleleni enrolled at the Potchefstroom College of Agriculture. But during his second year, he reached a crossroads. Much of what he was learning in class felt repetitive because they were things he was already applying at home. He felt his time would be better spent on the farm.
“I told myself that what I was studying, I was already doing,” he says. “And being at school for three years wasn’t going to assist me in my plans.”
His parents weren’t thrilled. When he suggested leaving college to focus on farming full-time, they resisted. But Mbuleleni had a well thought out plan, and some surprising savings to back it all up.
Childhood Sacrifices
Mbuleleni had always been thrifty. Back in primary school, he chose to stay at home instead of attending boarding school and requested that the money saved be kept for him. He increased those savings by skipping tuckshop treats, saving his lunch money, birthday money, and even starting a small airtime business through the family store.
By the time he finished matric, he had saved R35 000 and had already bought six goats for R11 000. When his goat herd grew to 28, he sold them for just under R50 000 and used the money to buy a second-hand bakkie. That vehicle became both a farm workhorse and the foundation of a small transport business.
These early investments weren’t just financial; they were also strategic. They were Mbuleleni’s way of proving he was serious, to his parents and himself.
Also watch: Two young farmers receive donated heifers at Moalosi Bonsmara Sale
Taking Charge
In 2016, at just 21, Mbuleleni took the leap. He officially left college without his parents’ approval and dedicated himself to working on the farm full-time.
His timing was crucial. His father’s health was deteriorating, and the distance between their home in Dryharts and the farm near Ganyesa (over 100km) was proving too great for regular oversight. Consequently, farm activities began to decline, livestock medication was being misused, licks were disappearing, and farm workers were taking advantage of the absence of management.
Mbuleleni quickly began tightening operations. He improved medication practices, started supervising feed usage, and stepped in to assist with planting the irrigated lands where they grew yellow maize and groundnuts on 20 hectares. Initially, they depended on contractors. However, Mbuleleni realised he needed to take greater control.
Lessons Learned
It wasn’t all smooth sailing. In one memorable season, a faulty centre pivot pump threatened their entire planting operation. Mbuleleni warned his father, but his advice went unheeded. After spending over R200 000 on inputs, the pump failed. The crops died in a season of intense heat waves. A later inspection revealed that the problem had been a broken pipe that would have cost R130 to replace.
“That was the turning point,” Mbuleleni says. “After that, my dad made me the farm manager.”
In his first season as manager, he took a cautious approach, planting only 10 hectares. However, the harvest was successful, enabling them to recover from the losses of the previous year. From then on, Mbuleleni began overseeing all farm operations. His father even started paying him a salary, which he mostly saved.
Within a year, Mbuleleni had saved enough to start buying goats again. After another successful harvest and a good cattle season, his father rewarded him with 12 heifers, the foundation of his breeding herd.
Building Two Businesses
By 2019, the family had formally registered Manuel Boerdery as a business. However, as significant as this milestone was, it also became a challenge. Due to his father’s advanced age, they were ineligible for youth-targeted government support.
I realised I needed to register my own business to benefit from youth programmes,” says Mbuleleni.
That’s when Mbuleleni Trading and Projects was established. Using his savings and newfound independence, he bought a 4,5-tonne truck to support a livestock speculation business, purchasing weaners at auctions, backgrounding them, and reselling them to feedlots. He also started buying second-hand implements to plant independently.
Today, Mbuleleni runs Mbuleleni Trading alongside Manuel Boerdery. He now has more than 80 breeding Bonsmara cows (excluding calves and weaners) and continues to use his old bakkie and truck for both transportation and logistics at auctions.
Grazing with Precision
Mbuleleni manages his animals with care and foresight. The farm is divided into twelve rotational grazing camps, which he uses based on veld condition and animal type.
“I inspect the grass daily. If the animals graze it too low, recovery takes too long,” he explains. “We allow camps to rest depending on rainfall. We can’t afford to overgraze.”
Mbuleleni emphasises that, as a cattle farmer, your most important resource is grass, which is why you are essentially a “grass farmer”.
He says they have never faced a situation where they had to destock during winter because of a lack of grass. “We have good, rich soils, and that’s a blessing.”
His grazing strategy is simple: during the summer, he uses only five camps, leaving seven available for winter. Even late in winter, some of these camps remain unused, a testament to his careful planning.
Focused Breeding and Animal Health
His breeding season runs from November to January, with calving from August to September. To maximise bull efficiency, Mbuleleni has established smaller breeding camps.
“If the bull has to walk too far to find a cow in heat, it won’t cover many cows,” he says. “So I reduce the walking distance to save energy and ensure better mating rates.”
Mbuleleni follows a smart supplement regimen, shifting from Winter Lick 40 to his winter mix, which includes Dundee Lick, salt, P12, and Voermol Super 18. In summer, he switches to Rumivite P6 and a production lick before calving to enhance milk yield. His calves are weaned at an impressive average weight of 190kg.
Animal health is crucial. Summer vaccinations include anthrax, botulism, and blackleg, using Supavax or Clostrivax 3 Plus. He administers antibiotics for heartwater, a disease that has become more prevalent due to more cattle being moved across provincial borders. Pour-on dips are applied year-round.
He explains that although his area has historically never experienced heartwater disease, the high movement of animals from different provinces has led to some recent cases. “Even though I quarantine the animals and keep them in more distant camps, I’m still at risk due to the movement of ticks from various sources, especially since I do a lot of buying and selling,” he says.
Finance and Fire Protection
Earlier this year, Mbuleleni received blended finance from the Land Bank, consisting of a loan and a grant. His credit limit at Noord Kaap Auctioneers has increased from R18 000 to nearly R300 000 due to his reliability and consistent payments.
Veld fires continue to be a concern in his region. “We’ve established a fire forum among farmers, and we respond quickly,” he says. Thankfully, his farm’s location amid surrounding farms has helped keep him comparatively safe.
Advice to Young Farmers
Mbuleleni is passionate about inspiring other young people to take farming seriously.
“Youth support programmes are real, but they won’t wait for you,” he says. “We don’t stay young forever. You need to use your youth to build.”
His dream is to expand his capacity and own at least 1 500 to 2 000 hectares of land. “It is not just a dream, it’s a goal,” he says.
