{"id":848592,"date":"2025-05-15T22:12:43","date_gmt":"2025-05-16T03:12:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/15\/small-stock-is-big-farming-business\/"},"modified":"2025-05-15T22:12:43","modified_gmt":"2025-05-16T03:12:43","slug":"small-stock-is-big-farming-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/15\/small-stock-is-big-farming-business\/","title":{"rendered":"Small stock is big farming business"},"content":{"rendered":"
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GUARD DOG: Pieter Fouche with daughter Lara-Anne, Border collie herder Sammy and guard dog, Anatolian Branka. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

G<\/span>oats are hardy, but if you thought you could just put them out in the veld and leave them until market day, you\u2019d be wrong. It\u2019s taken just under 10 years for farmer Pieter Fouche to fine-tune his Boer goat breeding programme. And it\u2019s hard work!<\/span> \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Talk of the Town visited his Martindale farm last week. Green and lush, with full dams and plenty of shade \u2013 surely this must be the easiest farming operation in the Eastern Cape?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMost people think goats are low-maintenance,\u201d Fouche told TOTT. \u201cHere there is plenty of food; but there are also plenty of ticks and parasites. That\u2019s what you have to take care of.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Then there are predators.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCaracals and jackals are common here,. But she sorts them out,\u201d Fouche said as b<\/span>ounding up to us in enthusiastic leaps, twists and turns cam one-year-old Anatolian shepherd dog Branka. The breed is popular among small stock owners who want to deal with predators in a way that doesn\u2019t harm the environment. Anatolians used to guard sheep or goats live outdoors with the flock.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve seen brown hyena and leopard in this area,\u201d Fouche said. <\/span><\/p>\n

For that reason, the goats also come in from the veld at night to sleep close to the house where light and activity puts the larger predators off.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe kids are at their most vulnerable from birth to 12 weeks. Their rumen (the first stomach of a ruminant that digests plant material) is only fully developed at 12 weeks and until then, they are completely dependent on their mothers.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I started off, I didn\u2019t know much about goats,\u201d Fouche said. \u201cThe mortality rate was about 30%. It took a while to get to know the different threats to these goats, especially the kids, but now the mortality rate is down to 5%.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ticks and wire-worm are among the threats to livestock.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere are ways to manage those \u2013 but here, unlike in the Karoo, you do have to actively manage them.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Goats do survive some things that would kill most other livestock \u2013 or at least make them very sick.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve seen these goats eat syringa berries, lantana, even inkberry, and be fine,\u201d Fouche said.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Is it all worth it?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDefinitely,\u201d said Fouche. \u201cPrices for sheep and cattle have fluctuated a lot. But goat prices have stayed strong throughout.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe traditional market is very strong and people will always need goats for traditional ceremonies.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Fouche\u2019s herd is registered with the South African Boer Goat Breeders Association. Along with other respected Boer goat farming operations across the province, he will be contributing to the small stock show and auction at the 2025 Bathurst Agricultural Show.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The main day for the small stock show is Friday April 4. The auction takes place at 11am at the showgrounds on Saturday April 5. On offer will be Boer goat rams and ewes and, for the first time at the show this year, Meatmaster rams and ewes.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe animals on auction will be top notch,\u201d said Fouche, who in addition to providing stock is also coordinating the small stock section.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe SA Boer Breeders Association official will be there to ensure quality control of the animals that go on auction.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Fouche said there would also be a short educational talk for members of the public to understand the intricacies of breeding and showing small livestock.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For enquiries about the small livestock section call Pieter Fouche at 072-828-9265 or Fanie Mostert at 082-877-2092.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Bathurst Agricultural Show runs from 3-6 April.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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