AGRICULTURAL
25 | Pig farming
Their business partnership is made easier
by their close friendship stretching over
many years.
With their farm located so close to the
informal settlement of Monyakeng, the big-
gest challenge the two farmers faced while
farming maize was theft. “The grain would
not even get a chance to grow fully before
they came and stole it all. We were really
struggling to make a profit,” Mabaso said.
At one point, their storeroom was ransacked
and all their livestock (52 sheep) were stolen.
Considering the guidance and advice from
Ramohlabi, they took a decision to diversify
their farming and started planting sunflower.
This year, the pair planted 155 hectares of
sunflower. To date, they harvested 40 tons
and are excited about securing large yields
this season. “We trust Senwes whole-hearted-
ly and believe that the company will take us
to greater heights. We now see light in areas
that were previously covered by darkness.”
SUCCESSION PLAN
Mabaso and Kgosimore have three children
each, who they say are eager to take over
the farm one day. They make sure that their
children, who reside in the nearby location
of Monyakeng, visit the farm to learn about
its operations whenever they get the chance
to do so. “Mafabatho means inheritance.
We work this hard to generate generational
wealth, but we can only go so far. It is their
duty as our children to carry this work forward
when we rest,” said Kgosimore.
The two remain optimistic about the future
of their farm and hope to strengthen their
relationship with Senwes. “Ramohlabi is good
to us. He gives sound advice and really cares
about us as clients. We are grateful for all
that Senwes has done for us.”
Contact Julias Ramohlabi on 018 464 7156
or mail [email protected] if you
are a developing farmer looking to benefit
from the services offered by Senwes.
capita. The world, however, eats pork
for Africa and the consumption rate
per capita in Spain and Germany is as
high as 50kg.
Pork is consumed more than any
other type of meat world-wide, particu-
larly in Asia and America. A mere 10%
decrease in herds in China, was equal
to the total consumption in Mexico. We
have 115 000 sows in total in South
Africa, while Smithfield Pork in the USA
has 120 000. Amazing!
Asia has a huge demand for penis-
es, aortas, tripe and testes. In South
Africa heads and trotters are delica-
cies.
Pork ribs are also very popular
in South Africa, but large quantities
have to be imported since we do not
produce enough. Did you know that
boerewors has to contain 27% pork
and a good russian or salami is expen-
sive because it contains good pork?
PIGS
INTERESTING?
Pigs eat anything? No, pigs are taste
and smell sensitive. Flavourants stim-
ulate food intake and a certain citrus
extract makes a pig very happy. “A
happy pig means kilograms in the
fridge.”
Screams like a pig! Definitely not.
They are verbal and a number of
sounds have been identified. Every
group has its own alpha and the
strongest piglets drink at the front
teats of the mother.
As dirty as a pig! No, pigs are
inquisitive, physical, intelligent
and have strong characteristics.
They are very clean and have
separate areas for eating,
drinking, sleeping and
defecating. "You should
actually behave like a
pig", CP laughed.
The fact that fewer
people eat sausages
and polonies is due to
the fact that it contains
less than 2% pork. Did you know that a
good polony has to be 100% pork and
chicken due to the binding qualities
thereof?
An old Afrikaans saying is: Meng jou
met die semels dan vreet die varke jou!
This implies that pigs will eat any rub-
bish. “Pig feed is actually suitable for
human consumption,” CP says.
60-65% of the costs of a piggery is
spent on feed. They are directly depen-
dent on grain prices and are of the
biggest users of the products of grain
producers - almost more than humans!
CHALLENGES IN THE
PORK INDUSTRY
The decrease in the selling price is one
of the challenges. African swine flu is
under control, but the name makes cer-
tain countries hesitant to import pork.
Religion, culture and tradition are other
challenges and almost no pork is con-
sumed north of the equator.
FUTURE OF THE MARKET
By June processors start preparing for
Christmas and by November 2018 the
market should stabilise - “The panic will
subside.”
Christmas is a flourishing peri-
od - time to braai, holiday time and
Christmas celebrations. This is when
you score. This could indeed be the
industry for you!
SENWES SCENARIO | WINTER 2018
27