Stud goat breeder takes second place in only his second year of breeding

Stud goat breeder Christiaan Labuschagne has skyrocketed to success even though he is a relative newcomer to the industry. He spoke to Sabrina Dean about how investing in good genetics and having a strong team of workers have been key in making him one of the top Savanna breeders in the world.

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Christiaan Labuschagne started Hakuna Matata Stud on his farm Steenkampskraal in the Hoopstad district of the Free State in 2024. He farms in partnership with his wife Cecile and their four children: sons Christian (11), Melgaard (8), and AC (5), and daughter Jacolize (7).

The stud currently consists of Boer and Savanna goats, with plans to branch out into Kalahari Reds in the near future. Although running for fewer than two years, Labuschagne's Savannas are currently ranked number two in the country, and in the world.

A LONG-TERM LOVE AFFAIR

Labuschagne works in the agrochemicals industry and previously farmed exotic game on his 338ha farm, as well as running a small herd of Bonsmara cattle. He last owned goats about 30 years ago.

"I was young and just thinking about starting a family. I sold that goat flock to buy my wife's engagement ring," he says.

A few years ago, he had been toying with the idea of going back into the exotic game industry when a visit to Nampo brought back the memories of the goats he had owned in his youth.

"I was walking around the goats on display there and remembered how much I had liked them. Right there and then I told Cecile we were going to farm goats."

The initial plan had been to farm Boer goats. Labuschagne says he liked what he saw in terms of how the breed had developed in the years since he had last farmed goats. The journey to the establishment of Hakuna Matata Stud began when Labuschagne and his family attended the Royal Genetics sale in 2024 with the intention of investing in Boer goat genetics. He knew top breeder Andrew Roberts of the Maize Valley Savanna Stud, a friend who also farmed in Hoopstad, would be offering some of his premier genetics for sale during the show.