Beginning with 36 mixed-breed cattle just five years ago, Bookholane Mokoena is today the owner of a 90-head Bonsmara stud.
Mokoena farms on 270ha of leased land, but hopes to get access to more land soon so that he can increase his herd and plant maize for feed.
He selects for medium-framed bulls that produce calves weighing between 27kg and 32kg at birth to ensure ease of calving.
Bookholane Mokoena farms on 270ha of leased land near Nigel in Gauteng. He started farming in 2015 and has since managed to increase his herd from 36 mixed-breed cattle to a 90-head Bonsmara stud herd.
Mokoena grew up in the Free State, where his father was a subsistence farmer, and he developed a passion for agriculture from a young age. After matriculating, however, he did not have enough money to go into farming, so he took a job with Sasol. He saved for years to accumulate start-up capital, and finally resigned in 2015 to begin his career as a farmer.
This story is from the November 27, 2020 edition of Farmer's Weekly.
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This story is from the November 27, 2020 edition of Farmer's Weekly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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