By Buziwe Nocuze
- Mzimasi Jonas started farming Boer goats in 2023 and now pays R3,500 for a herdsman, R2,350 for insurance, R2,300 for feed, and R1,500 for medicine monthly.
- Customer Luzuko Mnyanda is cutting his ancestral ceremony from four goats to two and adding chickens because goats now cost R4,000.
A farmer in Cape Town has explained to customers complaining about increased Boer goat prices that he spends a lot of money raising them and that they are valuable because they are raised for milk and meat.
Cheese can be made from their milk, and biltong can be made from the meat.
Mzimasi Jonas started his business in 2023 and has 65 Boer goats.
“These are the most expensive because of the many things they can be used for, such as milk and meat. When I started this business, I was selling them for R2,300, but the price has increased to R3,900 to R4,000,” said Jonas.
Other factors that led to the increased price are the money they pay for herdsmen, insurance, feed, and medicine.
“We are paying around R3,500 for a herdsman, R2,350 for insurance, feed costs R2,300, and R1,500 for medicine monthly,” said Jonas.
His buyers are people holding ceremonies and Nigerians who buy them year-round.
“Most people buy during ceremonies and in the festive season. People who buy them anytime are Nigerians. They love the Boer meat. December gets very busy – some people have homecoming for their boys, some are having weddings, and some buy it for braai,” said Jonas.
During the busy season when people hold ceremonies, he sells more than ten goats a month.
“Some customers come and ask that we give them a discount. Sometimes we do when, for example, a customer is buying more than three goats,” he said.
Luzuko Mnyanda, a resident who will be having a ceremony for his ancestors, was planning to buy four goats.
“The price is too much. I will buy two goats instead of four. We will then have chickens so that some can eat chickens. The most important thing is slaughtering a goat. We used to buy goats for R2,200, and we would negotiate with the farmers and they would sell for R2,000,” said Mnyanda.
Another customer, who asked not to be named, said everything is expensive.
“We don’t have money, but we understand that they are also paying a lot of money raising them and making sure that we get quality meat. Goats used to be cheaper,” the customer said.
Pictured above: A farmer in Cape Town is selling Boer goats for R3,900 to R4,000.
Image source: Supplied
