'Sell that ox'

Speakers at a workshop for Mangetti farmers urged cattle owners to abandon the culture of farming only for milk, cream and social status, and to become successful, business-oriented farmers.The weekend workshop was conducted to educate farmers in the area. The Mangetti farming area is one of the grazing areas which was established for farmers north of the red line to farm commercially, but livestock owners in the area not seizing the opportunity to turn their farming into a viable business. Currently the area is under serious threat from overstocking and farmers in the area also lost many animals due to the persistent drought.More than 200 farmers, representing at least two thirds of the members under the Mangetti Farmers' Association attended the workshop. Farmers were informed on how to keep their livestock healthy, when to sell their livestock, and what financial assistance is available to boost their enterprises.Simon Tuhafeni, a commercial farmer near Grootfontein and workshop organiser told the farmers that they are sitting idly on treasure which could make them prosper. He said that all they need to do is to break away from their culture of farming only for cream.“I always visit your farms and you have high-quality livestock here, but you are not utilising their income-generating potential. Meat speculators are driving to us in Grootfontein buying our cattle, but you are just here overstocking because you want to own many cattle for status. Let us break away from that and we start making money out of our farms,” expressed Tuhafeni. He said that time is now for Mangetti farmers to get rid of the liability of too many cattle on their farms and start keeping assets that will bring them income.“We need to start selling our cattle on time for them to earn us a good income. Some of you say buyers like Meatco are not paying for your cattle based on their value. This is because you sell old cattle to them. Those big oxen you are keeping on your farms for social status have no value anymore and they are only costing you money to feed them. You will not get an income out of them,” he said.Mecki Schneider, the president of Namibian Brahman Breeders Society supported Tuhafeni and urged farmers to start organised farming under an established farming association where they can share knowledge.“As farmers you must not see the auction as a place to buy cattle you must see it as a place to make money out of. Sell your cattle at auctions and be able to support your remaining livestock and yourself. You can only make money if you are farming with the right breeds,” Schneider said.The chairperson of Mangetti Farmers Association, Ismael Shailemo said farmers need to seize opportunity to move forward.“It is a chronic disease to think that you know while you do not know. I feel good that you came in big numbers to be informed and educated so that you will know. Let us adopt a culture of sharing the right farming information with others,” Shailemo said.The workshop was sponsored by FNB and the Namibian Brahman Breeders Society in cooperation with the Mangetti Farmers' Association. ILENI NANDJATO

'Sell that ox'

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-16

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'Sell that ox'

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-16

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