Zebaldt Ngaruka

One of Namibia’s renowned Brahman stud breeders Ace Jesee Kavari said love, patience and a clear long-term vision are key to successfully breeding with stud animals.

Kavari of Komboro Brahman Stud is one of the decorated red Brahman breeders in the country and is widely popular for his red Brahman bull named Boesman, which has won several awards both locally and internationally. 

Kavari’s stud cow called Petronela was crowned as champ of champ twice at the Gobabis and Windhoek agricultural shows.

Other popular Brahman bulls called Billion, Pule, Brooklyn are some of the products of Komboro Stud Brahman. 

AgriToday caught up with Kavari to shed light on what is expected from upcoming stud breeders, specifically for those planning to farm with the Brahman. 

The renowned farmer from Okatuuo village in Omaheke region’s Epukiro constituency highlighted that the stud breeding prime aim is to improve livestock productivity by adding quality to them.

“Stud breeders sell their produce at reasonable and rewarding prices, which is a remarkable return on investment. We add quality to the products and sell to fellow farmers to bring changes in their herds,” said Kavari.

He further advised those who want to join the stud industry to be prepared to give 98% of their love, time, resources, attention and devotion to their products. 

“This industry is not all about financial gain, but you must have love for the breed you farm with. You will reap the benefits at a later stage. You must know your goals as a farmer, there is no single best bull at the auction but there is a best bull for your farm and your budget,” he said.

The renowned farmer alerted the upcoming stud breeders to be prepared to lose more than they will gain from stud breeding. 

Asked on why he chose the Brahman breed, he said the adaptability, mothering ability, drought resistance are some of the key attributes the Brahman breed has compared to others. 

“This breed is good for crossbreeding, resistance to parasites such as ticks and other diseases. It is heat tolerant and can graze far and wider, as it can walk long distances,” he pointed out. 

On how one can become a stud breeder, Kavari said the key step is to register with the Namibia Stud Breeders Association. 

“One must first register with 20 or more female animals. This is one of the basic requirements, but more information can be obtained from different stud breeders associations countrywide,” he said.

The communal stud breeder touched on some of the challenges farmers should expect to encounter in the industry, which includes climate change and increase in seasonal drought. 

“There is also a lack of skilled workforce, scarcity of water resources and poisoning plants in most communal setups. We also need to be assisted with some schemes that will enable us to increase our stock. 

We need proper protection and enlightenment in making our own food for our livestock. More emphasis must be given to gardening as it is the case in our neighbouring countries as we feed our animals from the pockets during most seasons,” he said.

Characteristics 

The red Brahman brings some trusted traits of the breed, which includes heat tolerance, longevity, and maternal strength, with standout colour and eye appeal. Backed by performance and bred for versatility, the red Brahman make a bold impact in herds around the world.

Brahmans are intelligent, inquisitive and shy. They are unusually thrifty, hardy and adaptable to a wide range of feed and climate. However, these characteristics also suggest careful, kind handling methods. Brahmans like affection and can become very docile.

They also adapt well to colder climates by growing a thick, protective coat and contracting their skin to retain body heat. Brahman cows are used to breed beef cattle, producing many famous breeds such as the Santa Gertrudis, Brangus, Braford, Beefmaster and Droughtmaster.

-zngaruka@yahoo.com