By: Noko Mashilo
Pig farmer Dorris Moshoeshoe Mokgabudi, 42, has named one of her pigs after her late mother, Mmatale. She shared with Vutivi News that this was a tribute to her mother, who was also a small-scale farmer. “It’s not just my mother’s name that has been given to my pigs. We’ve also named other pigs after nearby villages that used to support my mother. These names help identify the pigs, especially within the large herd that I have in my pigsty,” said the owner of BoMoshoeshoe Pig Farming.
She further explained that a year before her mother passed away, her mother sold her a pregnant large white pig, which later gave birth to 12 piglets. “After her death, I felt that I was the chosen one. For her to sell me a pig was her way of passing the baton to me,” Mokgabudi said. Mokgabudi is a farmer who specialises in raising large white pigs and Landrace and Camborough breeds. She has over 70 pigs, excluding piglets.
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With a deep connection to her pigs, she sells them at local auctions in Groblersdal, to an abattoir in Middleburg and to pork enthusiasts in her village of Uitspanning in Dennilton and surrounding areas. “However, I prefer selling directly to the abattoir and to people in various villages who spread the word about my pigs. The profit is good and I’m happy,” said Mokgabudi. Mokgabudi’s feeding and nutrition regimen is tailored to the different stages of her pigs. “We feed our weaners lactigen to support early growth and development as they transition from their mother’s milk for 4 to 14 weeks after they are weaned. This is when we introduce solid food,” she explained.
She added that their sows and boars were fed growers feed supplemented with snacks like melons, cabbages, sweet potatoes and bread. “For the growers, I buy 15 bags of 40kg each, which last me four months for a herd of 35 pigs,” Mokgabudi noted. The pigsty is divided into 10 rooms to accommodate the different types of pigs, ensuring they receive appropriate care. It includes a breeding space for sows to give birth, a nursery for weaning, breeding and boar pens for mating, and a farrowing area for waste management. The waste is used as fertiliser.
Mokgabudi also emphasised the importance of cleaning her pigs for their health and hygiene. “I clean my pigs twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays. This prevents disease, and we also vaccinate them to ensure any illnesses they may have do not spread to the piglets,” she explained. In 2022, Mokgabudi’s pig farming faced challenges. “To supplement my cash flow, I began growing crops like spinach, cabbage, onions, beetroot, tomatoes and chillies. I supply Boxer, and local stores and sell directly to the community. This helped maintain my cash flow and allowed me to continue feeding my pigs,” she said. The farmer aspires to crossbreed large white pigs with Durocs, as she has learned that this combination produces excellent meat.
