At a time when South African agriculture is under pressure to attract and retain young talent, Free State livestock farmer, certified cattle artificial inseminator and agribusiness innovator Rorisang Reanetse Tsotetsi is seeking out a space for himself that blends genetics, entrepreneurship, and youth development, all at the very young age of 21.

At Goats Window near Bonnievale in the Western Cape, Ankole cattle are more than a striking visual attraction. The operation is building a stud focused on resilience, fertility, elite genetics, and long-term sustainability, while using the breed’s unmistakable presence to strengthen its eco-tourism offering.

Stud farm proprietor Keith Peinke says adaptability, fertility and low-input efficiency continue to make the Boran breed a profitable choice for commercial and stud breeders alike.

The Boran has built a reputation in South Africa as a low-input breed with strong parasite resistance, strong maternal traits, and adaptability across diverse production systems. Annalea van Niekerk, stud manager at Green Valley Boran, spoke to Henning Naudé about the breeding and management philosophy shaping the stud in its formative years.

Rising feed costs, recurring droughts and tighter margins are prompting South African beef producers to rethink profitability under African conditions. Increasingly, the Boran breed is challenging the long-held belief that bigger cattle and higher inputs automatically deliver better returns. Fertility, adaptability, and efficiency are emerging as stronger indicators of long-term profitability.

When Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa received Ankole cattle from his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame, the herd was moved from Rwanda’s high-rainfall highlands to Zimbabwe’s drier Midlands province, where conditions are much harsher.