|
●
Return to list of articles
The rise of Limousins in
Botswana
____________________________________________________
By: JAN
STIGLINGH
How a Limousin Society’s Journal ignited one man’s vision
and led to the birth of
Limousins in Botswana.
In 2002, the
Limousin breed gained traction in Botswana when Isaac
Hlabano imported Limousin cattle from South Africa to
crossbreed with his commercial herd. Isaac and his son,
Kereng, quickly observed a remarkable advantage — Limousin
cattle maintained their condition significantly better than
the commercial herd during the dry season, which is crucial
during Botswana’s arid winters when natural grazing becomes
scarce. Recognising the breed’s potential, Isaac, with his
son’s assistance, sought out more Limousin cattle.
During this
time, at the Essie and Black Diamond Stud (as it was then
known), Kereng received a 2007 Limousin Journal. This
publication sparked his interest in stud breeding and
ultimately led him to purchase his first Limousin heifers in
2008. His enthusiasm resulted in establishing Keks Limousin
Stud in 2016, the first Limousin stud in Botswana to join
the Limousin Breeder’s Society of Southern Africa.
This journal changed my life. It was filled with
inspirational information and images that could convince
anyone to start breeding Limousin, said Kereng
Following
Kereng’s lead, the Limousin breeding community in Botswana expanded
rapidly. Between 2017 and 2022, several new breeders
emerged. Jan & Manjo Stiglingh
registered Leadwood Limousins in 2017, followed by Michael
Oabona Kgengwenyane
that registered Kgengwe Limousins and Lingane Keabetswe with
Feclin Limousins in 2021. In 2022, Oteng Lekau registered
Reo Limousins, and Koziba Motlhabani registered Chikos
Limousins. The last breeders to
join was Kabelo Motswagole
(Wika Limousins) and BK Ramohobo (Tsholetsa Kiba Limousins)
in 2025, bringing the number of registered Limousin breeders
in Botswana to eight.
Botswana Livestock Breeders Conference and Exhibition
The first Botswana Livestock Breeders Conference and
Exhibition was held in Gaborone in September 2024. The event
brought together industry experts and passionate farmers of
a
variety of large stock and small stock breeds to share
knowledge, network, and advance the future of livestock
breeding and food sustainability in Botswana.
This conference
also provided a platform to unite all Botswana Limousin
breeders for the first time, allowing them to share stories
about the breed’s evolution in the country. The early
pioneers recounted the efforts of Mr. Kereng Hlabano, who
stood firm for years as Botswana’s sole Limousin breeder.
A.J. du Toit of
La Rhone Limousins presented “Livestock Breeding for a
Sustainable Economy,” discussing the selection of animals
suited to the conditions of Southern Africa and
sharing insights on crossbreeding. Lingane Keabetswe from
Feclin Limousins and Jan Stiglingh from Leadwood Limousins
showcased their stud animals, including Leadwood’s first
embryo calves with surrogate mothers. The Honourable
President Masisi attended and congratulated the breeders for
improving Botswana’s livestock genetics.
Botswana Limousin Training course
In January
2025, the first Botswana Limousin Training Course was
launched to introduce farmers to the fundamentals of
breeding, selection, and breed standards. The course aimed
to provide farmers with the knowledge needed to establish
their own stud herds. It also served as an essential first
step for those aspiring to become judges. The course
combined theoretical and practical components, making it
“hands-on.”
Monique van
Vuuren from the Limousin Society office assisted breeders
interested in registering with the Limousin Society and took
the opportunity to meet the registered Botswana Limousin
breeders in person.
The First Limousin Production Sale
With the
increasing demand for Limousins in Botswana, the first
dedicated Limousin production sale was held by Leadwood
Limousins in March 2025 in the Tuli Block.
“It was
necessary to make productive females
available to grow the local market,
especially since the import of animals
from
South Africa is still delayed due
to
Foot and Mouth Disease import
restrictions. Even though we are still
growing our herd, we decided to
make
35 production females and 15
bulls
available. For the first time, we made
semen
available from our herd sire, LR18-
87
Zippo, which is a former South African
record-priced bull and joint high-seller at
the
prestigious La Rhone Sale in 2021.”
With a strong
foundation, a new generation of breeders, and the continued
efforts of the Limousin Breeders’ Society of Southern
Africa, the future of the Limousin breed in Botswana looks
promising. |
