A breed driven by data and production value

The Brahman is a significant player in the beef industry. Sabrina Dean found out more about its data-driven improvement focus from Sytze Smit, breed director at the Brahman Cattle Breeders' Society of South Africa.

- By Sabrina Dean

Tell us more about the history of the breed in South Africa.

The Brahman breed was first formally adopted in the US when the American Brahman Breeders Association was established in 1924. The breed first made its way to Southern Africa in 1954 when a farmer in Windhoek in what was then South West Africa (Namibia today) imported the first male and female lines via Cape Town Harbour - 18 animals in total. In 1957, the Brahman Cattle Breeders' Society of South Africa (BCBSSA) was founded in Kroonstad in the Free State. By 1960, there were just over 40 registered breeders and membership grew astronomically in the ensuing decades. Today, there are more than 360 members and over 54 000 registered cattle in South Africa.

How would you describe a Brahman in terms of the breed standard?

The Brahman has developed over a long time into a breed that is known for its beef production attributes. They have a typical zebu look and this has been maintained to ensure the breed retains its inherent adaptability to a variety of regions. This makes it suitable for all the different climatic zones occurring in South Africa.

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION HAS BECOME AN IMPORTANT TOOL IN SELECTING BETTER PRODUCTION

The modern Brahman is recognised as a beef breed that is capable of producing high-quality beef from natural resources.

This speaks to its economic efficiency as it reduces financial inputs, lengthens the marketing period, and cattle reared on the veld also qualify for A or AB grades for as long as 32 months.

Some of the strong points for which it is prized include longevity, parasite resistance, hardiness, adaptability, mothering ability, calving ability and heterosis (hybrid vigour).

How has the breed evolved over the years?