Beef Shorthorn: a breed made for crossbreeding!

The Beef Shorthorn has a long and successful history in South Africa. Stud owners Hendrik, Henco and Johann Strydom spoke to Annelie Coleman about this adaptable animal that shines at crossbreeding.

- Annelie Coleman

The first Beef Shorthorn was imported into South Africa in 1861, making it one of the oldest cattle breeds in the country, and the Shorthorn Cattle Breeders’ Society of South Africa was established in 1912.

The Stretton herd, formed in the 1860s, has long been one of the most prominent in the country, and Hendrik Strydom, owner of the Amadeus Cattle Company, has based his Beef Shorthorn herd primarily on Stretton genetics.

Shorthorns were originally bred as dual-purpose animals, used for both beef and milk. However, it was discovered that particular bloodlines were better for meat, while others were superior for milking. As a result, the lines eventually diverged to become the Beef and Milking Shorthorn breeds.

Hendrik and his sons Henco and Johann decided on the Beef Shorthorn for economic reasons after conducting extensive research on the breed, which is adapted to all of South Africa’s production regions, has excellent marbling traits, and crosses well with just about any other breed.

TWO SHORTHORN STUDS

The Strydoms have two Beef Shorthorn studs, namely the Amadeus stud in Petrusburg, Free State, and the Strydberg Farming stud in Molteno, Eastern Cape. Hendrik and Henco jointly own the Amadeus herd, while the Strydberg herd is part of a collaboration between five people, including Johann.

“We got an opportunity to rent land in Molteno, complete with a herd of Beef Shorthorn stud cows, on a long-term basis, and it was an opportunity we couldn’t miss. Since both of my sons are involved in farming, we had to look at a way to expand the business, and the Molteno opportunity allowed us to do just that,” explains Hendrik.