Afrigus - A Game Changer For The Red Meat Industry?

Free State stud breeder Martiens le Roux believes the Afrigus breed is a promising new contestant in the South African beef cattle arena. Annelie Coleman called on him on his farm in the Bethulie district to find out more about this young and relatively unknown breed.

- Annelie Coleman

Martiens le Roux, who runs the Victorio Afrigus stud near Bethulie in the southern Free State, is convinced that the Afrigus has the potential to take beef cattle production to a new level, especially in the more extensive farming areas of South Africa. The breed has been developed to withstand and even excel under the most taxing conditions.

It is still in its infancy, however, with a small number of breeders and breeding animals.

“A lot of promotion and development must still be done, but these hardy and adaptable animals have the potential to add markedly to profitability and sustainability,” says Le Roux, who has 40 breeding animals.

The Afrigus is essentially a combination of the Angus and Afrikaner beef cattle breeds. Other indigenous breeds, such as the Tuli, Bonsmara and Drakensberger, are also qualified for breeding the Afrigus in combination with the Angus. This combination results in a wide selection base for gene combinations suited to a host of different environments.

All the breeds involved in the development of the Afrigus are known for quality and tender meat.

“The objective is to combine the Angus with these African breeds to create a breed that’s solid red or black, naturally polled, medium-framed and with low birthweights, as well as an even temperament, accelerated growth and hardiness,” says Le Roux.

GETTING STARTED

Afrigus breeding in South Africa started in 2000 with the registration of the breed. The Victorio stud was formed in the same year, and the Afrigus Club was launched under the auspices of the Angus Breeders’ Society. Le Roux was the chairperson of the founding committee.