Building a reputation in the SA beef industry

Extensive veld tests by the Bosveld Santa Gertrudis Study Group have made a valuable contribution to establishing the breed’s reputation amongst other beef cattle in South Africa. .

- Annelie Coleman

The motto of the Bosveld Santa Gertrudis Study Group is: We think differently. The group’s quest is to provide the best possible veld-adapted genetics to the South African beef cattle industry. To that effect, the group has implemented innovative bull veld tests coupled with strict selection processes. Farmer’s Weekly first reported on the activities of these breeders, then known as Santa Veldbeestelers, in 2014.

According to Naudé Pienaar, study group member from Buhrmansdrif in North West, the group has come a long way since then.

“We realised that we [Santa Gertrudis breeders] would have to expand our activities and increase our footprint in the beef cattle sector. The group now consists of 15 breeders, covering an area roughly from Polokwane to Mahikeng. The group runs about 2 500 pure-bred animals, including registered and non-registered Santas,” he says.

CORRECTING MISPERCEPTIONS

Breeding animals for the beef cattle industry revolves mainly around requirements and perceptions of the commercial breeder, according to Pienaar. The main objective of the Bosveld Santa Gertrudis Study Group is therefore to breed and market animals that perform above average in an extensive environment (in the veld), as well as under intensive (feedlot) conditions.

Despite the fact that it has been proved many times that Santa Gertrudis cattle are top achievers, some outdated perceptions are still making commercial breeders reluctant to test these top grass and feed converters in their breeding programmes, says Pienaar.