Strict Selection: The Key To Award-Winning Brahmans

Producing world-class stud cattle is a challenging endeavour, but judging by the stacked-up ribbons at the RiHugo farming enterprise, Rian Maree has found the winning recipe. He spoke to Lindi Botha about practising rigorous selection on his Brahman herd.

- Lindi Botha

RiHugo farm near Mkhondo (Piet Retief) in Mpumalanga is no stranger to awards. This year, Rian Maree was awarded the Mpumalanga Agriculture Young Farmer of the Year title and will compete at this month’s national Agri SA/Toyota SA Young Farmer of the Year competition.

Maree started farming full-time in partnership with his father, Hugo, in 2008, after completing a degree in agricultural management at the University of the Free State.

Within a few years, he began to achieve exceptional show results with the family’s Brahman stud. At the World Brahman Congress, held in South Africa in 2014, his Brahman bull HHM 10 24 won the Supreme Champion award for the best animal at the show.

From there, HHM 14 22 was bred and went on to qualify for the World Brahman Competition, beating competitors within the Africa, Asia, and Europe division. The bull then finished second in the North and South America division.

Breeding award-winning Braham stud cattle has its challenges, Maree admits.

“It’s a competitive environment, and everyone’s striving for high quality. You need to ensure that your cattle are better than your neighbors’ to keep your business running and have repeat customers,” he says.

Attending cattle shows is part of the business’s marketing strategy, and has delivered good results.

“You have to advertise your best animals and build a client base, and shows give us this opportunity. Doing well at the show means we get noticed, and get new clients. It’s a lot of work and a huge expense, but it’s worth it.”

STUD PRODUCTION