The Boran advantage

Quentin de Bruyn, who farms cattle in the eastern Free State, has spent over 15 years refining his beef production system around the Boran. He spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about how the Boran’s resilience, fertility, and low input needs are reshaping commercial beef production in South Africa.

- 

Commercial beef producers in South Africa are under increasing pressure to boost production efficiency, minimise input costs, and adapt to harsher climatic conditions. For many, the answer lies in breed selection, and the Boran is emerging as a top performer.

Quentin de Bruyn, a commercial cattle farmer on Vastrap Farm near Ladybrand in the eastern Free State, says the Boran's ability to contribute to improving kilograms of beef per hectare makes it especially attractive for commercial operations.

"A commercial beef operation should be based on a crossbreeding programme. When you crossbreed, you improve productivity, you improve kilograms [of beef] per hectare, calving ease, udder quality, and longevity. From that perspective, the Boran is a unique animal," he says.

According to him, one of the Boran's key production advantages is that it is genetically distinct from other common beef breeds used in South Africa.

"Genome mapping has shown that the Boran sits in a completely different corner of the DNA map from the other breeds. That separation gives you greater hybrid vigour when crossbreeding, which directly translates into better performance on the ground," he explains.

De Bruyn adds that this makes Boran bulls an ideal choice for commercial herds seeking to enhance productivity without compromising adaptability.

Whether crossed with British, European, or indigenous breeds, Borans introduce robust traits that can elevate the entire herd's performance.

ADAPTABILITY SAVES ON INPUTS

Production margins in beef farming can easily be eroded by high veterinary costs and feed requirements. De Bruyn says Borans, bred for centuries under extensive African conditions, naturally lower these costs.