Achieving good growth with superior genetics

A successful commercial beef cattle enterprise is one that keeps cow mortalities to a minimum, while achieving maximum weaner growth. Rian van Wyk, who farms Brangus in Mpumalanga, spoke to Lindi Botha about his breeding philosophy.

- Rian van Wyk

FAST FACTS

Rian van Wyk farms purebred Brangus, a breed sought after by feedlots.

He aims to improve the quality of his commercial herd through superior genetics from his stud.

Van Wyk believes that breeding cows should be selected for early calving when they are 30 to 39 months old.

Rian van Wyk, owner of Jagtdrift Brangus in the Panbult area of Mpumalanga, has built his business on well-adapted, early-maturing cows that consistently produce sought-after weaners. He attributes much of his success to choosing a breed with favourable characteristics that centre on fertility, maternal ability and satisfactory weight gain, whether on the veld or in a feedlot.

Brangus cattle were introduced to Jagtdrift 24 years ago along with bulls of four other breeds. Over the years, however, the Brangus female animals outperformed the others in terms of fertility and maternal abilities, and today the herd is almost wholly Brangus. Van Wyk’s goal is for the entire herd to comprise purebred Brangus within the next two years.

The Jagtdrift Brangus herd consists of 900 breeding cows and a stud component for breeding superior bulls. By using Brangus, Van Wyk has reduced cow mortalities and improved weaning rates due to the breed’s smaller calving weights.

“Calving problems are a significant contributing factor to cow mortalities, and consequently lower weaning rates. I make the birthing process easier by breeding for smaller heifer calves that average 33kg, and bull calves that average 35kg,” he says.