Ampie Rossouw, the chairperson of the Bosveld Brahman Club, says there are a few reasons why the demand for breeding bulls for stud and commercial breeders in their region is limited – this has a direct influence on the prices paid for their animals at auctions.
Strict selection for better bulls
When Lukas Eksteen established the Bufland Bull Test Centre (part of Bufland Boerdery) in the area, it stirred up great interest among Brahman breeders in Limpopo. They seized the opportunity to collect more data that could benefit all breeders. Last year alone, despite the Covid-19 interruptions, 154 Brahman bulls were tested compared to only 60 bulls three years ago.
Once the test has been concluded, trained and knowledgeable selectors from the Brahman Cattle Breeders’ Society classify the bulls according to their genetic performance and phenotypic functional efficiency into A to D classifications. A bull with an A-classification is mainly suited for stud breeding and a D-classification is mostly slaughter bulls. The bulls in-between are mainly for commercial breeding.
Thereafter, senior judges from the breeders’ society may subject the bulls to another round of strict selection where superior bulls can qualify for the B-brand. To be able to bear this brand, bulls must meet the minimum standards of the breed, be older than 24 months, their dams must have an inter calving period of fewer than 520 days, and their weaning weight and scrotum size must meet minimum requirements.
Although the B-brand system is not compulsory, it is one of the tools that breeders from the Bosveld Brahman Club will utilize to offer top-class bulls to buyers at auctions.
Results of the performance test
Another valuable outcome of the performance test is that the carcasses of bulls that had been rejected and slaughtered were analyzed for beneficial meat traits, such as eye-muscle surface area, meat tenderness and percentage of fat marbling in the meat.
Continue reading your story on the app
Continue reading your story in the magazine
Shongololo Boer Goat Stud: Only The Best Will Do
South African Boer goats have proven popular worldwide for their ability to improve indigenous goat breeds. In addition, Covid-19 restrictions necessitated the establishment of electronic auctions, making it easier for foreigners to acquire outstanding genetic material exported by agents via established channels.
Feed Additives: A Veterinary Perspective
In an already volatile environment, dairy profit margins vary as milk prices and feed costs shift annually. Feed costs represent the largest input cost (an estimated 35 to 70% of the variable cost) in the production of milk. As a group of feed ingredients, feed additives can cause a desired physiological response in a non-nutrient way, such as pH shift, growth or metabolic modifier, and will usually be cost-beneficial.
Guard Against Lumpy Skin Disease
Most parts of the country received good rains during the rain season and producers are generally very optimistic. Wet seasons unfortunately come with their own set of challenges and veterinarians have cautioned livestock producers to keep an eye out for elevated biting insect loads, which may lead to conditions such as lumpy skin disease (LSD).
Climate-Related Hazards: How Smallholders Can Mitigate Its Consequences
Rainfed crop production remains the main source of food security and livelihoods for rural communities in South Africa but presents the challenge of climate variability due to its high dependence on weather variables such as rainfall and temperature.
Tips for a successful AI programme
The success of an artificial insemination (AI) programme depends on several factors that are largely within the control of the producer. It is interesting that those producers who take a hands-on approach to their cattle and inspect them regularly are also the ones who achieve the greatest success. Before his passing, Stockfarm spoke to Koot Louw, a well-known reproduction technologist from Brandfort in the Free State, about his insights into and advice regarding the AI process.
Pay Attention To Orf In Your Flocks
Some of our readers may have treated or heard of sheep or goats that have been infected with orf (vuilbek).
Sanele Mbele: Where Passion And Skill Meet
Passion for farming runs strong in the Mbele family’s veins. Sanele Mbele, from the farm Rietspruit in the De Jagersdrift area near Dundee, has inherited this passion in huge dollops.
Land Reform: Case Studies In Kwazulu-Natal
Land reform in South Africa is complex. Land reform solutions are equally complex and within partnership and development models, this is no different – but there is hope. KwaZulu-Natal has several types of partnership models and the wide variation in farming systems, as well as their different needs, set each model up for different strengths and weaknesses.
Brahman Breeders In Limpopo Have A Winning Plan
Several breeders from the Bosveld Brahman Club in Limpopo are applying genetic excellence and genotypic correctness to stimulate the demand for their bulls. At several of the last auctions, the minimum standard of bulls was raised to achieve this goal.
A Brahman Dream Comes True
For as long as he can remember, JP Mlangeni wanted to be a farmer. It might have taken a few years, from being a teacher and later a businessman, but his dream finally took shape and today he runs a fully-fledged breeding and commercial Brahman farming enterprise in Mpumalanga.
Bonsmara Auction Calendar
This auction calendar is a special segment for the Breed of the Month and includes Bonsmara auction dates across South Africa.
THE COVID ADVENTURE CONTINUES - HYENAS OF THE LIMPOPO
Smuggling of cigarettes, contraband, vehicles, humans and equipment to and from Zimbabwe into South Africa through illegal crossing points along the Limpopo River has become a normal daily business, but increased dramatically from the beginning of April 2020 when South African lockdown regulations banned cigarette sales.
Micro-cloning powers SA avocado production
Allesbeste Nursery, established in the 1980s, has been expanded many times. Yet the end is still not in sight, according to Zander Ernst, the company's director of marketing and production. Magda du Toit asked him about the history of Allesbeste and its pioneering efforts to improve South Africa's avocado production.
Growing Bambara
Vigna subterranea pods can be eaten fresh or boiled after drying, and can be ground to make puddings.
The layperson's guide to ley farming
Over the past few years, monocropping has largely given way to the crop rotation system, and ley farming has gained popularity in grain-producing areas such as KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, the Free State and North West, where many farmers also produce livestock. Prof Chris Dannhauser spoke to Susan Marais about how the rotating of grain crops with planted pastures can be a highly useful practice.
HE'S ON FIRE!
An unemployed Limpopo man’s clever idea to turn old geysers into braai stands has paid off big-time
Vaalwater Hotel, Limpopo
Vaalwater’s “drab”name is misleading– the past decade or so has seen itstep into its role as headquarters of theWaterberg with aplomb.
Queen of the veld
Two well-known cattle breeders from Limpopo advised other farmers not to overlook the Nguni, as this article revealed.
AT LAST, JUSTICE FOR OUR BOY
The Komape family have won in court –but it will never bring back their son who died after falling into a pit toilet
The Other Blouberg
Blouberg sails on the bushveld like a solitary ship, rising above the Limpopo landscape near the town of Vivo. Set your course for adventure because vultures and views await…