Banking on Brangus

In 2001, Steve Kretzmann, introduced a beef component to his dairy farm, Edendale, in the Eastern Cape. Mike Burgess visited him recently to better understand the impact that the Panorama Brangus stud has had on his agricultural venture near East London.

- Mike Burgess

It was an insurance policy, says Steve Kretzmann (56) about his decision to introduce beef cattle to the 603ha Edendale dairy farm 23 years ago. “We did not want to keep all our eggs in one basket … when the milk price was down, the weaner price was up, and so the two helped to carry one another.”

Although most of the energy and resources on Edendale are still channelled into producing feed, including 30ha of Kikuyu pastures and 32ha of silage maize for almost 200 dairy cows, the remaining natural grazing is today utilised exclusively by the Panorama Brangus stud defined by 132 breeding females and 81 open heifers.

The introduction of genetics from numerous Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal Brangus studs over the years has helped Steve, and more recently, his son Tyla (24) lay a broad genetic foundation from which to attempt to breed a “short, hardy, early-maturing [Brangus] type animal that produces calves with the best possible weaning weights”.

BUILDING A BRANGUS STUD 

Steve’s father, Vernard, bought Edendale in 1965 and transformed it into a profitable dairy farm. Steve matriculated in 1985, and after two years of national service, returned to farm with his father. In 1993, when his father passed away, he took over the Edendale dairy operation.

FAST FACTS

The Kretzmanns introduced Red Brangus cattle to their dairy farm Edendale to help bolster cash flow when milk prices dropped. 

The focus on Edendale is to breed medium-sized Brangus cows that can wean half their own body weight.