3 July 2023
By: Peter Mashala
The Vryburg auction arena was packed on June 28 when Duncan Serapelwane held his first production sale for Moalosi Bonsmaras. Twenty bulls and 200 females went under the hammer, with the highest-rated bull fetching R170 000 and the average bull fetching R107 941.
The highlight of the auction was Lot 6, which sold for R170 000. There were twenty bulls on offer at the sale, and their average price was R107 941. On average, a pregnant cow was sold for R29 375, while the highest priced in that category sold for R34 000. For a pregnant cow walking with a calf, the highest price was R34 000, and the average price was R30 666, whereas for a cow walking with a calf, the highest price was R33 000, and the average was R29 375. The highest price for a pregnant heifer was R26 000, with an average of R24 710. Open heifers averaged R13 783 for the category with the highest price being R15 000.
Farmers will never regret investing in Bonsmaras, says Duncan. “Their main selling point is their ability to thrive in various environments, making them a good option for commercial and small-scale farmers nationwide.”
Duncan runs his stud herd on 2 850ha in the Kgalagadi area outside Vryburg. He started his journey in 2003 when he borrowed R15 000 from the Land Bank to buy five cows. By 2007, he had a herd of 60 Bonsmara-type breeding cows and he was becoming increasingly knowledgeable about breeding.
It was through interaction with experts and buying top genetics from respected breeders such as Arthur de Villiers, Christopher Melamu and Wessel van Wyk that Duncan learned what it takes to run a profitable beef production business as opposed to merely owning cattle.
In 2010, Duncan sold his first bull at the Bonsmara auction in Vryburg for R18 000.
