15 November 2023
An Angus breeder from the Eastern Cape, Chris Purdon of Cathcart, recently recorded his 10 000th registered calf.
He told African Farming he has been farming since 1981 and started breeding Angus cattle in 1982. Initially, as is common practice, he gave each new arrival a number linked to the year of birth.
“However, my worker was not so good with the system. That’s why I started numbering the calves from a beginning number.” Now he has reached the 10 000 mark.
Purdon decided from the start that Angus was the right breed because it is well adapted to his environment. He farms at 1 800 metres above sea level. Winters are cold, and it sometimes snows. In summer, the weather is moderate and not too hot. He receives an annual average of 1 150 mm of rain.
When he registered his stud, VJ Angus, Purdon struggled to get bulls so he started breeding his own. Today, he farms with about 350 cows and sells shares at his annual production auction. He usually offers about 50 bulls and 20 female animals, plus weaner calves. He also farms with Wagyu cattle.
Purdon is 65 and doesn’t know how long he will continue farming. He has no prospects for a successor. “If I get the right offer I will sell, but I don’t really have such a prospect,” he says.
