5 March 2024
While most buyers at the auction of Ankoles and Borans from President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Ntaba Nyoni stud farm were South Africans, it was Collen Tafireyi of Sinyo Boran & Ankole in Zimbabwe who paid the highest price of R1,8 million.
Tafireyi paid this price for the Ankole cow Kethiwe NANK 13-04 (3-in-1) and her heifer calf ICT Kovu.
The auction at Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm in the Bela-Bela area was facilitated by Veewinkel, his own online platform, as well as the online platforms Meerkat and Swiftvee.
JP Smith, CEO of Veewinkel, said there were about 150 registered buyers, and about 90% of the 65 lots auctioned were bought by buyers who attended in person.
“The Ankoles were physically in the kraal at the auction, which made it impressive and unique,” said Smith. “One of the breeding bulls, Kovu, was brought into the ring, which is also something unique for Ankole auctions. His semen was available and fetched good prices.” Smith said this shows the Ankole market is going from strength to strength.
Another Ankole lot that achieved a good price, R1 million, was the recipient cow from Makhadzi (donor cow) and Katanga (donor bull). Smith said this is the first time in 20 years that new genetics in the form of embryos and semen have been brought into the country. Dr Morné de la Rey of Embryo Plus and his partners are at the forefront of the process.
The average price for pregnant Ankole cows was R470 000. Ankole heifers averaged R300 000, Ankole bulls R131 000, Ankole semen R28 000, Ankole embryos R40 667, Ankole cows R320 000, pregnant Ankole recipient cows R351 111 and Ankole cows with calves R750 000.
Boran genetics achieve good prices
The mottled Boran cow BH 170117 (3-in-1) and her heifer calf from Stenson (ICT BH 18-490) were sold for R450 000, the highest price paid yesterday for a Boran cow.
A pregnant daughter of Jameson, NBOR210037, pregnant with BH 18-490, was sold for R320 000.
Smith said there was great participation among buyers to purchase the good Boran genetics, and they fetched good prices. “There was genetics for everyone to buy.”
Pregnant Boran heifers were sold on average for R150 938, Boran heifers for R85 000, Boran 3-in-1s for R330 000, Boran cows and calves for R98 000, pregnant Boran cows for R97 000, Boran bulls for R60 000, and commercial Boran animals for an average of R28 667.
For more information about the auction, visit Veewinkel’s Facebook page.
