The highest-priced bull at the auction, VJN 210044, was sold for R390 000 to Nick Serfontein of Sernick in Edenville via the online platform Meerkat.
Another bull from Venter, also known as South Africa’s largest lemon producer, fetched R200 000. VJN 210102 was bought by fellow citrus farmer Pietie Ferreira of Endulini Fruits in Patensie.
Two other bulls that achieved more than R100 000 were VJN 210055 and VJN 210063, sold for R180 000 to SP Olivier of the cattle company Optimum in Cornelias Rust, Brandfort, and for R140 000 to JD Venter of the farm Bornst in Dendron, respectively.
The offering of 19 bulls averaged R90 526.
Pregnant cows were sold for an average of R17 725. Six pregnant commercial cows each fetched R20 750.
According to Venter, his herd of 200 breeding animals has received a strong genetic foundation over the past 17 years thanks to bulls from Derek and Tutu Ralfe of Up George in Wasbank, Fourie Scheepers of Zinabos in Fouriesburg, Sernick Bonsmara, and the Molopo stud of Kobus Poggenpoel in Vryburg. Venter has also been conducting genomic analysis on his entire herd for the past six years.
Despite the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak among dairy cattle in Humansdorp, the auction animals could be transported to their destinations.
The auction was hosted on 26 July by Vleissentraal Port Elizabeth with Johan van der Nest as the auctioneer.
