A Limousin cow and a Brahman bull were the supreme champion cattle at the BKB-ALE show at the Afridome in Parys, earning them the coveted Landbouweekblad ribbons. The show was held from 31 August to 7 September.
John and Tracey Devonport, owners of the Devlan Limousin Stud on the upper reaches of the Vaal Dam near Villiers, took home the gold cup for supreme champion cow with their cow Devlan Kelly DL 21-156. It was the fourth time they had shown a supreme champion at this show.
A white Brahman bull, ARC 19-122, from the Arc en Ciel Brahman Stud in Secunda, managed by Cor Loggenberg, received the award for supreme champion bull. Loggenberg has also won this trophy before.
The reserve supreme champion bull was a Simbra, JacMar Jock JM 19-155, property of the JacMar Simbra Stud of Jaco and Henriëtte Maré of Klerksdorp.
Photo: Charl van Rooyen
Photo: Charl van Rooyen
The reserve supreme champion cow, IGB 19-89, belongs to Jan Botma of the Sombrero Santa Gertrudis Stud in Bothaville.
During the inter-breed judging, judges Marius Barkhuizen and Christopher Havenga had to work hard to determine the finalists for the gold cup awards for the cows and bulls between the participating cattle breeds – white and red Brahman, Limousin, Simbra, Santa Gertrudis and Dexter.
Their final choices for the two finalists in each of the bull and cow divisions were then announced, but the names of the eventual supreme champions and the reserve champions were not announced until that evening during a dinner, where the ribbons were presented to the owners.
Always opportunities in agriculture
Gerhard Maritz, regional manager of BKB’s livestock department in the north – the main sponsor of the show since its inception in 2019 – said during the dinner that there are always opportunities in agriculture. The show was a showcase for breeding material and an example of hard work and dedication by farmers and their allies, he said.
Without the farming community, businesses like BKB could not exist. Relationships like those between the show’s organisers and agricultural businesses were also essential, said Maritz. The agricultural sector was not having it easy, partly because of droughts and wildfires, but he had noticed that farmers always see the golden edge around the darkest cloud.
“I am optimistic that things will get better going forward. We just have to work hard,” he said.
Francois Schlebush, regional head of FNB Landbou in Mpumalanga and Gauteng, emphasised good relations in the agricultural sector. He told of one farmer who expected a good maize harvest this year but harvested only 300 kg per hectare due to the drought.
“And then he has to get ready again to plant another crop. Then relationships are essential, especially with his bank manager. Therefore, the farmer must be able to manage his circumstances and ensure that the operational and financial side of his farming is equally good.”
