By Jan-Hendrik de Villiers
The South African Kalahari Red Club’s auction, held on 22 February in the Fire & Wine arena (Conrad Herbst small livestock centre) in Pretoria, yielded some great prices, as well as a new South African record.
A Kalahari Red ram from Tollie Jordaan and Seuns was sold for the impressive price of R280 000 to Buffelspruit Kalahari Reds of Polokwane. The previous record price was R270 000 at an auction held by the SA Kalahari Red Club in Pretoria last year.
According to Pieter Jordaan of Tollie Jordaan and Seuns, this is an exceptional ram that has incredible length and good meat. The ram’s other characteristics include a strong, masculine head and he is broad across his back. Jordaan says he has everything you look for in a breeding ram, namely good length and good rump length.
“The buyers at the auction were looking for a ram that could add a little size to their herd.” He believes that few top-quality rams are auctioned, as most breeders keep these rams to breed with themselves.
Other rams also achieved high prices. The second highest price was R260 000. According to Jordaan this ram, an Impack son, has similar characteristics to the record-price ram. Anton and Rickus Bothma from Vivo in Limpopo bought the ram in partnership with Ivan and Malan van Heerden of Bronkhorstspruit.
“This is the first Impack son to be offered at auction. Impack is a ram of ours who has been the South African champion for three years in a row,” says Jordaan. “That line of breeding is incredible, and it’s something people are looking for.”
According to him, Kalahari Reds have a bigger advantage than Boer goats, because there is a much greater potential growth for new breeders entering the industry. There are currently about 120 registered Kalahari Red breeders, he says. “If you come in as a new breeder and there are too many members, then it becomes difficult to come out on top and also sell your goats.”
Kalahari Reds are also a popular type of goat that’s in high demand in Africa.
CdP Auctioneers hosted the auction. The auctioneer was Corné du Plessis.
