By Johan Norval
Improved production conditions after widespread rain gave livestock auctions the necessary boost.
Despite the current sluggish economy, the ninth production auction of Maluti Dormers on 22 February went well and achieved a 100% sale rate. Commercial ewes were in strong demand.
Lodie van Reenen of Nova Barletta near Clocolan, one of the partners of the Maluti group, says the exceptionally high average price of almost R4 000 for pregnant commercial ewes was one of the trends at the auction. The other members are Peet van Rooyen of Umpukane near Clocolan, Janneman Botha of Katmando-boerdery, also near Clocolan and Liezel Parkin of Marquard.
The most expensive Dormer was a ram from Umpukane which was sold for R50 000. Morné Taute of Swantau Dormers at Potchefstroom and Steyn Steenekamp of 2Broers Dormers at Burgersdorp were the buyers. A ewe from Umpukane was the most expensive female animal and was sold for R30 000 to Johnny Forbes of Vredesig Dormers.
Van Rooyen describes the most expensive ram as a flawless animal that is alert and phenotypically good. “In addition to a balanced conformation, he also has a lot of depth at the age of 16 months and carries a lot of meat.”
As an example of the relatively high average prices at the auction, stud rams sold at R12 267, pregnant SP ewes at R7 257, commercial pregnant ewes at R3 862 and non-pregnant commercial ewes at R3 083 on average.
OVK hosted the auction on dr Carl Scholtz’s farm Rietkuil, near Clocolan. Mike Killassy was the auctioneer.
