By Lebogang Mashala
The inaugural Hurwitz & Friends Boran Auction, held yesterday at the Hurwitz Farming Bull Ring Auction House in Davel near Bethal, was a resounding success. Despite the challenging cattle market in recent months, both commercial and stud animals from various breeders fetched good prices.
This fully completed sale event was created as a platform for breeders and farmers who have supported Hurwitz Borans over the years. A total of 22 sellers had their animals on display and the day ended on a high note.
The standout of the auction was Lot 4, a four-month pregnant heifer named Iris (SZ 222743), which sold for R800 000.00 to Ntaba Nyoni Borans. Iris, sold by Liz Reilly of Impofu Ranch in the Kingdom of Eswatini, is the daughter of Netstar, another exceptional bull bred by Hurwitz Farming.
The highest-priced bull was Lot 8, Ferdinand BH 18-15, also from Impofu Ranch, which sold for R350 000 to Olifantsklip Borans. Ferdinand, the son of JAMESON, was sold along with 400 straws of semen for the buyer’s exclusive use.
The second highest-priced bull was Juke (BH 180538), which sold for R250 000 to Miltezi Mhizha of Marupani Farm in Zimbabwe.
In the female category, the second-priciest animal was Lot 35, named Hannah (BH 200441), who was accompanied by a heifer calf, and sold for R300 000. Following her were Alicia (BH 210179 – Lot 21), also with a heifer calf, and Lot 3 (DM 231188), a six-month pregnant heifer, both selling for R280 000 each.
In the commercial category, the highest price went to Lot 101, a group of five pregnant heifers from Malao Borans, which were sold for R29 000 each.
The overall average prices for the auction were as follows:
- 3-in-1 – R123 000
- Bulls – R223 333
- Cows and calf – R120 000
- In-calf cows – R68 333
- In-calf heifers – R135 692
- Mixed commercial – R24 000
- Commercial cow and calf pairs – R25 000
- Commercial in-calf heifers – R19 750
