By Vida Booysen
The decision of the well-known stud farm Richter Simbras of Bloemfontein to hold its online auction at six o’clock in the evening has paid off. The auction is an exceptional highlight in the stud’s history.
Not only was the average price for the bulls the highest ever in the history of Simbra auctions in South Africa, but the time slot in which the auction was held on Thursday, 26 June, attracted 2 300 global viewers.
“This global involvement is testament to Richter Simbras’ loyal international client base,” says Chris Richter, owner of the stud that was started by his father, the late Jan Richter. A buyer from America purchased a bull that very evening to use on his farm in South Africa. There was also interest from countries such as Britain, the Netherlands, Tanzania, Botswana and Namibia.
With an average price of R112 000 per bull, Richter Simbras’ 20th production auction also set a new standard for the South African Simbra industry. This is a record for the industry.
A total of 26 bulls were sold, of which 12 achieved more than R100 000 each. Dave Howard of Kenton-on-Sea paid R220 000, the highest price of the day, for lot 10, Pokerface (JHR22612). He also acquired lot 5, Kingston (JHR21590), for R180 000. Lize Coetzee of Hoopstad paid the second highest price of R200 000 for lot 3, Tank (JHR21596).
“The exceptional results reflect not only the genetic quality of the animals, but also the targeted breeding and management practices followed up to the day of the auction,” says Richter. He explains that Richter Simbras bulls are bred with great care to be hardy, fertile and adaptable.
This makes the animals sought after nationwide. The stud’s services to its buyers also includes free delivery throughout South Africa. This year, buyers from Limpopo to the Western Cape made use of this service.
This year the auction was held only online on SwiftVee’s platform and, according to Richter, was handled in a professional manner by Ian Grobelaar, a seasoned auctioneer whose experience and knowledge helped ensure the day’s success.
“We are truly grateful to every buyer, supporter and collaborator who made this milestone possible with us,” says Richter.
He is the fifth generation in the Richter farming business and proudly carries on his father’s legacy. “My father laid the foundation for the stud, on which I have been able to build for the past 18 years. Under his leadership, I led two auctions before I took over the reins. This 20th auction is a tribute to him and to the generations before me.”
