Two stud bulls with good breeding values were the most expensive bulls at R90 000 each at the 29th production auction of the Rouvus Drakensberger stud on 24 July.
By Johan Norval
The buyer of lot 6, GR 220171 is Kobus Hattingh of Frankfort. The bull was used in Rouvus’ commercial herd. Lot 10, GR 210307, was used in the stud herd for two years and was purchased by the Gardenia Family Trust from Hendrik Bester and his sons, Handré and Gerdus, of the farm Vredeling, Wesselsbron.
Frik Roux, who has run the Rouvus stud for 49 years with his father, Gawie, says decades of selection, field adaptability and systematic breeding are the secret to their bulls and females that not only perform, but ensure profit. “The impact of foot-and-mouth disease on the industry has resulted in several good bulls being sold unsold, while others have fetched bargain prices.”
Two sons of Rouvus’ Elite cow, GR 140410, who represented the breed in the 2024 SA Stud Book Awards, were also sold at the auction.
The average price of the bulls was R56 428, slightly lower than the R59 961 of the production auction in 2024. Pregnant stud heifers achieved an average of R16 500 and non-pregnant heifers R12 500. In 2024 their averages were R24 333 and R15 888 respectively.
The auction was presented by OVK on the farm Kalkfontein, Ventersburg, as well as online, with Gareth Hughes as auctioneer.
