It has almost become a tradition that a fabulous price is paid for a bull, three-in-one cow or pregnant heifer at a Hurwitz Farming production auction. Although this was not the case at the 11th production auction on 2 August, Simeon Hurwitz, co-owner of Hurwitz Farming and well-known Boran stud breeder, says the auction lived up to the stud’s slogan, “something for everyone.” “The higher prices were there, but with the lower prices we also proved that the farm could offer a Boran to any buyer.”
By Gerrit Bezuidenhout, senior journalist at African Farming
The impact of the foot-and-mouth disease epidemic should not be underestimated and here Simeon says that the Boran Cattle Breeders’ Society, like other societies, is certainly feeling the pinch. “Prices are definitely lower than last year, but that is also part of the industry. We will continue to do our best to provide top-quality breeding material to the market.”
The bull prices were mostly good and the bull BH 17 75 Omega, a son of BH 12 13 Samburu, was sold for R850 000. BH 19 746 Warrior was close behind with a price of R700 000. Omega was bought by Conrad Hollenbach of the Hollenbach Boran Stud at Groblersdal and Warrior by Rogers Sithole of Black Ox Farming, who has farms at Ermelo and Amersfoort. The average price of the seven bull lots was ultimately just over R400 000.
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In the section for three-in-one cows, a favourite among buyers looking for outstanding breeding material on which to build a herd, 13 lots were offered, achieving an average price of R179 000. Here the pregnant BH 19 631 Sunshine, with her calf BH 24 768 Silas, achieved the highest price of R450 000. The Hollenbach stud also bought her. Another three-in-one cow, BH 21 417 Iris, was sold with her calf BH 24 533 Iris for R300 000. The average price for three-in-one cows was eventually around R179 000.
The most expensive price for a pregnant heifer was paid for BH 22 424 Jasmine, a daughter of the legendary Boran bull Picasso. She was sold for R550 000 to the Ntaba Nyoni stud of Pres. Cyril Ramaphosa, while her sister, BH 22 641 Jasmine, was sold for R500 000 to the Hollenbach stud. The average price for pregnant females was R215 000.
Cows with calves also achieved good prices and here two lots, BH 21 590 Poppy with the calf BH 24 704 Poppy, as well as BH 21 448 Jackie and BH 24 842 Jackie achieved R450 000. The average price for cows with calves was about R270 000.
“We are satisfied with the course of the auction and are pleased that, as with every production auction, we were able to offer animals of outstanding quality. With our next auction hosted by Hurwitz Farming, namely the 10th summer auction, we hope to do so again,” said Simeon.
SHM hosted the auction in The Bull Ring, Davel. Johan van der Nest was the auctioneer.
