The latest Ntaba Nyoni Ankole & Friends auction held on Saturday, 4 October proved to be a landmark event in South African Ankole breeding history, with total sales reaching more than R14 000 000 across 48 premium lots of Ankole cattle, embryos and semen straws.

By Maile Matsimela, Digital Editor at African Farming, and Maphuti Mongatane, Business Development Manager at African Farming

The auction’s highlight came when Dr Gabriel Ngomani, a prominent Mpumalanga businessman and farmer, successfully bid R2.1 million for Lot 024, making it the highest-priced lot of the entire auction. The lot featured NANK24-056, a 12-month-old new-generation Ankole heifer that represents genetics previously unavailable in the South African market.

This exceptional heifer, born on 1 October 2024, is the product of carefully selected bloodlines, with her sire being the 42⅜” BE509 and dam being the 41¼” E773. What makes this acquisition particularly significant is that NANK24-056 is completely unrelated to any existing South African herd, offering breeders the opportunity to introduce fresh genetics into their breeding programmes. The heifer comes with verified parentage DNA.

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Ntaba Nyoni &Amp; Friends Ankole Auction Lot 004_Supplied — Ntaba Nyoni Ankole & Friends auction – Lot 0o4. Photo: Supplied

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Premium Breeding Stock Attracts Strong Interest

The auction’s success extended beyond the record-breaking top lot, with several other premium animals commanding exceptional prices. Lot 048, featuring a pregnant recipient carrying new-generation genetics, sold for R1 million. This lot represents the future of Ankole breeding, with the embryo sired by the impressive 48¼” BE503, whose horn measurements span 46¼” on the left and 48¼” on the right, crossed with the 50” E753 dam. The recipient is expected to deliver in November 2025, offering the successful bidder immediate access to these cutting-edge genetics.

Another standout performer was Lot 004, featuring Arizona (NANK23-077), a fullblood cow aged two years and seven months that achieved R1.1 million. Arizona brings both proven genetics and immediate breeding potential, being eight months pregnant to the renowned 45” Tarzan. Her impressive lineage includes the 49¼” Dyambo as her sire, and her own horn measurements of 25” on each side, with a 30” tip-to-tip spread, demonstrate the quality that attracted serious bidders.

Industry Collaboration Drives Success

The auction brought together some of South Africa’s most respected Ankole breeders. The participating studs included established operations such as Benella Ankole, Drumsheugh Ankole Stud, Embryo Plus, Fire Sky Ankole, Full Blood Genetics, Great Hope Ankole, Imvelo Safari, Kilima Horned Heritage, Jolankole, Lasarus Ankole, Lumarie, Pembe Nzuri Ankole stud, Tandjiesberg Ankole Stud and Ubhejane Wildlife.

This diverse participation created a comprehensive offering that catered to various breeding objectives and budgets, while the introduction of the Veewinkel app for online registration and bidding ensured accessibility for bidders who couldn’t attend in person. The technological integration contributed significantly to the auction’s reach and ultimate success.

The average sale price across the 48 lots exceeded R300 000, indicating strong confidence in the breed’s genetic value. The introduction of new-generation genetics that are unrelated to existing South African herds represents a pivotal moment for the industry. These bloodlines offer breeders the opportunity to enhance genetic diversity, improve horn development and potentially access international markets that demand verified genetic backgrounds. The auction’s success also reflects the growing recognition of Ankole cattle as both a commercial opportunity and a conservation effort.