Strong competition, buyers from across South Africa and quality breeding material set the tone when BKB hosted the joint South African Meat Merino (SAMM) production auction of Van Aardt and Faan Greyling, together with Hugh and Ian Smith, on 12 February. The auction was held on the Greylings’ farm Ricksuhill between Lady Grey and Dordrecht in the Eastern Cape.
By Gavin Isted
The auction was the result of two fathers and sons deciding to join forces and present a single event to attract a broader buyers’ market – a decision that clearly paid off.
The Greyling family has farmed sheep on Ricksuhill between Lady Grey and Dordrecht in the Eastern Cape for generations. Grandfather Van Aardt and father Faantjie initially farmed stud Merinos, with wool as the primary product. In the late sixties, amid low wool prices and recurring droughts, the focus shifted to a dual-purpose sheep capable of producing both quality wool and excellent slaughter lambs. The choice fell on the South African Mutton Merino (SAMM) – a decision they have never regretted. The Ricksu-SAMM stud was registered in November 1971. Van Aardt junior joined the farm in 1992 and registered the VAG-SAMM stud in 1995. After Faantjie Greyling’s death in 2004, his stud was transferred to Faan Greyling junior, who joined Ricksuhill full-time in 2018 as the third generation.
The Greylings sold a total of 36 rams at an average price of R12 138. Their most expensive ram (8180) was sold for R22 000 to Isak van der Merwe of Humansdorp. Lot 18, also from the Greylings and a son of a South African record-price ram, achieved the second-highest price of R21 000 and was sold to Sven Hendriksen of Mooirivier.
The Smith family also offered excellent breeding material. Their top-priced ram (8188) was sold for R18 000 to Jan Vosloo of Edenburg. They sold 19 rams at an average price of R8 789.
Faan Greyling said after the auction that they were very pleased with the prices achieved.
JP Marais, the auctioneer, likewise expressed his satisfaction with the outcome of the day.
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