The extremely hardy Meatmasters from the drought-stricken areas of Sutherland, Calvinia, Matjiesfontein, Fraserburg, Merweville and Laingsburg went under the hammer at the Sutherland showgrounds on 19 March, achieving relatively good average prices.
By Johan Norval
The auction coincided with the 130th anniversary of the farm, which was purchased from a certain Philander by one of Van Schalkwyk’s ancestors in 1896. His son, Matthys, is the fifth generation on the farm. The first production auction was held on the third Thursday in March 1987, and this tradition A total of 220 selected ewes and 42 rams were initially offered at the Sutherland Karoo Meatmaster Club auction. Boemie Saaiman and Charles Freeme, independent assessors of the Meatmaster Breeders’ Association, ensured that the rams were certified Brucella ovis-negative and that the females were confirmed pregnant on site.
The most expensive ram, the two-year-old WS 24 3806 from Willem Steenkamp of Wilgerboom, Calvinia, sold for R30 000. The buyers were Bennie and Lizelle Blom of Kromkol, Sutherland. The Bloms also acquired another ram from Steenkamp (WS 243 875) for R20 000.
Other notable prices included R27 000 for MM 240 332 from André van der Merwe (Medallion, Bellville), purchased by DB de Bruyn of Bauerskloof, Riversdale. Another Medallion ram (MM 240 162) was sold for R25 000 to Nicky Paulsen of Oranjefontein, Sutherland. Three other rams each fetched R18 000.
The average price of the rams was R13 107.
A total of 88 ewes achieved an average price of R4 070, while 124 non-pregnant ewes averaged R3 579.
In addition to Steenkamp, Van der Merwe and Paulsen, other club members who participated in the auction were Steph Hugo, Gert Mans, Nico du Plessis, Fourie Louw, Jo Steenkamp, Germar Meatmasters, Nic Snyman and Bennie Booysen.
The auction was presented by Vleissentraal Port Elizabeth in collaboration with Meerkat, with André van Zyl as auctioneer.
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