Breeding material from the SA Stud Book and Unistel Elite Beef Cattle Herd of the Year for 2026 was available at highly competitive prices at Zinabos Bonsmara’s 39th production auction on 20 May at the farm Hoogland near Fouriesburg.
By Johan Norval
The Scheepers family’s production auction was the first stud Bonsmara auction featuring animals that met the strict requirements for traceability and were accompanied by movement permits and full vaccination records relating to foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).
A Simmentaler auction from Johan Styger’s BTB stud was also held on 20 May under the same requirements.
Fourie Scheepers said before the auction that his sale cattle could be transported because they had been vaccinated against FMD by Dr Christiaan de Jong and because the disease does not occur in the area.
He also attributed the high pregnancy rate in his herd to favourable production conditions.
The auction was further characterised by the use of genetics from some of the country’s leading Bonsmara breeders, including Arthur de Villiers of Arcadia, Vrede, and Up George from the herd of Derek and Tutu Ralfe of KwaZulu-Natal.
Another feature of the auction was the support shown by loyal Zinabos clients, several of whom purchased more than one breeding bull.
The most expensive bull, CEF 230412, which sold for R125 000, also carries Up George genetics in its pedigree.
The buyers were Danie and Tsaats Hattingh of Wesdan Farming on the farm Canossa in the Heilbron district.
The Hattinghs also paid R95 000 for bull CEF 230438 and R50 000 for bull CEF 230332, which originates from a De Villiers breeding line.
The second most expensive bull was CEF 230408, which was purchased for R120 000 by Michael Scheepers of Fouriesburg through the Meerkat platform.
The 22 stud bulls achieved an average price of R80 682.
The average prices for the commercial females were as follows:
- Pregnant cows and heifers – R19 000
- 3-in-1 cows – R24 857
- Cows with calves at foot – R21 682
- Open heifers – R14 151
The auction was hosted by OVK and the 100% clearance rate generated a turnover of almost R4,4 million.
The auctioneer was Gareth Hughes.
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New trend leads to successful final auction for LHB & Kruger Bonsmaras
Son of legends achieves highest price at Northern Cape and Gordonia Boer Goat Club auction
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