A “mallemeule” (merry-go-round) of high prices – this is how the 27th production auction of Syferfontein, Bonro and Bloukraan Bonsmaras on 16 June at the farm Goodlands near Vrede could be described.
By Johan Norval
Carel Davel of BKB Standerton, who conducted the auction, attributes the strong prices to the quality offering of cattle from Nico Pieterse (Syferfontein), Dr Abraham Manser (Bloukraan) and Daleen and Paul Roos (Bonro), particularly the bulls, which were all sold.
Only three bulls were sold at the lowest price of R65 000 each, while most achieved more than R100 000. The most expensive bull was Lot 10 from Syferfontein (BSF 230341), which was sold for a whopping R675 000 to Johan Boshoff’s Sebadja Stud in Limpopo. Another Syferfontein bull, SYF 240008, fetched R475 000, while SYF 230323, SYF 230225 and BKR 230302 each fetched R325 000. The high prices pushed the average for the stud bulls to R158 265.
The most expensive bull and heifer, BSF 230328, were bred by Syferfontein and Pieterse’s partner Ahmed Bhamjee. The heifer was sold for R80 000 to Etienne van Tonder of Modimolle in Limpopo.
The average price of pregnant cows was R24 571, cows with a calf at foot R32 111 and in-calf heifers R36 641. Pregnant commercial heifers averaged R23 000 and pregnant commercial cows R21 000.
Pieterse officially registered the Syferfontein stud in 1998 with Arthur de Villiers of Arcadia near Vrede as mentor.
His main focus has been on shorter, thicker (broader and more capacious) cows. “We selected for earlier-maturing cattle without sacrificing too much on weaner growth and milk production. We are very strict when it comes to the fertility of both bulls and females. Our herd boasts an intercalving period of 382 days. I prefer deep-bodied female cows with good balance (wedge from front to back). The bulls must also be broad and masculine with good capacity and sufficient muscling,” he says.
BKB presented the auction in collaboration with SwiftVEE. The auctioneer was Billy Lyons.
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