The 23rd annual production auction of the Coralta SA Mutton Merino (SAMM) stud, held on 24 June this year, highlighted the strong demand for female animals in the North West.
By Johan Norval
Cornie van den Heever of Coralta farm near Schweizer-Reneke says he was surprised by the relatively high prices achieved by his open commercial ewes.
“Some of the highest-priced ewes sold for as much as R4 250 and the average price was R3 490. The average price of the young stud ewes was R3 850. It was a real ewe auction.”
According to Van den Heever, buyer demand varies from year to year.
“It seems to me that the young farmers in the area want to increase the sheep component of their mixed farming operations. Our entire ewe offering was sold.”
The highest price paid for a Mutton Merino ram was R25 000 by Johan Rousseau, also from Schweizer-Reneke. The average price of the 37 rams sold was R11 811.
Van den Heever and his wife, Alta, have been farming in the district for 53 years. Their daughter, Corlize Koenig, gave up her teaching career to manage the sheep enterprise. Her husband, Wimpie, assists with the sheep while also being involved in the farm’s crop production, mainly maize and soybeans, together with Van den Heever’s other son-in-law, Thomas McDonald.
The auction was conducted by BKB Kroonstad, with Jan Mostert as auctioneer.
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