Affordable Bonsmara stud bulls and a strong demand for females, which achieved solid prices, contributed significantly to total turnover of more than R15,3 million at the 20th production auction of the Vlakte Bonsmara Study Group, held on 11 June on the Springbok Flats
By Johan Norval
Four bulls shared the top price of R100 000 each, contributing to an average price of R69 815 for the 27 bulls sold.
The top-priced bulls were LFR 230006 and LFR 230104 from Leon-Fritz Riekert’s LFR Bonsmara stud at Roedtan, which were purchased by Jan Wentzel of Limpopo Stud Game and Gielie Fick of Fick Agri respectively, Andries Kruger’s KBS 230237 from the Kameeldoring stud at Thabazimbi was bought by Floris Venter of Bosbult Mill, while TBS 230041 from Henk Pretorius’ Thaba Kwena stud was sold to Wouter Bornman of GMT Food.
The average prices of the female animals were as follows:
- Pregnant cows with calf (3-in-1) – R37 400
- Open cows with calf – R29 125
- Pregnant cows – R29 125
- Pregnant heifers – R27 168
- Open heifers – R17 925
The average prices of slaughter cattle were as follows:
- Bulls (C-grade) – R34,46/kg
- Bulls (B-grade) – R35/kg
- Bulls (AB-grade) – R38,24/kg
- Bulls (A-grade) – R38,77/kg
- Cows (C-grade) – R30,52/kg
- Heifers (B-grade) – R32,20/kg
- Heifers (AB-grade) – R35,39/kg
- Heifers (A-grade) – R35,62/kg
- Bull calves under 200 kg – R47,32/kg
- Bull calves (200–250 kg) – R49,67/kg
- Bull calves over 250 kg – R48,60/kg
- Oxen over 300 kg – R44,89/kg
- Heifers under 200 kg – R44,40/kg
- Heifers (200–250 kg) – R42,40/kg
The Vlakte Bonsmara Study Group was founded by a group of forward-thinking Bonsmara breeders on the Springbok Flats in Limpopo. After successfully hosting individual commercial auctions, founding members Tian Kruger, Hardus de Beer, Cheem Prinsloo, Johan Mong and Jean Gouws decided to establish the study group. The group currently consists of 20 members, with a combined cow herd of more than 2 000 breeding cows.
Since the group’s inception in 2007, several stud farms have emerged from within its ranks. The passion and dedication of the breeders reflect their drive for performance and love for the Bonsmara breed. No distinction is made between stud and commercial breeders within the group. In fact, commercial breeders manage their herds according to stud performance measurement principles.
The group also decided in 2020 to establish an exclusive auction venue on Kruger’s farm, Doornpan, where the first auction was held in October 2020. A scale has since been installed for weaner and fat stock cattle auctions on the same premises under the Vlakte banner.
The auction was presented by Vleissentraal Bosveld in collaboration with the SwiftVEE platform, with Mike Killassy as auctioneer.
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