The well-known Du Plessis brothers from Bethlehem, including Springbok rugby players Jannie and Bismarck and their brother, Tabbie, sold a bull for a South African record price of R1,1 million at the national Beefmaster auction held at the Afridome in Parys on 2 July.
By Charl van Rooyen, senior journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad
The auction was one of the few that could be held with cattle physically present in the auction ring following the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. This was made possible through full vaccination, veterinary inspections confirming the animals were healthy, and strict biosecurity measures throughout the auction.
The bull JAN 23-3125 comes from the brothers’ Janmarck stud, which is run on their farm near Bethlehem in the Free State. Bismarck and Tabbie manage the farm full-time, while Jannie, a medical doctor practising in Gauteng, visits as often as possible. The bull had been used in their stud for two years before being offered to other breeders.
The buyers were Edgar Brotherton of the Just Beef Beefmaster stud near Kenton-on-Sea and Mark Ford of Begelly Beefmasters near Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape. They regularly purchase breeding stock together under the Heritage brand.
Another outstanding price of R325 000 was paid for WC 23-0053 from the stud of L.E. Campher of Ventersdorp. Seventeen bulls sold at an average price of R202 059, reflecting the outstanding genetics of the breed and the continued demand for superior breeding animals.
The Janmarck stud also achieved the highest price of R220 000 for a pregnant heifer, JAN 23-3179.
The top-priced female was BOS 18-8244 from the Bos Blanco stud of Burnie and Dennis Staal of Kroonstad. This pregnant cow with calf (3-in-1) sold for R230 000. The stud also received R190 000 for another cow, BOS 18-8641.
Three heifers were sold at an average price of R48 333, with the highest price reaching R55 000. Only one cow with calf was offered and she sold for R70 000. Twelve 3-in-1 cows changed hands at an average price of R103 333, while the 11 pregnant heifers sold for an average price of R76 818.
The auction was presented by Vleissentraal Bethlehem. Ian Grobbelaar was the auctioneer.
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