Quality Beefmasters that can withstand the harsh environment and extreme climatic conditions of the Eastern Cape were offered at Niel van Pletzen’s production auction on his farm Rheederskop in the Jamestown district on 26 August.
By Gavin Isted
According to Van Pletzen, he strives to breed quality cattle that can adapt to all conditions and environments, can be farmed profitably and sustainably, and can convert veld into meat as economically as possible.
Lot 5 was the most expensive bull, selling for R100 000 to Ras van Pletzen of Modderpoort near Jamestown. The next most expensive bulls, lots 8 and 3, sold for R95 000 to Riaan Rossouw of Grootkraal Farm at Jamestown and R90 000 to Bernard Wiese of Lady Grey, respectively. The 21 bulls sold for an average price of R62 143.
Ten non-pregnant heifers achieved an average price of R14 200, which was R2 700 more than last year. The 21 pregnant cows averaged R21 610.
The Van Pletzens decided on the Beefmaster as their stud breed in 1996. JJ van Pletzen, Niel’s father, purchased the first Beefmaster bull for the commercial herd. The stud was registered in 2010, and the first production auction was held the following year under the name Van Pletzen Beefmasters.
“With my father’s retirement in 2020, I partially took over the stud herd and presented my first production auction on 28 August 2024, under the stud name Niel van Pletzen Beefmasters,” says Niel.
Vleissentraal Port Elizabeth presented the auction, and André van Zyl was the auctioneer.
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