The highest price was R400 000 for a pregnant white cow, HLT 20-216, sold by Hans and Lize-Marie Terblanche from the De Blanque Brahman Stud near Onderstepoort outside Pretoria to Lourens and Irma du Plessis from Louma Boerdery outside Thabazimbi, where they operate the Nedibest Brahman Stud.

The cow has already taken part in eight shows. At the Lephalale show, she won the gold cup in the interbreed competition. She has been named grand champion twice at shows, reserve grand champion four times, won other championships five times, and was a reserve champion at three other occasions.

According to the Terblanches, she breeds “as she looks”, possessing a combination of femininity, width and length.

R250 000 for Mr Hot

Brandwater Mr Hot 20-100 achieved the highest price among the bulls. He was sold by Linde du Plessis, owner of Brandwater Boerdery in Fouriesburg, for a good price of R250 000 to Triple Tee Brahmans from Nyabira, outside Harare in Zimbabwe. The herd manager, Enock Chitekedza, wanted to load the white bull immediately to begin the long journey to its new home.

Chitekedza told Landbouweekblad, sister title of African Farming, that he was delighted that his government had approved the import of the bull. The Zimbabwean government closed the border with South Africa on 1 September because it suspected the current foot-and-mouth disease in South Africa was from a new strain. However, the government agreed to consider applications to import breeding animals on an individual basis. Chitekedza was one of the lucky ones to receive approval. The approval was confirmed by the auctioneer, Gert Jordaan, at the start of the auction.

Chitekedza said he was willing to pay so much for Mr Hot because he believes the bull will yield great dividends for the stud in the form of many calves. He will also share the bull with other leading breeders to improve their own herds. The stud has been in operation since 2015 to help expand the national Brahman herd with top breeding material. He didn’t buy any more Brahmans at the auction because he was only after a top bull.

Du Plessis said he used the bull in his own herd before deciding to sell him. He described him as a well-balanced bull with a lot of meat from the top bloodlines Moremi and Vastrap. The bull has excellent estimated breeding values for growth and milk and has an incredible topline, masculinity, clean underbelly, good testicles and strong legs. Du Plessis retained a semen share.

High prices and averages

The most expensive cow with a calf, BOS 19-64, was sold for R100 000 by Burnie Staal of the Bos Blanco Stud at Kroonstad to HT Martin of Ottosdal.

The most expensive open heifer, HLT 23-510, was sold by De Blanque for R70 000 to JF Coetzee of Modimolle.

Eleven bulls averaged R113 636, nine open heifers averaged R43 889, 15 pregnant cows or heifers averaged R65 000 and 12 cows with calves averaged R62 500.

The auction was presented by BKB, and Gert Jordaan was the auctioneer.