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Quality matters at national Dormer auction

Exceptional quality, good bloodlines and the entry of new breeders ensured good prices at the national Dormer auction.

Two newcomers who want to make their mark on the industry by starting with top breeding material paid an astounding R300 000 for a ram and bought the most expensive ewe for R80 000.

Morné Taute and Ferdi Swanepoel of Swantau Dormers near Klerksdorp registered their stud this year with the Dormer Sheep Breeders’ Society.

The R300 000 for a ram from Tjaart Steenekamp’s Twee Broers stud at Barkly East is not a record, but still excellent in the tough economic climate. Steyn Steenekamp of Graskaroo Dormers in Burgersdorp, who used to run the stud with Tjaart, says the ram is of exceptional quality, with good numbers.

With the most expensive ram are (from left, back) Frikkie Tauber (BKB), Ferdie Swanepoel and Morné Taute (buyers), Tjaart and Steyn Steenekamp (sellers) and JP Marais (auctioneer) and (front) Jovaan Cloete (BKB) and Andries Hardi (handler).
Photo: Supplied
With the most expensive ewe are, from left, Jan Eksteen (seller) with Leah, Ferdie Swanepoel (buyer), Marius Eksteen (seller) with Liné, Morné Taute (buyer), JP Marais (auctioneer) and Jan Joubert (BKB). The handler is Solomon Lebitso.
Photo: Supplied

The most expensive Dormer to date was a ram that Johan Barnard of Johanri Dormers sold at his 2022 production auction for R510 000 to Johnny Forbes of Darling. At the same auction, Barnard sold a ewe for R180 000 to Mich Turner from Cedarville.

The ewe that Swantau bought for R80 000 was bred by Marius and Jan Eksteen of Hatari Dormers in Bloemfontein. Hatari, which entered the industry six years ago, has also built up its stud with top breeding material.

The average price for rams was R36 182 and for ewes R16 202. The auction was presented on 7 September by BKB Cradock, with the cooperation of the Meerkat online platform, at Be Human north of Bloemfontein. JP Marais was the auctioneer.

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