Quality genetics goes on sale

The premier event in the redmeat industry where top quality stud cattle come under the hammer, the Namibia Genetics Auction, is scheduled for 22 August at the Bank Windhoek Agra Ring at the showgrounds in Windhoek. Breeders of stud cattle view this auction as the most important commercial platform to ensure the availability of quality genetics in the national bovine gene pool.
Bank Windhoek confirmed its continued support to this cattle auction which is renowned for attracting only the best for scrutiny, peer review, and eventual sale.
In 2012, the turnover of this auction reached almost N$3 million. Thirty two bulls from 12 different races were sold for an average of N$30,781 each. The most expensive bull, a Santa Gertrudis, sold for N$68,000. Eighteen stud calves, mostly Limousine sold for N$7528 each, while 214 female commercial calves went for an average of N$8779 each.
According to Gielie Vermeulen, the organizer of the auction on behalf of the Namibia Genetics Group of Breeders, the objective of the auction is to provide Namibian farmers with top quality bulls, as well as high quality cows for breeding purposes. “We, as a group of breeders, want this to be the auction with the biggest variety in Namibia, where the Namibian farmers can, once a year, buy the bull of their choice and quality cows to enhance their breeding stock”, said Vermeulen.
This year the variety on offer includes the following breeds: Beefmaster, Braford, Bonsmara, Brahaman, Brangus, Braunvieh, Charolais, Drakensberger, Santa Gertrudis, Simbra, Simmentaler and Sussex, while the female animals are stud or crosses of these breeds, and mostly certified as pregnant. “Over the years, Bank Windhoek has been our main sponsor and has therefore contributed to the improved quality of animals on offer by helping the breeders to host such an event. We are grateful for their sponsorship”, said Vermeulen.
“Bank Windhoek understands the banking needs of its clients. We believe that the backbone of any country’s economy is agriculture, which is why Bank Windhoek supports the distribution of quality stock into the cattle farming sector. Just as quality breeding material should be widely dispersed, Bank Windhoek’s quality banking is becoming more and more available to Namibians with the expansion of the Bank Windhoek branch network”, said Riaan van Rooyen, Head: Corporate Communication and Social Investment at Bank Windhoek.
The auction starts at 11:00.