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Stud auctions a glimmer of hope

High quality genetic material exchanged hands at the Western Bonsmara auction recently. The seller of the most expensive Bonsmara bull, Thomas Horn, is discussing the animal’s traits with buyer, Jörg von Dewitz, joined by the auctioneer Eddie Reed.

High quality genetic material exchanged hands at the Western Bonsmara auction recently. The seller of the most expensive Bonsmara bull, Thomas Horn, is discussing the animal’s traits with buyer, Jörg von Dewitz, joined by the auctioneer Eddie Reed.

The breeders who marketed their animals at the Northern Select Auction in Grootfontein are (from left) Brigitte en Mecki Schneider, Sidney Martin, Birgit en Hagen Eggert, Ulla en Armin van Biljon, Günther en Charoltte Hellinghausen.

The breeders who marketed their animals at the Northern Select Auction in Grootfontein are (from left) Brigitte en Mecki Schneider, Sidney Martin, Birgit en Hagen Eggert, Ulla en Armin van Biljon, Günther en Charoltte Hellinghausen.

Two of Agra’s last stud auctions for this season gave proof of the strong demand for high quality genetic material despite the distressed condition of grazing.

The breeders selling at the Northern Select auction on Friday, 1 November in Grootfontein and at the Western Bonsmara auction on Wednesday, 6 November at Aub, were encouraged with the numbers of animals sold and the prices achieved.

At the Northern Select auction a total of 93 animals were sold.
the 37 Brahman bulls on offer were all sold. The average price was N$41,243.
The highest price was N$68,000, from Mr J Jacobs for a Brahman bull of Mecki Schneider.
Five Simmentaler bulls sold for an average of N$27,000.
Forty Brahman heifers sold for an average of N$14,700 while Brahman cows sold for for N$11,111.
At the Western Bonsmara auction hosted by Agra at the Aub auction pens on Wednesday, 6 November, a total of 120 Bonsmara stud and female commercial animals were sold. Twenty-seven stud bulls were sold for an average price of N$32,074.
 The highest price for a bull at this auction was N$64,000, paid by Jörg von Dewitz for a bull of Terra Rossa of Thomas Horn.
Eighteen cows sold for an average of N$7000, seventy heifers for an average of N$5500 and five heifers-in-calf for N$6000 on average.
Agra said in a statement released after the auctions that the 2013 stud auctions are an indication of the commitment of breeders as well as farmers with commercial herds to invest in good genetics despite difficult farming conditions.
 Agra said it will continue with its services to the stud industry in the form of consultation and marketing, in the next year.
“We believe that we will be blessed with good rains which will give us more reason for excitement about stud auctions in the upcoming year,” said Kiep Lepen, Specialist: Stud Services, at the opening of the Western Bonsmara auction.

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