The farmers’ turnout at this year’s annual Bonsmara cattle auction sale, which was organised by the Up George cattle farm in Wasbank, exceeded expectations.
The organisers said they were ‘over the moon’ about the turnout of farmers from all walks of life in South Africa and neighbouring countries such as Namibia and Botswana, to mention but a few.
The auction, which was held for the 17th consecutive year, attracted both emerging and well established commercial farmers, who are into cattle farming.
More interestingly, the organisers said, scores of black farmers are seen to be developing keen interest in the auction and we are seeing a change of mind and attitude from the entrant farmers as they are no longer just spectators anymore but are becoming active buyers in the auction.
This new trend was inconceivable back in the day when the auction was founded by Lawrence Ralfe in the mid-90s.
MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development in the KZN, Cyril Xaba, was impressed with the auction which also attracted mayors and parliamentarians from around the Province.
He said that the growth of black farmers is inevitable in the cattle and livestock sector in general if commercial farmers are on board. “The Department has committed to support the annual farmers day held at the farm as a platform to springboard conversation between the emerging and commercial farmers in this sector,” MEC Xaba said, adding that this is the beginning of the bright future for hardworking small-scale farmers in the Province.
Well over 70 Bonsmara bulls went under the hammer in this year’s auction including 50 heifers in-calf.
The price range for Bonsmara was between R24 000 to R210 000 each, depending on the quality, lifespan and the age of the beasts.
The auction collected more than R5 million in total sale and judging by the eagerness in buyers, more would have been earned had some cattle not been withdrawn due to certain quality issues.