According to Dr Wayne Durdle of Amersfoort in Mpumalanga, Gelbvieh cattle could play an important role in the national beef cattle herd due to the breed’s efficiency in difficult production conditions.
Durdle has been working with this breed for about 10 years, first in Swaziland and now in the south-eastern Transvaal.
His herd is registered with the American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) as the German Association does not register cattle outside of Germany.
Gelbvieh cattle originated in the early 19th century through crossing the local Celtic-German Landrace cattle of northern Bavaria with Simmental, Shorthorn and Heil-Brown Landrace cattle.
This resulted in a golden-brown animal with good growth, which doubled as a draught animal and milk-producer.
As mechanisation removed the beast-of-burden role, breeders concentrated more on the breed’s milk and beef-producing characteristics.
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