Many believe that when South Africa regains its foot-and-mouth disease-free status, international demand for South African Braunvieh genetics will shoot up to such an extent that local breeders will not be able to meet the demand. The South African Braunvieh has all it takes to become a serious contender in the global red meat production arena, according to Gawie Naudé, who farms on Buttermead and Earlstown near Rhodes.
He says it is becoming increasingly difficult to find pure Braunvieh genetics in the US and Europe, creating an ideal export market for local producers.
Braunvieh breeding in the US can be divided into three categories, namely full blood, purebred (80% to 90% pure) and the so-called beef-builder crossbreed. "A significant portion of the beef builder crosses includes Braunvieh genetics as the breed is genetically so far removed from other breeds," says Gawie. He adds that crossing Braunvieh with Angus cattle has taken off to such an extent in the US that the Angus/Braunvieh crosses have, for practical reasons, developed into a separate breed. All the crossbreeding means that 100% pure genetics are increasingly difficult to come by.
A CENTURY OF ADAPTING TO SOUTH AFRICA
Over a period of about 100 years, the local Braunvieh has developed into a truly African breed with all the requirements needed for optimum meat production irrespective of the farming conditions they are subjected to. Not only is the breed an excellent choice for crossbreeding, but it is also able to survive and flourish in the most challenging conditions. The Eduan Braunvieh, for example, thrives on the sourveld of the Eastern Cape Highlands.
"The modern Braunvieh is almost unrecognisable from the cattle that initially arrived on Buttermead. They were large-framed animals bred mainly for milk production," says Gawie.
Denne historien er fra 10 May 2024-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
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Denne historien er fra 10 May 2024-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Why fish farms fail, and how to avoid becoming a statistic
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THE HITCHING POST
I'm a stylish elderly lady with a radiant glow and a good sense of humour that keeps me young at heart.
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In their paper on high-density grazing in Southern Africa, professors Angelinus Franke and Elmarie Kotzé from the Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences at the University of the Free State say high-density grazing systems may not accurately reflect natural ecosystems. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Global grain outlook: 2024/25 marketing season
In its latest summer crops report, the Crop Estimates Committee says South African farmers intend to plant 4,47 million hectares of summer grains and oilseeds in the 2024/25 season, up 1% from the previous season. As South Africa exports maize and soya bean, Annelie Coleman reports on the latest trends in the international grain and oilseed markets, amid fluctuations in weather conditions and ongoing armed conflicts.
