The Cilliers family has farmed on Swartfontein, near Vrede in the Free State, since 1880. Carel, the third generation on the property, today farms with his son, Willem.
In 1978, Carel joined forces with 10 other commercial beef producers in the Vrede, Memel and Warden areas to develop a highly commercial cattle breed that would excel under South Africa’s taxing farming conditions. The new breed was called the Bovelder, and as part of the initiative, Carel launched his Wicar Bovelder herd a couple of years later. “We opted not to follow the stud breeding route. We were committed to a truly South African commercial breed developed for optimal profitability,” he says.
TAURUS-INDICUS COMBINATION
The Bovelder was developed as a composite breed: it has both a Bos taurus component and B. indicus component with Bonsmara and Afrikaner, Simmentaler and Sussex genetics. Carel and his fellow breeders aimed for the efficient use of differences between breeds, without losing heterosis in the next generation and without the need for further crossbreeding.
The breeders opted for the taurus-indicus composite because the combination ensures excellent production with the added benefit of adaptability to local circumstances. The ideal animal for the South African Highveld consists of 60% to 70% B. taurus genetics and 30% to 40% B. indicus genetics.
This story is from the February 12, 2021 edition of Farmer's Weekly.
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This story is from the February 12, 2021 edition of Farmer's Weekly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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