![Bovelder: the all-terrain beef cattle breed](https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/3894/600039/60221df476064/Bovelder-the-all-terrain-beef-cattle-breed.jpg)
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.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
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.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
![New Holland to make waves at Nampo Cape](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/3894/1814803/TwCQ8iJ3h1725180173157/NEW-HOLLAND-TO-MAKE-WAVES-AT-NAMPO-CAPE.jpg)
New Holland to make waves at Nampo Cape
Some exciting new products will be available for public viewing at agricultural manufacturer New Holland's stands at this year's Nampo Cape, says Jaco du Preez, New Holland's marketing manager for Southern Africa.
![Students test the new Case IH sprayer series](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/3894/1814803/7V4gIaBqI1725180081994/STUDENTS-TEST-THE-NEW-CASE-IH-SPRAYER-SERIES.jpg)
Students test the new Case IH sprayer series
When Case IH embarked on a roadshow to introduce its new range of Patriot sprayers, the first stop was Thabazimbi, Limpopo, where students from the University of Pretoria's Department of Natural and Agricultural Sciences had the chance to put the new Case IH Patriot 350 through its paces.
![Enhancing your soil solution](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/3894/1814803/fBKqwDnH21725179933824/ENHANCING-YOUR-SOIL-SOLUTION.jpg)
Enhancing your soil solution
For plants to thrive, the soil solution must be balanced in terms of nutrient concentration as well as pH and moisture levels
![Helping small-scale farmers produce quality maize during a drought](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/3894/1814803/C8AB55ne71725179698320/HELPING-SMALLSCALE-FARMERS-PRODUCE-QUALITY-MAIZE-DURING-A-DROUGHT.jpg)
Helping small-scale farmers produce quality maize during a drought
Abeeb Babatunde Omotoso, senior lecturer at Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology at NorthWest University, and Abiodun Olusola Omotayo, senior lecturer and researcher at North-West University, discuss how a mix of old and new techniques produced a superior maize harvest in the dry North West.
![Managing large-scale retrenchments](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/3894/1814803/Hy_FbWbZP1725179577609/MANAGING-LARGESCALE-RETRENCHMENTS.jpg)
Managing large-scale retrenchments
Dismissals due to operational requirements are usually considered the last resort for employers after alternative measures have been considered first
![The importance of knowing how to grade slaughter livestock](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/3894/1814803/dHnU0Tds71725179438241/THE-IMPORTANCE-OF-KNOWING-HOW-TO-GRADE-SLAUGHTER-LIVESTOCK.jpg)
The importance of knowing how to grade slaughter livestock
Whether you're a big or small producer, knowing how to grade your lifestock is essential for the profitability of your business
![The three common bacterial leaf diseases of beans.](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/3894/1814803/6Zb8V0VBx1725179310778/THE-THREE-COMMON-BACTERIAL-LEAF-DISEASES-OF-BEANS.jpg)
The three common bacterial leaf diseases of beans.
Bill Kerr gives advice on how to recognise and treat halo blight, common blight and bacterial brown spot in a bean crop.
![Using animal impact for better grazing](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/3894/1814803/9Z78B_VpE1725179109836/USING-ANIMAL-IMPACT-FOR-BETTER-GRAZING.jpg)
Using animal impact for better grazing
Simbra farmer Kobus Bester spoke to Zunel van Eeden about the advantages of high-density grazing, which entails the grouping of high numbers of livestock to graze small areas of land over short periods.
![Why are Japan's melons so expensive?](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/3894/1814803/5X7hU9Ues1725178974989/WHY-ARE-JAPANS-MELONS-SO-EXPENSIVE.jpg)
Why are Japan's melons so expensive?
Japan is renowned for its culinary delights, including Wagyu beef and expensive melons. In this article, we take a look at why Crown melons fetch such exorbitant prices.
![Upsurge in maize exports is expected in 2024/25 marketing season - Agbiz](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/3894/1814803/3sl5cRgCx1725178870475/UPSURGE-IN-MAIZE-EXPORTS-IS-EXPECTED-IN-202425-MARKETING-SEASON-AGBIZ.jpg)
Upsurge in maize exports is expected in 2024/25 marketing season - Agbiz
Local supplies of grains and oilseeds are deemed adequate, as the Crop Estimates Committee places South Africa's 2023/24 harvest of these crops at 15,9 million tons