Dear Fellow Cattle Breeders

Frontier Bonsmaras will hold their 5^th production sale on Wednesday the 18^th August at the Grahamstown Auction Yards commencing at 12.00hrs. We will offer 50 selected bulls (including potential stud sires) and 100 commercial females. All animals are from Heartwater, Redwater and Gallsickness areas. Hobson and Co will officiate with Brandon Leer as auctioneer.

The Soccer World Cup is here and South Africans are showing their patriotism and support for out National Team Bafana Bafana. Flags fly aplenty and vuvuzelas can be heard from Soccer city to Pofadder. Frontier Bonsmaras join in wishing our team and country a successful World Cup. Celebrating our 5th anniversary, we continue to strengthen our patriotism to the Bonsmara, the national breed.

Conceptualized in 1937 and scientifically researched until its registration in 1972 the Bonsmara goes from strength to strength with 56047 performance tested females. This makes it the biggest performance tested breed in the country. The ICP of the national herd continues to decrease, showing increased fertility, and now stands at 405 days. The breed has a weaning weight of 218kg over 30087(closest breed: 7468 calves) performance tested calves and an average birth mass of 35kg. These results show that the Bonsmara truly is the breed of South Africa.

The feedlots are once again raising quality issues and are implementing a micro chip tracking system. This allows them to track every calf from its origin (area purchased, breeder etc) to its growth rate and slaughter. Calves will now effectively be performance tested for growth within the feedlot system. This will allow feedlots to build up a database of what areas to buy from, from whom and whom not. Inferior animals will no longer have any place to hide.

At a recent feedlot seminar it was stated that if they could eliminate the purchase of the current bottom 10% of calves they could increase the price paid for “quality” by up to 15%. Feedlots regard a “quality “calf to be one which weighs between 160-240, has been weaned and dehorned. Male calves are preferred because of their superior growth and should show good potential, health and should not be too fat. Heifer calves show less growth potential than bull calves and thus are priced differently. Calves from performance tested bulls are preferred. At recent, Hobson and Co sales, Bonsmara calves averaged 45c more per kilogram than other breeds.

Bonsmaras thrive from the coast to the Kalahari, from the extreme cold sourveld of the Drakensberg to the stifling heat of the Lowveld. Frontier bulls have adapted well too many of these areas with very few comebacks. Bonsmaras cross breed successfully with all other breeds and are sought after by countries throughout Africa and many other parts of the world (Brazil, Argentina, USA, Paraguay, Australia and others). Invest in Bonsmara bulls and become part of this unique breed.

Prominent herd sires of bulls on sale

CEF99-287: bred by and used by Fourie Scheepers, Ashley Whitfield. This bull has already sired 320 calves in 4 herds and is a “proven” herd sire. He shows and breeds tremendous capacity complemented by good length, breadth, bone and excellent testes. His daughters are outstanding with ample milk. At 11 years of age he still maintains good condition. If you are looking for “grass fed” beef look no further. Approval ratio: 42% bull calves, 72% heifer calves. 6 sons on sale

CEF02-328: bred and used extensively by Fourie Scheepers, Ashley Whitfield, Chris Welman and others. This bull is a growth specialist. His sons show good length, hooves muscling, dark pigment and hardiness. He has been used in 6 different herds and has sired 204 progeny with more to come. For weaner production look no further. Approval Ratio: 58% bull calves, 65% heifer calves. 6 sons on sale

DAJ05-55: bred and used by Justin Stirk and Glynn Handley. A medium-framed bull with good length, breadth and muscling and a well developed “skof”. This is a proven heifer bull. He will be offered on this year’s sale together with 2 of his sons. His mother is a brilliant cow with an ICP of 372 days, a wean index of 104/5 and a reproduction index of 112. DAJ08-80 is another son of hers on sale.

EI94-339 - these are some of the last calves from this outstanding bull. Do not make a mistake and miss out!!!! Used in 21 herds with 731 progeny. Approval ratio: 49%bull calves71% heifer calves. 2 sons on sale.

GCD05-148: a dark red son of EI94-339. This bull is breeding as well as his father did. He has good length of body, good dark hooves, muscling and capacity. His progeny show great potential. He has been used by the Up George stud, Justin Stirk and Glynn Handley. A number of his sons are currently being used in the Up George stud. 4 sons on sale.

LAR99-404 - a bull with tremendous length and capacity. A son of VV96-318.This

Bull breeds brilliant females with ample milk. At 11 years old he continues to be used by JJ Park and Peter Knott. Used in 4 herds with 215 progeny. Approval ratio: 54% bull calves, 70% heifer calves. 5 Sons on sale.

GCD03-101- AI bred out of AG96-097. A dark, medium-framed, well muscled bull.

LAR05-008 - a well-muscled medium framed bull with good breadth and an outstanding top line. He has very good feet and legs.

Bulls and females may be viewed at any time by appointment with the relevant breeder. Should you need accommodation contact Justin Stirk on 082 6625901.

Yours in breeding

FRONTIER BONSMARAS

Peter Knott 072 2994491/046 6452412

Glynn Handley and sons 082 8086138/046 6243719

J J Park 072 4057916/046 6850644

Justin Stirk 082 6625901/046 6222102

Mark Lake 072 1287967/041 4680343

HOBSON & CO

Paul Hobson 082 6524724

Dave Cockcroft 082 8900209

Brandon Leer 082 5705863

CONSULTANT

Erwin Church 083 6548886

PUT US AT THE FRONT OF YOUR HERD