During December around ninety bull calves born during the period March to June 2009 arrived at Tipperary farm for the veld-test that is planned to officially start on 1 February 2010.

Although each breeder evaluated his calves’ potential before entering them for the test, seven Proveld members again visually inspected the bulls on 5 January and removed a few. This was already the third hurdle these calves had to pass. in their short lifetime – the first being the standards set by the Bonsmara Breed Association, namely that the calf must have a wean-index of at least 90, the second the evaluation for potential by the breeder, and thirdly the screening by the panel of Proveld members.

Quite a few hurdles still lie ahead – within the large group on the tough veld- test they must attain an index of at least 90, pass a visual appraisal by two senior inspectors, and achieve the minimum scrotum circumference measurement. Those that successfully get through these tests are still not assured of a place in the Proveld auction. They are again evaluated by Proveld internally before the auction. The accepted bulls undergo medical tests to ensure their semen is OK, that there are not problems with their reproductive organs and that they are free of venereal sicknesses. Thereafter they are again visually appraised by two senior inspectors to ensure their auction readiness. To be a Proveld-bull is obviously not for sissies!

Proveld would like to thank the following firms that assist inkeeping the bulls in good health -

Its a small world - just the other day breeders from the Democratic Republic of the Congo visited Proveld and on the 19th of September 2009 they had the pleasure of a visit by Dr. Alfredo Esteves, the President of the Argentinian Bonsmara Breeders' Society and Mr. Juan Nelson, another Argentinian Bonsmara breeder. They were accompanied by Jacques vd Merwe of Boesman Bonsmaras.

The visitors thoroughly enjoyed the visit and were impressed with the activities on the test farm as well as with the quality of the bulls in the tests. Although the visitors from abroad run huge herds themselves, it remains a novel sight to see approximately 150 bulls in one test group as is the case at Proveld.

As the bulls earmarked for the October sale are well into the stage in which they are prepared for the sale, they look particularly good and the Provelders could not resist the temptation to show them off to the visitors.

An impressive group of 08S bull calves started their adaption period on the Proveld testing farm during the first week of July, with a total of 146 calves being enrolled by the 10 Proveld members. This is 12 less than the corresponding 07S group, but the members priority remained with quality. The average starting weight was 259Kg, and the intake makes up the progeny of 50 different sires.

The official test starts on 1 October 2009 and ends on 30 March 2010. The grazing should not pose a problem with the start of the test this year as we had 60mm rain in June, and with the deep sand/loam soil we have here, the moisture is retained till well into spring.

This year we will also again not deviate from the normal commercial lick that was used in the past years tests. It is important to keep it like this because this is not a lick-test action, but a test where adaption to the grazing plays the key rol.

The positive reaction we get from the Proveld Veldbull buyers is overwhelming, and they remain impressed by our bulls’ ability to maintain their condition, dominance and performance. We are presently gathering testimonials from our customers and hope to publish them in the near future.

During 2008 Proveld Bonsmara was approached by cattle ranchers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who showed interest in acquiring Proveld seed stock. As they ranch very extensively (their ranches cover approximately 40 000Ha), they were particularly interested in acquiring cattle from breeders whose animals are renowned for their adaptability.

Bernoit Niehaus and Disire Nfundiko of the DRC attended Proveld’s October sale accompanied by their consultant Prof. Dr. Pascal Leroy from Belgium. The purpose of this visit was to acquaint themselves with the quality of the animals and to get an idea of the pricing.

After the sale they visited the Proveld test farm where they viewed typical Proveld female breeding stock as well as the bulls in their different test phases. They indicated that they were impressed with what they saw and left with the assurance that they would place an order once the logistics were sorted out. During November 2008 they placed an order for forty-eight in-calf Bonsmara heifers and two Proveld bulls.

Exporting to the DRC was unknown territory to all of the Proveld members and it was decided to seek the assistance of Pier Ronchietto, a person with extensive experience in exports. With his help the whole process was finalized without a hitch (but involving a lot of elbow grease).

On the 3rd of April 2009, the 50 animals were loaded into two interlink trucks with sufficient feed and water for the 6 day trip.

The route ran from Vryburg via Beit Bridge into Zimbabwe to Zambia and to Lubumbashi in the DRC. They were off loaded approximately 70 km from their final destination and it is told that they were happy to get off the trucks, running and prancing around with tails in the air – truly a very happy sight!

The animals had to be driven over the final 70 km by foot and they all arrived in good health.

The news is that they are doing well in their new environment. Proveld wishes to thank all and sundry for their assistance and co-operation in this venture, especially Mr. Pier Ronchietto.

click here for SLIDESHOW:

click here for ...Farmers Weekly article - 'SA Bonsmaras march on the DRC,

157 bulle wat gedurende Julie 2008 in die toets opgeneem was, was op 2 April 2009 gekeur deur Wessel Pistorius en Allan Retief. Gerhard Strydom van Mazel Bonsmaras het saam met die keurders die keuring bygewoon en die Noordwes Bonsmaraklub het die keuring ook benut as 'n geleentheid om opleiding te verskaf aan junior keurders. Dit het gevolglik behoorlik geroer op Wessel en Ria se werf.

Hierdie was die grootste groep bulle wat tot datum uit 'n Proveld-toets gekom het. 101 bulle was goedgekeur en 56 geslag. Proveld is in hul skik met die goedkeuringspersentasie van 64.3%. Die geslagte bulle word bemark as veldgeproduseerde vleis en dié wat goedgekeur is, sal aangebied word op Proveld se Oktober 2009- en Februarie 2010-veilings.

Vir middagete was daar lekker gekuier om 'n potjie wat deur Johan en Martell aanmekaar geslaan is en na afloop van die keuring was die keurders en Gerhard op die proefplaas rondgewys. Die aand was daar nog vir oulaas 'n hond uit 'n bos gekuier rondom die braaivleisvuur.

Almal was dit eens dat dit 'n baie geslaagde dag was.

Proveld held a very successful production sale on 11 February 2009 at the Vryburg showgrounds. There were 30 veld-tested bonsmara bulls, 60 selected top stud female animals and 400 quality commercial female animals on offer, achieving a turnover of over R4 million.

All the commercial female animals were pre-screened on the sellers farm before the auction and tagged with their lot numbers by Proveld members to ensure that only bonsmara-type animals of a very high standard would be offered at the sale.

24 bulls sold for an average price of R20 700, with the most expensive being a bull of Dr. Frans Malan which sold for R70 000 to Lourens van Wyk of Sannieshof. The female stud animals also fetched good prices with a pregnant heifer from Hannes van der Berg’s Kalkveld Boerdery being sold to CR Visser from Northmead for R22 000, who also bought the highest priced cow and calf for R15 000 from the Bogermie stud of Wessel van Wyk.

The average price for cows with calves was R12 400 and pregnant heifers R11 060.

Of the commercial female animals, the average price for the cows with calves was R9 618 with the highest being sold for R11 100. The average for pregnant cows was R7 578, pregnant heifers R6 856 and open heifers sold for an average of R4 250, the highest price being R6 000.

The auctioneers were André Kock & Son.

10 Proveldlede het altesaam 78 winter 2008 gebore bulletjies ingeskryf vir hierdie toets. Die aanpassingstyd is 15 Des 2008 tot 30 Jan 2009.

Dit is opmerklik om die verandering in tipe van die bulle wat vir toetse ingeskryf word en wat ingetree het oor die 10 jaar van Proveld se bestaan, waar te neem. Dit is 'n spontane verandering wat intree omdat die Proveld-bulle wat deur Proveld-lede ingekoop is en onder lede geroteer is se nageslag nou in produksie is. Dit volg dat die moeders van die huidige innames (dié wat dogters van Proveld-bulle is), se kalwers beskik oor die gene wat gehardheid en aanpasbaarheid verseker. As die vaar van die kalf dan óók nog 'n Proveld-bul is, is daardie gene baie sterk in die kalwers gevestig. Daar word ook nog gebruik gemaak van goeie bulle uit ander kuddes om sodoende voordeel te trek uit die hele Bonsmara-genepoel.

Proveld lede het ook ingestem om vir hierdie toets 'n "gas- toetser", Duncan Serepalwane toe te laat om vier bulletjies in te skryf. Duncan is 'n nuwe Bonsmara teler wat in die Tosca omgewing boer. Dit is 'n baie goeie beeswêreld maar dit is ook 'n deel waar geharde en aangepaste diere 'n noodsaaklikheid is.

Die amptelike toets begin 31 Jan 2009 en sluit af op 18 Jun 2009.

Die keuring vind plaas op 19 Junie 2009. Die datum kan egter verander. Sou daar iemand wees wat dalk die keuring wil bywoon, kan Wessel van Wyk, selnr 0829482461 geskakel word.

Proveld wil dankie sê aan die volgende firmas wat die gesondheidstoestand van die bulle ondersteun -

The Proveld Bosmara Veldbull Group held their 10’th annual production sale on 22 October at the Vryburg showgrounds. There were 40 veld-tested bulls and 300 commercial female animals on offer, and the sale achieved a turnover of over R2 million.

The average price of the 38 bulls sold was R26 500, with the most expensive being a bull of CJ Niehaus which sold for R100 000 to Len Lee and Son from Tlakgemeng. Other bulls that also fetched good prices was a bull from Hannes van der Berg’s Kalkveld Bonsmara that was sold to Fokus Bonsmara from Ligtenburg for R56 000, and a bull from the Bogermie stud of Wessel van Wyk which sold for R48 000 to the van Rensburg family from Magogong.

Of the female animals, the average price for the cows with calves was R7 830, with the highest price of R8 900 each being achieved for a parcel of 10 heifers with calves sold by Mike Grundler and Wessel van Wyk to Stefan van Niekerk. The average price for pregnant heifers was R6 380, with the highest being sold for R7 100. Open heifers sold for an average of R4 250, the highest price being R4 700.

The auctioneers were André Kock & Son.

Op 1 Julie 2008 is 160 bulle gebore gedurende die somer van 2007 wat deur die Provelders uitgesoek is, in die veldtoets opgeneem.

Ons is opgewonde oor die gehalte van hierdie inname. Dit is verblywend om te sien dat elke nuwe inname se gehalte 'n verbetering toon op dié van vorige innames. Dit wys vir ons dat ons vordering maak in ons strewe om beter beeste te teel.

By Proveld rol ons 'n paar ekstra klippe in die pad van ons veldbulle.

• Vanwee 'n beperking op die beskikbare weiding, word net die room van die oes ingeskryf vir die veldtoetse - dit stel 'n ekstra hekkie daar in die pad van 'n bul, want as hy nie deel is van die beste groep speenkalwers nie, beland hy nooit eers in 'n veldbultoets nie,
• Goedgekeurde bulle word na die amptelike keuring weer intern deur Proveld gekeur en dié word uitgeskot ten aansien waarvan Proveld voel dat hulle nie die Proveld-brandmerk waardig is nie.

Die doel hiermee is om te verseker dat bulle wat uiteindelik op Proveld-veilings beland van die hoogste standaard is.

Proveld wil dankie sê aan die volgende firmas wat die gesondheidstoestand van die bulle ondersteun -

103 bulle wat gedurende Desember 2007 ingeneem is vir 'n veldtoets het die toets voltooi op 18 Junie 2008.

Johan de Jager en Hannes van den Berg het lekker streng gekeur - soos Proveld daarvan hou. 50% van die bulle was goedgekeur en die res was as veldgeproduseerde vleis (Natural Beef) verkoop aan Kalahari Beef.

Die goedgekeurde bulle sal aangebied word op Proveld se Oktober 2009-veiling.

Onder hierdie groep bulle is 'n hele paar wat stoetpotentiaal het en wat met vrymoedigheid in enige stoetkudde gebruik kan word met die wete dat hulle gehardheid en aangepastheid deeglik beproef is.

Op Woensdag 11 Junie 2008 het die Proveld Bonsmaragroep geskiedenis gemaak deur 'n veiling aan te bied waarop meer as 900 Bonsmara- en Bonsmaratipe speenkalwers onder die hamer gekom het. Sover bekend is dit die eerste keer in Vryburg se geskiedenis dat uitsluitlik Bonsmara- en Bonsmaratipe kalwers op 'n veiling aangebied is.

Die teenwoordiges het hulle verkyk aan die een groep na die ander rooi speenkalwers wat deur die veilingsring gekom het - werklik 'n seldsame prentjie.

Pryse was uitgeloof vir die beste groepe kalwers en Christo Groenewald het weggestap met die louere. Chris Visser het die tweedeprys ontvang en S.T. Walker die derdeprys. Christo se groep van 26 kalwers met 'n gemiddelde gewig van 255kg het ook die beste prys van R13.16 per kg behaal. Die gemiddelde gewig van al die speenkalwers op die veiling was 245.61kg en hulle is verkoop teen 'n gemiddelde prys van R12.73.

Meer as vyfhonderd vroulike aanteeldiere is ook aangebied en kopers het die geleentheid gehad om uitstekende teelmateriaal te bekom teen baie redelike pryse.

Die totale omset van die veiling was R4 634 387.00 en die gemiddelde pryse soos volg:

• Oop verse : R4 008.10
• Dragtige verse : R6 348.58
• Dragtige koeie : R6 120.00
• Koeie met kalwers : R8 412.50

Proveld beplan om hierdie veiling 'n jaarlikse instelling te maak en om die aanbod van speenkalwers volgende jaar te verdubbel.

131 bulle wat gebore is in die somer van 2006 en wat in die veldbultoets ingeneem was op 1 Julie 2007 het die toets voltooi op 31 Maart 2008.

Frikkie Kruger en Kit Thompson het die keuring hanteer en 55% van die bulle was goedgekeur.

Iets wat nie algemeen bekend is nie, is dat Proveld die goedgekeurde bulle van tyd tot tyd weer intern keur en dié uitskot wat nie die Proveld-brandmerk waardig is nie. Geen bul ontvang spesiale behandeling nie en dié wat hulself nie binne die groep op die veld kan handhaaf nie, kom nie op die Proveld-veiling nie.

Twaalf van hierdie groep bulle (tesame met bulle uit die vorige inname) sal aangebied word op Proveld se Oktober 2008-veiling en die res op die Februarie 2009-veiling.

The Proveld Bosmara Veldbull Group, together with their commercial members and selected guest breeders, held their production sale on 13 February at the Vryburg Showgrounds. This auction was considered by buyers and sellers as being one of the best Bonsmara production sales held yet. There were 29 veld-tested stud bulls and 500 female animals on offer, and the sale achieved a turnover of over R4 million.

The average price of the 29 bulls was an excellent R30 310, with the most expensive being a bull of Dr Frans Malan being sold for R46 000 to De Bruin Trust, F Malan and M Ferreira, to be used as a herd sire within the Proveld group.

The female animals were also of exeptional quality and the buyer interest was very high. The average price for the 44 cows was R9 566, and the average price for the 65 cows with calves was R10 796. The most expensive female stud animals sold all belonged to Wessel van Wyk of Bogermie Boerdery, and PJ de Bod of Ladysmith paid the highest price of R17 000 each for 3 cows with calves and R15 000 each for 3 cows. The highest price paid for pregnant stud heifers was R16 000.

The 366 heifers were sold at an average price of R6 417, with the most expensive packet of 10 pregnant commercial heifers belonging to Hannes van den Berg being sold to Nico Botha of Britstown for R12 200 each.

The auctioneers were André Kock & Son.

103 uitsoek kalwers gebore gedurende die tydperk 15 Maart 2007 en 15 Julie 2007 het op Tipperary aangekom vir die toets wat sal strek oor die tydperk 15 Desember 2007 tot 18 Junie 2008 (insluitende die aanpassings tydperk).

Onder hulle is daar 'n paar 'ysters' waaraan 'n punt van 9 uit 9 toegeken is op visuele beoordeling, en ook 'n paar waaraan 'n uitstekende 8 uit 9 toegeken is. Hierdie bulle toon belofte om te ontwikkel in stoet-bulle en hulle vordering sal met belangstelling dopgehou word. Ondervinding het egter al geleer dat die 'valetjies' nie wegegooi moet word nie - soms verbaas hulle 'n mens.

Die bulle se gemiddelde aankomsmassa was 245 Kg en daar word 'n gemiddelde GDT van 980 gram per dag verwag. Teen die 19de Junie 2008, wanneer die keuring daarvan sal plaasvind, sal die bulle dus na verwagting gemiddeld 426 Kg weeg.

Die bulle in hierdie groep wat die toets slaag sal aangebied word op die Oktober 2009 veiling wanneer hulle massas na verwagting tot 700 Kg sal wees. Hulle sal dan ongeveer 30 maande oud wees en nie kan wag om enigiets wat voorkom te dek nie!

Proveld wil dankie sê aan die volgende firmas wat die gesondheidstoestand van die bulle ondersteun -

Proveld het op 24 Oktober 2007 hul 9de jaarlikse Oktober-veiling van veldbulle en vroulike diere aangebied by die Vryburg Skougronde. Die veiling was goed bygewoon en Kopers het gekom van so ver as Ghanzi in Botswana, Vrede in die Oos-Vrystaat en Somerset Wes in die Kaap.

Vyftig veldbulle het onder die hamer gekom en is almal verkoop teen pryse wat gewissel het van R15000 tot R68000. Deur geen aanbod te weier nie, het Proveld probeer verseker dat dit vir geen Koper nodig sou wees om teleurgesteld om te draai nie en om aan almal die geleentheid te bied om Proveld-genetika teen 'n billike prys te bekom. Hierdeur is die persepsie wat hier-en-daar begin posvat het dat Bonsmaras te duur raak, hopenlik'n nekslag toegedien. Dit is Proveld se erns om genoeg veldbulle te produseer en aan die mark beskikbaar te stel (ook teen redelike pryse) sodat elkeen kan deel in die voordeel wat die gebruik van Proveld-getoetste bulle bied.

Vir die fynproewer was daar ook te kies en te keur. Wim Scholtz het die duurste bul (geteel deur Aubrey Niehaus) gekoop.

Vyf bulle was ingekoop deur stoetlede van Proveld en sal in die lede se kuddes gebruik word ten einde die gene wat veld-aangepastheid verseker verder in die lede se kuddes vas te lê.

Die gemiddelde veilingspryse was soos volg:

• Bulle R22860
• Koeie met kalwers R8320
• Dragtige koeie R7450
• Dragtige verse R7200
• Oop verse R4720

Hef aan lê nou alweer voor vir die Februarie-veiling wat DV op 13 Februarie 2008 gehou sal word!

Die Proveld-lede het op 1 Julie 2007 weer die room van hul somer-bulkalwers na die toetsplaas gestuur. 131 kalwers tussen die ouderdomme van 6 en 10 maande is vir die toets ingeskryf. Ondervinding het geleer dat tussen 50 en 65% uiteindelik na die strawwe toets wat einde Maart 2008 sal eindig, goedgekeur sal word. Die wat die paal haal, se gehardheid en aangepastheid onder veldtoestande sal deeglik beproef wees.

Die groep bulle vertoon pragtig - die lede het oor die jare die kuns aangeleer om bulle na speen te identifiseer vir potensiaal om op die veld te presteer. Oorwegend is dit mediumraamtipes met goeie vleiseienskappe, tog is daar voldoende variasie om alle voorkeure te bevredig. 'n Aantal van die bulle se potensiaal om te ontwikkel in stoetbulle is reeds op hierdie ouderdom sigbaar.

Op 22 Junie 2007 het die keuring plaasgevind ten opsigte van 'n groep van nege en tagtig veldbulle wat gedurende Januarie 2007 in 'n veldtoets geplaas was.

Die aangepassingstydperk het 14 dae geduur en die amptlike toets 140 dae. Die volgende is enkele statistieke met betrekking tot die toets.

• Gemiddelde daaglikse toename : 857gram
• Persentasie bulle wat nie op
  GDT-indeks gelaag het nie : 18%
• Bulle goedgekeur uitgedruk as 'n persentasie
  van die wat die toets op GDT-indeks geslaag het : 63%

Die keuring was behartig deur Kit Thompson en Frikkie Kruger waarna daar lekker gekuier was om 'n potjie soos net Ria van Wyk dit kan doen.

Die bulle wat die toets geslaag het, sal in 'n groep op die veld bly totdat hulle tydens die Proveld-veiling van Oktober 2008 te koop aangebied sal word.

Onder hierdie groep is daar verskeie bulle wat die potensiaal het om te ontwikkel in stoetbulle wat in die meeste kuddes 'n positiewe bydrae sal kan lewer - stoetbulle waarvan die gehardheid en aanpasbaarheid bewys is in 'n Proveld-veldtoets.

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