R2,57m worth of cattle sold at auction
JON HOUZET
ALMOST 300 cattle, with a total value of R2,57-million, were sold at the Riverview Trading Production Sale in Alexandria last week.
One of Denys Wells' Angus bulls brought the top price of R35 000. The buyer was Laurens Vosloo.
| A LOT OF BULL: Kelvin Burger (right) of Undala farm in Cathcart is the proud owner of a magnificent Brahman bull bought at Riverview Trading's third production sale in Alexandria last Thursday. Miles Dicke (left) of Idlewild farm in Kei Mouth was the seller Picture: JON HOUZET |
Auctioneer Mike Killassy from Johannesburg kept a steady pace with a bit of banter thrown in before bringing the hammer down on lot after lot of Bonsmara, Brahman, Angus and Simbra cattle, among other breeds.
"It was a better day for buyers than sellers," said Craig Elliott, farm manager at Glennis Moyle farm in Alexandria.
"The older cows were bargain buys. It was a good day for Bonsmara cattle, and there were also some good cross-breeds."
Some lots did not sell because the reserve price was not reached.
"I bid on a Simbra lot but the seller wanted more than I could bid," said Elliott.
He said a large percentage of cattle farmers prefer Bonsmara. "Most people will bid on just one breed. You don't want a mish-mash."
Brent McNamara, one of the partners in Riverview Trading, said it was "a good sale under the current market conditions".
"Our bulls sold well this year, but females were average," he said.
"We sold about 280 female animals and 17 bulls. Nine different breeds were represented and Angus and Bonsmara dominated the sale."
McNamara agreed it was a better day for buyers than sellers.
"There were some animals not sold, but it was less than 10%," he said.
Seventeen different sellers were represented, and there were 51 registered buyers, all from the Eastern Cape.
After the auction everyone was treated to a scrumptious steak lunch.
"This is good steak. It must be Brahman," said one farmer.
The next Riverview Trading auction is planned for February 2013.
