Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
The Agricultural Research Council (ARC) once again presented its National Beef Performers Awards on 23 November 2023. This was the 45th instalment of the awards, the aim of which is to showcase the best of the best in seven categories, all relating to beef cattle performance and beef cattle producers. Each of the seven categories is sponsored by various agricultural companies and role-players and serve to honour those who have excelled in their breeding and production practices, as well as the mentoring of fellow producers.
The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), who has been a key stakeholder in these awards since its inception, once again played a key role in the process. Like last year, Plaas Media was once more the main sponsor of the awards.
The seven categories with their respective winners and finalists were announced during a virtual awards ceremony broadcast from 18:00 onwards on 23 November. The finalists and winners are:
ARC National Best Elite Cow Awards
Sponsored by Farmer’s Weekly, with 19 cows receiving top honours:
| Breed | Cow ID | Owner | Town |
| Afrisim | JVR 11 0076 | Hentie Jansen van Rensburg | Noordbrug, North West |
| Bonsmara | JHK 14 0139 | Frieda Trust Bonsmara | Kroonstad, Free State |
| Boran | TZ 13 0158 | Theo van Zyl | Ladybrand, Free State |
| Braford | M 13 0095 | Jan Meaker | Warden, Free State |
| Braunvieh | HB 13 0025 | Daleen Bester | Vrede, Free State |
| Charolais | EL 13 0019 | Danie Steenkamp | Klerksdorp, North West |
| Dexter | JL 12 0017 | Willie du Plessis | Riversdal, Western Cape |
| Limousin | DK 05 0108 | John and Tracey Devonport | Balfour, Mpumalanga |
| Nguni | EX 13 0001 | Hannes Eksteen | Piketberg, Western Cape |
| Pinzgauer | M 11 0002 | Fanie Potgieter (Bertie van Zyl Edms Bpk (ZZ2) | Modjadjiskloof, Limpopo |
| PinZ2yl | PZ 13 0253 | Fanie Potgieter (Bertie van Zyl Edms Bpk (ZZ2) | Modjadjiskloof, Limpopo |
| Romagnola | DT 10 0120 | Dail van Rensburg | Delareyville, North West |
| SA Angus (Red) | KCM 11 0041 | Kevin & Carl Miles | Dordrecht, Eastern Cape |
| Santa Gertrudis | VV 13 0138 | Tina de Jager | Vryburg, North West |
| Simbra | ARC 11 522C | Karl-Heinz & Sigi Heimstadt | Gobabis, Namibia |
| Simmentaler | BBS 14 0013 | Calla and Jaco Botha | Rawsonville, Western Cape |
| South Devon | JM 13 1679 | John Miller | Cathcart, Eastern Cape |
| Sussex | SWM 11 0001 | Shaun Trollip | Britstown, Northern Cape |
| Tuli | E 13 0009 | Dave Mullins | Grahamstown, Eastern Cape |
ARC National Platinum Bull Awards
The seven bulls awarded the title this year, in this category sponsored by GMP Basic/Leader Products SA, are:
| Breed | Bull ID | Owner | Town |
| Bonsmara | AJF 21 0564 | Nelius Ferreira | Harrismith, Free State |
| Bonsmara | NFS 21 0322 | Nick Serfontein | Edenville, Free State |
| Bonsmara | NFS 22 0205 | Nick Serfontein | Edenville, Free State |
| Bonsmara | NFS 22 0247 | Nick Serfontein | Edenville, Free State |
| Limousin | YF 21 0901 | Johan Fourie | Modimolle, Limpopo |
| Nguni | EX 21 0216 | Doppies Nel | Augrabies, Northern Cape |
| Sussex | CC 21 0083 | CB Cillié | Bloemfontein, Free State |
ARC National KyD Province of the Year Award
This category, proudly sponsored by RCL Foods’ Molatek, saw the following provinces take silver, gold, and platinum. KwaZulu-Natal reigned supreme this year:
- Silver – Northern Cape.
- Gold – Mpumalanga.
- Platinum – KwaZulu-Natal.
ARC National Kaonafatso ya Dikgomo of the Year Award
Sponsored for the second time by Stockfarm (Plaas Media) the Kaonafatso ya Dikgomo of the Year Award goes to Rudzani Sadiki of Sadiki Farm (Pty), who farms with Bonsmara cattle in the Thabazimbi are in Limpopo. Seven other producers were also contenders in this category. They were Maria Kantwan, Phakade Khanyile, James Luvuno, Bumbi Mahlangu, Waetsho Makgale, Lubabalo Ngcwembe and Puseletso Tsoeu.
ARC National Mentor of the Year Award
Sponsored by Molatek for several years now, the mentor of the year award saw two exceptional leaders sharing the title in 2023. They are:
- Naudé Pienaar of Zondagspan Santas in the North West. Naudé is currently the general manager for Agri North West and has been a member for over 11 years. He is lauded for his mentorship and transferring management skills to fellow farmers.
- Piet Mothepu of Kirkdale Farm in the Free State, farms with his wife Maria. They produce grain and cattle and Piet has been mentoring fellow farmers in honour of those who mentored him. He especially teaches practical aspects such as dehorning, low stress handling, etc.
ARC National Special Performance Test Class Awards
Sponsored for the second time by Stockfarm (Plaas Media), this award saw a total of 14 bulls receiving accolades in this category in 2023:
| Breed | Bull ID | Owner | Town |
| Beefmaster | V 21 0022 | Allen Versveld | Volksrust, Mpumalanga |
| Boran | GB 21 0015 | Gideon Botha | Luckhoff, Free State |
| Braford | GM 21 0010 | Gert van der Merwe & Johan de Jager | Bethal, Mpumalanga |
| Brahman | S69 21 0053 | Carel Chalmers | Mokopane, Limpopo |
| Brangus | V5 21 0098 | Ferdie Naudé | Welkom, Free State |
| Braunvieh | DEK 21 0053 | Erik de Klerk | Boshof, West Free State |
| Charolais | GE 21 0008 | Ruan Erasmus | Stella, North West |
| Hereford | DVB 22 0041 | Danie van Breda | Hermon, Western Cape |
| Limousin | YF 21 0901 | Johan Fourie | Modimolle, Limpopo |
| Nguni | EX 21 0220 | Hannes Eksteen | Piketberg, Western Cape |
| Romagnola | AB 21 0015 | Ferdi van Niekerk | Parys, Free State |
| Santa Gertrudis | GB 21 0004 | Gert Brits | Delareyville, North West |
| Simbra | HLM 20 065B | Lourens Muller | Lindley, Free State |
| Sussex | CC 21 0083 | CB Cillié | Bloemfontein, Free State |
ARC National Beef Cattle Improvement Herd of the Year Award
The winner in this Stockfarm (Plaas Media) sponsored category, is Derek Ralfe of the well-known and much lauded UP George Bonsmaras in KwaZulu-Natal. Derek and wife Tutu has been farming with Bonsmara for 30 years and have become synonymous with exceptional cattle. Here is the full list of finalists:
| Breed | Herd name | Owner | Town |
| Tuli | Bushmans Mountain Tuli Stud | Christo Rothmann | Venterstad, Eastern Cape |
| Nguni | Exsteen Nguni’s and Sangas | Hannes Eksteen | Piketberg, Western Cape |
| Santa Gertrudis | Santapine (Pinekloof Trust) | Howard Hobson | Ladybrand, East Free State |
| Santa Gertrudis | Santarust | Gert Brits (JH Havemann) | Delareyville, North West |
| Simmentaler | Tierkloof Simmentalers | Corné de Jager | Reitz, Free State |
| Bonsmara | UP George Bonsmaras | Derek Ralfe | Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal |
To watch the awards and relive all the action, click on the following link:
Also read the December 2023 issue of Stockfarm, which contains a full supplement of all the finalists and winners.
For enquiries regarding finalists, contact Dr Ben Greyling at ben@arc.agric.za or 079 874 6875. To purchase a copy of Stockfarm, contact Beauty Mthombeni at beauty@plaasmedia.co.za or 064 890 6941.
