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The Agricultural Research Council (ARC) announced the winners of its 2025 National Master Dairyman Awards during a ceremony held in November at Lanzerac Estate in Stellenbosch. This prestigious annual competition recognises exceptional performance and excellence among South Africa’s leading dairy producers.
According to Prof Norman Maiwashe, general manager of Animal Production at the ARC, the awards honour producers across several categories for breeding genetically superior animals and for consistently using performance recording and testing as key tools in herd improvement.
The winners of the 2025 ARC National Master Dairyman Awards are:
- Large-scale master dairyman of the year: JK Basson Family Trust, Darling.
- Medium-scale master dairyman of the year: Van Niekerk Boerdery BK, Caledon.
- Small-scale master dairyman of the year: Letsolo PT Dairy, Vanderbijlpark.
- ARC correctional services master dairyman of the year: Goedemoed Correctional Services, Maletswai (Aliwal North).
- Herd with the best somatic cell count: Packwood Farm, Knysna (170 000 cells/mℓ).
- Herd with the best intercalving period: JK Basson Family Trust, Darling (intercalving period of 375 days).
An honorary award was also presented to Boy Blanckenberg of Klipheuwel near Durbanville in recognition of his visionary leadership, unwavering advocacy for dairy producers, and decades of dedicated service to the South African dairy industry.
Dairy’s role in the economy
Dr Litha Magingxa, president and CEO of the ARC, said the competition celebrates the spirit of excellence that defines South African dairy farming. The dairy sector contributes around R25 billion to the economy and stands as the fourth-largest agricultural industry in South Africa. It supports thousands of jobs, empowers rural communities, and ensures that South Africans have access to safe, nutritious food.
“We know this success is hard earned. Our farmers face rising input costs, climate variability, infrastructure constraints, and intense competition from imports and alternative products. These challenges are real, but so is the resilience and innovation that keep this industry moving forward,” Magingxa said.
“At the ARC, our commitment is to be your science partner in navigating these challenges. We are advancing genetic improvement programmes through cutting-edge genomic technologies, helping to develop more productive, efficient, and climate-resilient herds. Our teams are driving milk composition research, optimising butterfat, protein and other components, to meet consumer demands and improve profitability.”
The ARC is also developing precision agriculture tools, using sensors, artificial intelligence, and big data to enhance feeding, reproduction, and herd-health management. In addition, the organisation is investing in climate-smart solutions that support adaptation strategies for heat stress, water scarcity, and sustainable pasture systems.
Through these innovations, the ARC aims to strengthen the global competitiveness of South African dairy while safeguarding its long-term sustainability, Magingxa said.
Prof Maiwashe said that the ARC’s National Milk Recording and Improvement Scheme plays a vital role in the dairy industry by providing genetic improvement services accredited by the International Committee for Animal Recording (ICAR).
The 2025 awards event was hosted by Agri-Expo on behalf of the ARC’s National Milk Recording and Improvement Scheme, with support from partners including the National Department of Agriculture, the South African Society of Dairy Technology (SASDT) and several private companies and sponsors. – Press release
For more information, contact Hendrik de Waal at DWaalH@arc.agric.za or 082 775 7703.
