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The Agricultural Research Council (ARC) will once again present its National Beef Performers Awards in 2023. This is the 45^th 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) has been a key stakeholder in these awards since its inception and continues to play this role this year. As of 2022, Plaas Media is the main sponsor of the awards and, as last year, will also be sponsoring certain categories.

The ARC National Kaonafatso ya Dikgomo of the Year Award

This award category commemorates its 27th anniversary this year and is sponsored by Plaas Media/Stockfarm Magazine. Finalists are identified from producers who participate in the Kaonafatso ya Dikgomo (KyD) scheme and aim to become fully fledged commercial producers. They ultimately contest for the title of national winner.

The KyD scheme focusses on assisting emerging beef cattle producers to apply beef recording and improvement technologies to facilitate accurate selection for economically important traits and increased productivity and profitability of their herds. Emerging producers serviced and developed through the KyD scheme are also registered on the INTERGIS (national database). To date more than 8 000 emerging producers are members of the scheme.

The purpose of the award is to acknowledge members of the KyD scheme who:

Perform well in terms of specific criteria related to recording, management and performance of their herds.
Encourage emerging cattle producers to improve their standard of living through higher returns from animal production and job creation.
Promote participation in the KyD scheme.
Promote sound breeding and management principles in the beef industry.
Demonstrate the benefit of performance testing, practically by identifying outstanding herds.

The 2023 finalists are:

Eastern Cape: Lubabalo Ngcwembe of Ikhwezi Lokusa.
Free State: Puseletso Tsoeu of Uitvlugt.
Gauteng: Bumbi Mahlangu of Mkhalangani Farming.
KwaZulu-Natal: James Luvuno of Driekwart Farm.
Limpopo: Rudzani Sadiki of Welgewaagd.
Mpumalanga: Phakade Khanyile of Kleinfontein.
Northern Cape: Maria Kantwan of Rust en Vrede.
North West: Waetsho Makgale of Sekobye Makgale and Sons Farm.

Tune in to the Farm TV YouTube channel on 23 November. – Dr Ben Greyling and Frans Jordaan

Click on the links below to read more about the ARC Beef Performers Awards:

For more information, send an email to Dr Ben Greyling at ben@arc.agric.za or to Frans Jordaan at fransj@arc.agric.za. You can also visit the Beef Cattle Improvement Scheme website.