In the August 2026 issue of Bonsmara: Dié Rooi Ras / The Red Breed we explore essential insights and practical strategies for Bonsmara breeders and commercial producers. We highlight how the Highveld Bonsmara Club addresses regional production realities, examine the history and value of the Bonsmara inspection system, and look at the breed’s ideal role as a maternal line in crossbreeding. Additionally, Dr Danie Odendaal shares critical insights on bovine brucellosis, and we celebrate a decade of Bonsmara Dié Rooi Ras/The Red Breed by comparing beef prices from 2017 to today.
Hoëveld Bonsmaraklub bou op streeksrealiteite
Die Hoëveld Bonsmaraklub, ’n groepering wat met meer as 100 lede en ’n geskiedenis van langer as drie dekades spog, word toenemend as ’n brug tussen uiteenlopende produksie-omgewings en praktiese genetiese vooruitgang beskou. Met lede wat oor die Vrystaat, Mpumalanga, Gauteng en dele van Noordwes versprei is, funksioneer die klub binne ’n komplekse omgewing waar klimaat, veldtoestande en markdruk hul produksiebesluite beïnvloed. Die klub werk in uiteenlopende omgewings, wat hulle noodsaak om praktiese, aanpasbare oplossings te ontwikkel.
The Bonsmara inspection system
One of the most important aspects of beef breeding is breeding animals that can convert grass into high-quality meat as easily and quickly as possible. To select animals that can meet these requirements, a breeder needs to visually assess the animal as well as evaluate its genetics. When Prof Jan Bonsma started experimenting with different breeds to establish the Bonsmara breed, one aspect formed the cornerstone of animal selection – observation. Prof Bonsma was a firm believer that a true stockman must be able to observe an animal and identify both the right qualities and those that are lacking.
Die Bonsmara as moederlyn vir kruisteling
Vir ’n kruisteelprogram op ekstensiewe grondslag word gewoonlik van die koei verwag om die kruisraskalf so doeltreffend en goedkoop as moontlik groot te maak en teen ’n bevredigende gewig te speen. Om dit te kan doen, moet sy uit die aard van die saak baie goed aangepas wees in haar omgewing, wat beteken dat sy genoeg kos sal vreet, weerstandig sal wees teen siektes en parasiete, en genoeg melk sal produseer sodat haar kalf bevredigend sal groei. Vir die rol om kalwers doeltreffend groot te kry, is die Bonsmara ideaal, sê Nelius Ferreira, eienaar van Ferrero Bonsmaras.
Vleispryse en -tendense: Tóé en nou
Bonsmara Dié Rooi Ras/The Red Breed vier vanjaar sy tiende verjaarsdag en daarmee saam sy 20ste uitgawe, met die eerste uitgawe wat in 2017 uitgegee is. Ons kyk in hierdie artikel hoe vleis- en speenkalfpryse in 2017 presteer het, teenoor vanjaar s’n.
Protect your herd from bovine brucellosis
Bovine brucellosis is a complex disease that poses a significant economic risk to cattle producers, particularly given its impact on reproduction. Dr Danie Odendaal, director of Veterinarian Network, says bovine brucellosis is one of the major diseases affecting dairy and beef cattle, as well as sheep and goats. It is also one of the most difficult diseases to investigate and control. Disease-free herds must therefore be protected at all costs.
Click here to download the August 2026 edition of Bonsmara: Dié Rooi Ras/The Red Breed. The magazine can now also be downloaded as an interactive flipbook at https://digimags.agriorbit.com/books/Rooi-Ras-Augustus-2026_digimag/
