National Breed Sale continues to beef up our cattle industry

The Zimbabwe Herd Book’s 56th annual National Sale has been and gone. It is one of the most anticipated and important events on our cattle sector’s calendar.

Despite Zimbabwe facing the after-effects of an El Niño-induced drought, the show must go on and it did, in the grandest style possible. The sale’s rich tradition and history stretches back nearly 60 years. During this time, it has garnered the well-deserved and hard-earned reputation of being a showcase for the country’s Stud Breeders. This year’s event recorded 500 people coming through the gates to watch the day’s proceedings.

For sellers, this day always represents a golden opportunity to showcase years of hard work, careful breeding and selection.

For buyers wanting to obtain the best livestock genetics currently on offer in our country, the event never disappoints.

The National Sale always sees potential buyers, converging from all corners of the country to bid for the best beast that money can buy and 148 offerings from eight breeds of cattle and Dorper sheep went under the hammer on Friday, July 26, 2024.

Kicking off the sale were the lots of Dorper rams and ewes from Northern Dorper and Border Dorper. Out of six lots on offer, four sold. The highest-priced ram sold for USD 2,000. The average price for Dorper rams was USD 1,700.

Dorper ewes rounded off the offerings from the smaller livestock section. Out of 6 lots, all six sold, the highest going for USD 400 and the average price being USD 350.

On to the cattle next, with Brahmans starting the cattle section of the sale. Over recent years, Brahman cattle have been the breed of choice and the overwhelming majority of cattle on offer at the National Sale. Today was no different in terms of the amounts of lots on offer. With an offering of 39 bulls, 28 sold, the highest-priced bull going for USD 7,000.

Over the past recent years, the Brahman breed has reigned supreme at the National Sale. Sheer beefiness and bulk have proved irresistible for buyers. However, this year, there was a new contender for the day’s top-priced bull. Excitingly, a bull from Zimbabwe’s indigenous Sanga Tuli breed matched this honour. A magnificent red Tuli from Oldonyo Stud fetched USD 7,000 proving that if the demand is there, the auction price will match it.

All six Tuli bulls on offer from Jambo and Oldonyo studs in Tengwe sold at an average of USD 3,750.

Five lots of Beefmaster bulls, from Ruvale Ranching and Masvingo Bull Breeders, all sold. The average priced fetched for this breed was USD 3,750 and the top price was USD 6,750.

The two Nkone bulls from Have Hook Nkone and Pungeni Nkone both sold, averaging USD 2,375. The top-priced Nkone bull was sold by Have Hook Nkone for USD 2,500. It was the third consecutive year that bulls from this Sanga breed have appeared on the National Breed Sale and it is special to see this breed continue to hold its own in the sales pen. The breeders are to be commended for all the work they are doing to bring this breed back from the brink of near extinction in Zimbabwe.

On to the Boran breed, the Kenyan cattle breed doing so well in Zimbabwe. Out of eight of the Boran bulls on offer, five sold. The highest-priced Boran bull was sold by Langton Borans for USD 4,500. The breed's average price was USD 3,400.

The lone red Angus bull offering by the Erasmus family of Woodsgift sold for USD 3,500.

The Simbra bulls made an appearance, with a solo offering from LJ Simbra Stud. It sold for USD 3,000.

The Simmental breed was represented by Woodsgift Cattle Genetics and TMM Farming Enterprises. Both bulls sold, and the top-priced bull fetched USD 4,000. The average price was USD 3,500.

Onto the heifers as the sale proceedings began to heat up. Three beefmaster heifers sold, averaging USD 1,066.67, with a top price of USD 1,200.

Two Boran heifers sold, averaging USD 1,900. The top-priced Boran heifer was sold by MC Van Straten for USD 1,900.

Two Simbra heifers sold, averaging USD 1,733.33 and the top-priced Simbra heifer fetched USD 1,800.

Brahman heifers rounded off the day’s proceedings and an astonishing top price of USD 3,000 (sold by Ruvale Ranching) elevated the average price for 64 that were sold to USD 1,960.

This event continues to elevate the standard of our stud breeding industry. With the progeny from this “seed stock” feeding into local commercial beef cattle production, we have much to be proud of in this sector.

We continue to give thanks to the hard work and long-term vision of our cattle breeders and of course, give thanks also to the buyers who support their efforts.