Day 5: Farm Visits on the Way Back to Centurion

 

Showing off pelts bought as souvenirs

Bonsmara Cattle

Mobile abattoir (slaughter facility)

Group photo at the Ankole Breeder

Ankole Cattle

Sam and Alexis in front of Ankole Cattle

            We started our morning visiting an Ankole cattle breeder in Limpopo province. While there, we learned a lot about the Ankole breed and the farmers' management practices for maintaining their herd. These commercialized farmers had impressive handling facilities and used reproductive technologies to expand their herd. Some practices they used included In Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer. We found it very interesting that they used Jersey cattle cross as the recipient cattle. There are only about 200 registered stud cattle (as they are an indigenous breed) and the cattle are commonly a status symbol with the president of South Africa having a herd as well!

            For lunch today we stopped at a roadside restaurant and enjoyed a variety of burgers and sandwiches. After we finished lunch, we wandered through a local store and found many lovely souvenirs and a few of us were also lucky enough to purchase Springbok hide rugs. We will be bringing them back home for decoration.

            After lunch we visited the Towoomba Reasearch farm in the Lompopo province and we learned about the research projects they have done using the Boer and the Indigenous goat breeds. The research team explained to us how they used Boer and Indigenous breeds to examine what vegetation they eat when they are out in the brush. They also talked to us about how the breeds have different vegetation preferences and how each breed will eat different things depending on their environment.

            Our last stop of the day was at a Bonsmara cattle farm. This impressive operation had a mobile, on-site abattoir (slaughter facility), handling facilities, 5,000 acres of land, 200 cattle, 40 Dorper sheep, and around 60 Boer goats. They also have a flagship site in Free State province that is about 10,000 acres with 900 Bonsmara cattle, and 2,000 Dohne Merino sheep. We really liked that these cattle looked the most similar to the Angus cattle that we are used to in the US! Our host at this farm was incredibly personable and made this an experience we won’t forget.

            After many hours traveling on some very bumpy back roads to get to the farms, we safely made it back to the hotel in Centurion. We look forward to our adventures tomorrow! 

Sam and Alexis