Animals

While large parts of South Africa have battled droughts, heatwaves and unpredictable weather patterns over the past few years, the Beefmaster breed continues to prove why it is regarded as one of the most adaptable and hardy beef cattle breeds.

As elephant numbers rise across the Greater Kruger National Park, conservationists face a complex challenge: balancing the ecological benefits of elephants with their impact on woody vegetation, biodiversity and carbon storage.

Cold, wet and windy conditions can quickly become life-threatening for goats, particularly newly-shorn Angoras. Proper planning, good nutrition and access to shelter are essential to minimise losses during adverse weather.

The decision on choosing the Beefmaster beef cattle breed was based on simple mathematics, according to Wynand Potgieter, who runs the NGB Beefmaster Stud near Thabazimbi in Limpopo with his sons Phillip and Willie. He told Annelie Coleman the breed was the obvious choice for optimum production per hectare and, obviously, optimum income.

At the 2026 ADMA Agri Show in Harare, Zimbabwe, held from 4 to 6 June, Farmer’s Weekly spoke to participants about how indigenous cattle breeds are attracting renewed interest among livestock farmers due to their fertility, resilience, and lower production costs.

At Ingwavuma Game Reserve in southern Eswatini, Liz and Ted Reilly run a Boran stud focused on producing functionally efficient cattle adapted to extensive bushveld conditions. Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, Liz Reilly explained why she believes the indigenous African breed offers a practical and cost-effective option for beef production, particularly in challenging environments.

For more than three decades, Bos Blanco near Kroonstad has built its reputation on a simple principle: profitable cattle start with fertility and functionality. Through disciplined selection, a relentless focus on economically important traits, and a commitment to adaptability, the Staal family has developed one of South Africa’s most influential Beefmaster breeding operations.

The Beefmaster has built a reputation in South Africa's beef industry as a fertile, hardy and adaptable breed that weans a heavy calf under commercial conditions. Theo Coetzee of Majesto Beefmasters has become known for investing in elite Beefmaster genetics at the top end of the market. He outlines the selection philosophy and breeding decisions behind the stud.

A young breeder is building on a strong foundation while shaping the future of one of South Africa’s growing Boran studs.

When MJ Ernst climbs into his bakkie on a Sunday morning to check his cattle at Bona Bona, a family-owned game lodge and livestock enterprise near Wolmaransstad, he admits there’s one herd that gets more of his attention than the others.

For Edwin Hewitt and his family at Hope Private Game Reserve in Limpopo, Ankole cattle are more than a striking African breed with enormous horns. They represent a long-term investment in genetics, resilience, and African livestock heritage, with the potential to contribute meaningfully to future commercial beef systems.

At just 29, Hennie Goosen represents a new generation of agricultural professionals who combine deep-rooted farming heritage with formal scientific training and practical market experience.

Dail van Rensburg farms in the Delareyville district of North West. His mixed-farming enterprise includes grain production and beef cattle. He has been farming Ankole for 25 years and has built up a large herd.

At a time when South African agriculture is under pressure to attract and retain young talent, Free State livestock farmer, certified cattle artificial inseminator and agribusiness innovator Rorisang Reanetse Tsotetsi is seeking out a space for himself that blends genetics, entrepreneurship, and youth development, all at the very young age of 21.

We operate Buffalo Creek Ankole from our farm near Rooiberg in Limpopo. Although we only have a herd of about 30 cattle, they form an integral part of our operation where we breed with a diverse array of game species, including disease-free buffalo and sable antelope.

At Goats Window near Bonnievale in the Western Cape, Ankole cattle are more than a striking visual attraction. The operation is building a stud focused on resilience, fertility, elite genetics, and long-term sustainability, while using the breed’s unmistakable presence to strengthen its eco-tourism offering.

Stud farm proprietor Keith Peinke says adaptability, fertility and low-input efficiency continue to make the Boran breed a profitable choice for commercial and stud breeders alike.

The Boran has built a reputation in South Africa as a low-input breed with strong parasite resistance, strong maternal traits, and adaptability across diverse production systems. Annalea van Niekerk, stud manager at Green Valley Boran, spoke to Henning Naudé about the breeding and management philosophy shaping the stud in its formative years.

Rising feed costs, recurring droughts and tighter margins are prompting South African beef producers to rethink profitability under African conditions. Increasingly, the Boran breed is challenging the long-held belief that bigger cattle and higher inputs automatically deliver better returns. Fertility, adaptability, and efficiency are emerging as stronger indicators of long-term profitability.

When Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa received Ankole cattle from his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame, the herd was moved from Rwanda’s high-rainfall highlands to Zimbabwe’s drier Midlands province, where conditions are much harsher.