Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, Smith said the auction also produced a South African record for sexed semen across breeds, with two straws from the Ankole bull Optimus Prime fetching R250 000 each.
Total auction turnover reached R22,5 million, with an average of approximately R490 000 per lot. Smith said the event attracted 120 registrations and approximately 100 people attended in person.
Queen Arusha tops the sale
Queen Arusha, offered by Ntaba Nyoni, was bought by an anonymous buyer. Smith described her as a full sister of Optimus Prime, the bull with a 68-inch horn measurement. Her genetic background includes Tshinakaho and Akira, with Kovu further in her bloodline.
The R6,4 million sale was the highest price of the day. The results sheet recorded Queen Arusha’s price in the pregnant-heifer category, where four animals generated R7,48 million and averaged R1,87 million.
Smith said the value of such a female extended beyond the individual animal to her potential contribution to future breeding.
“The buyer is buying access to future genetic production,” he said.
He pointed to the potential to multiply and distribute genetics through offspring and reproductive technologies, including artificial insemination and embryo transfer.
Sexed semen reaches R250 000 a straw
Ntaba Nyoni bought two sexed semen straws from Optimus Prime for a combined R500 000. The sellers were listed as Goats Window, Embryo Plus and Hope Ankole.
The R250 000 per straw was the highest price achieved in the semen category. In total, 37 straws sold for R1,235 million, at an average of R33 378 per straw.
Embryos also attracted strong prices, with 19 selling for a combined R1,445 million. They averaged R76 053, with the highest-priced embryo fetching R100 000.
Smith said the sale illustrated the range of options available to breeders seeking access to Ankole genetics, from live breeding animals to semen, embryos and recipients.
Bulls reach R650 000
The highest-priced bull, offered by Ntaba Nyoni, sold for R650 000 to Gabriel Ngomane of Ngomane Stud Breeders. In total, 10 bulls sold for R2,75 million, averaging R275 000.
Eight heifers sold for an average of R482 500, with the highest-priced animal fetching R900 000, while four pregnant cows averaged R432 500 and reached a top price of R650 000.
Two cows with calves sold for R550 000 each. Two three-in-one lots averaged R425 000, with the highest fetching R450 000, while four recipients averaged R425 000 and reached a top price of R550 000.
Johan van der Nest was the auctioneer, with buyers able to bid online through Veewinkel or at the venue.
Smith said auctions gave breeders an indication of what buyers were prepared to pay for different genetics, while providing a market for participating breeders.
“A strong breed is not built by one breeder. It is built by an industry,” he said.
