The awards acknowledge South Africa’s top beef producers who breed genetically superior animals, using performance records as a tool.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Dr Shadrack Moephuli, CEO of the ARC, said the participation of smallholder farmers in the scheme had increased significantly.
“These are the people who need the input of science to get good quality animals to market and generate an income,” said Moephuli.
Isaac Mokgatla was named the ARC national small-scale commercial black farmer of the year. This award was introduced to the competition this year to give recognition to a black farmer who was under the mentorship of an established breeder, who was participating in performance testing and who has made tremendous strides in their farming enterprise.
Zippo Lamprecht, the owner of a Boran stud near Dewetsdorp in the Free State, won the ARC’s national young breeder of the year award. This was also a new category. Lamprecht has been involved with performance testing since 1996 and has made significant improvements to the herd’s fertility.
Nguni cattle farmer Mannini Elizabeth Medupi from the North West was named the national emerging beef farmer of the year.
The herd of the year award went to John and Tracey Devonport from Devlan Limousins in Mpumalanga.
Watch our video interview with Martin Seyfferdt, head judge at #ARCawards15 to find out what the criteria were for selecting the winning bull.
