Cattle

South Africa’s livestock industry continues to face one of its most severe challenges in decades. Since early 2025, foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has spread across all nine provinces, despite the outbreak being declared a national state of disaster in February 2026.

Len Harvey’s lifelong interest in cattle and his personal commitment to improving Southern Rhodesia’s livestock were the driving forces behind the Tuli breed’s development.

The genetics of polledness has long been of major interest to cattle breeders and livestock geneticists, and advances in genomics have helped unravel the genetic mechanisms that control horn development and polledness.

Obert Chinhamo, Tsungirai Tembo and Kelvin Mundeta are each using Simmentaler genetics in different ways to improve herd performance in Zimbabwe. From supporting communal farmers with semen donations, to building stud operations and crossbreeding for beef production, their experiences highlight how the breed is helping farmers boost productivity in a challenging environment.

Decades of compulsory performance testing has shaped the Bonsmara into a reliable, data-driven beef breed. By prioritising measurable function over appearance, Bonsmara breeders have built a transparent genetic system that delivers proven performance, adaptability, and commercial relevance.

Bonsmara producer Justin Stirk farms in an area in the Eastern Cape where seasons don’t follow normal patterns and no part of the farm is the same as another. Sabrina Dean found out more about his production practices in such a variable scenario.

When forensic fire investigator Zelda Greyling arrived at a farm to assess a blaze, she didn’t expect to meet a cow that would change her life. That meeting led her to purchase Mitzi, an elite Akaushi female, and launch Bizon Wagyu in Hammanskraal, Gauteng. She spoke to Hanlie du Plessis.

For more than 60 years, the Simmentaler has played a structured, performance-driven role in Southern African beef production. Jamie Berger, general manager of the Simmentaler Cattle Breeders’ Society of South Africa, spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about the breed’s performance, adaptability, and maternal strength.

Fardi Simmentalers near Wesselsbron focuses on breeding fertile, adaptable cattle that perform under real-world conditions. By prioritising functionality, strong maternal lines and balanced milk and meat production, the stud aims to deliver Simmentaler genetics that improve profitability for commercial beef producers.

Fairbridge Agri, a mixed farming operation on the slopes of the Southern Drakensberg in the Eastern Cape, has used Charolais bulls for terminal crosses since the stud’s inception in 1979. Owner Delwyn Roberts explains their approach.

What began as a way to give his sons some breathing room has grown into one of South Africa’s top-performing Bonsmara studs. Boeram Venter shares how a focus on cattle genetics and a hands-off approach to succession has helped secure the future of Venter Boerdery.

Few beef breeds match the proven track record of the Bonsmara in South Africa. David Cock of Tempevale Bonsmaras and Gawie Nel of Gawie Nel Bonsmaras give practical guidance for producing fertile, adaptable Bonsmaras for commercial and stud markets.

The Drakensberger cattle breed has been part of the South African landscape for ages. So-called black indigenous cattle existed in South Africa as early as the 15th and 16th centuries and formed the foundation of the current Drakensberger beef cattle breed.

The Romagnola cattle breed has the inherent quality to increase beef production in South Africa markedly, according to Marnus Lessing, owner of the JML Romagnola stud near Lindley in the Free State, who succeeded in pushing up weaner weights considerably through crossbreeding Romagnolas with Brahmans.

Zimbabwean farmer Mark Hook has revived dormant Boran and Nkone cattle societies, growing registered herds from a handful to thousands. He spoke to Farmer’s Weekly about his role in reshaping the country’s cattle industry.

Ankole genetics were introduced into South Africa by President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2004 after he visited Uganda. In 2016, farmers had the chance to buy offspring from the imported embryos to test their viability. Early investor Nico Lerm speaks about how he has since expanded his herd.

Octavia Avesca Spandiel spoke to Wayne Porter, former president of the Brahman Breeders’ Society of South Africa, about the history of Brahman cattle in the country and their role in commercial and communal farming.

When Cecilia Prinsloo-Van der Linde started exploring the idea of cattle farming, she was advised to farm animals that are suited to the land, so she decided on Nguni. Annelie Coleman spoke to her about the pros and cons of setting up and developing a stud in a relatively short period of time.

Quentin de Bruyn, who farms cattle in the eastern Free State, has spent over 15 years refining his beef production system around the Boran. He spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about how the Boran’s resilience, fertility, and low input needs are reshaping commercial beef production in South Africa.

Johannes and Marijke Botha’s herd of the Australian Murray Grey cattle is the only one of its kind in South Africa.