Back to Basics, The Veld

Buffalo Valley is a family business run by John & Lee Roos. We farm with Drakensberger cattle and Eragrostis hay. We do not plant any cash crops.

"BV Christoffel 5 (Koning Christoffel), ‘n Nasionale rekordprys bul wat aan Bertus en Das Wessels, van Excelsior in die Vrystaat verkoop is vir R 70 000.00 tydens die 2008 BV Veiling"

Our mission:

• To breed a Drakensberger cow that produces a calf every year (that passes inspection by the Drakensberger Cattle Breeders Society Inspectors) without assistance from a vet or costly supplements.
• To supply affordable bulls (semen) that can cover 30+ cows in a 3 month breeding season and in the process improve the gene pool of the Drakensberger breed.

 

Our formula to success has been the fact that we specialize in only two things, viz.

1. We breed cattle
2. We make hay and feed them.

This may sound very elementary or simplistic, but the fact of the matter is that we have no crop production (maize, etc), no sheep, no nothing else but cattle.

Cattle is what we spend our time and effort on. We breed the cattle, make hay for them and then see that their bellies are full whilst not neglecting fresh clean water daily. The BV Production Sale is our sole method of selling. We must stress that every animal bred by BV and put up for sale, carries the Buffalo Valley Guarantee, and is presented at our annual sale. Hence our success.

Because of the fact that the Drakensberger is pre-eminently a "Veldbees", Buffalo Valley is determined to continue to breed back to the basics, viz. our natural pasture, the veld, hence the selection of our females through natural selection off the veld, and our Sourveld Bull Project which was started many years ago in 1984.

The BV cows breed on the veld with a phosphate lick (50% Salt 50% P12) which is fed from October to April. From April to October they are supplemented with a protein lick (Voermol Sourveld lick). August to October they receive Eragrostis hay additional. Cows are mated from 1 November to 31 January. Heifers are mated 6 weeks prior to the cows, viz. as from 15 September. Pregnancy diagnosis is done in April and all non-pregnant cows are sold. This results in only adapted animals remaining (An adapted animal is a fertile animal). Calves are weaned April / May on Kikuyu grazing where they remain till October. During this period they are supplemented with a protein lick (Voermol Sourveld lick) until October. November they run on the veld with a phosphate lick (50% Salt; 50% P12). We mate them as two years olds.

Bull calves are subjected to the BV Sourveld Bull Project. An extensive Phase D test on veld with a phosphate lick. The test finishes end of March and the bulls now enter a veld phase on natural grazing with a protein lick (Voermol Sourveld lick). From August to October they are supplemented with Eragrostis hay and from November to 1 April they run on the veld with a phosphate lick. We calculate indices from April to April and use it as a grazing index. From 1 April the bulls are finished for the sale on rested grazing till our production sale in May. This system has resulted in the development of medium framed, well-muscled animals over the years.

Kliek hier om die Buffalo Valley Stelsel, op ‘n maand vir maand basis, te besigtig

The BV Sourveld Bull Project can be summarised as follows:

1. From date of weaning in April to August the weaners are on Kikuyu. Thereafter, until approximately the beginning of October, the weaners are fed Eragrostis hay supplemented by a protein lick. This period can be seen as an adaptation period with a low A.D.G.
2. From October they run on Veld pastures with a salt / phosphate lick (25% Salt; 50% P12; 25% feed lime). This is the Phase D2 test with an average A.D.G. of between 900 and 1000 g. The test finishes roughly at the end of March.
3. After the Phase D they enter a veld phase with a protein lick. From August to October they are supplemented with Eragrostis hay plus a protein lick.
4. The summer grazing period follows until approximately middle March with an average A.D.G. of approximately 800g. We combine these two stages as the Pasture index (WEI), calculated from April to April. On completion of this phase, the final selection of the bulls for our annual sale is then selected. The bulls are selected on visual as well as performance data. We further categorize with regard to frame size and maturity type.
5. The final stage is the sale preparation phase through supplementation, a mixture of 20% SB 100 and 80% maize, on the veld for a period of 6 weeks.

The BV Sourveld Bull Project was one of the first Veld bull tests and at present one of the few real tests for bulls on the basis of veld. Veld bull sales become more popular every year, thus our determination to do more and more testing on the veld. Our selection is already done on the basis of the veld. We will continue to promote our Sourveld Bull Project annually as we once again emphasize the fact that the BV bulls are tested on the veld whilst our females are selected from the veld. This then gives the buyers the golden opportunity of obtaining veld tested / adapted animals.

 

To illustrate our objective, I refer you to the following:

Hoekom BV Genetika?

‘n Ander en ook ’n baie belangrike vraag wat gestel word, is: Hoekom BV Genetika? Die antwoord hierop is baie eenvoudig: Buffalo Valley is seker een van die oudste stoeterye in Suid Afrika. Oor ’n periode van 40 jaar het BV uiters streng geselekteer vir aanpasbaarheid op suurveld op suurveld (BV Stelsel). Dit het gelei tot die mediumraam, vroegryp tipe wat baie bespiering dra en wat landswyd aanpas. Bykomend is daar streng seleksie toegepas op alle belangrike ekonomiese eienskappe. Vanaf 1992 was daar geen plek vir “Blommies” nie, slegs vir prestasie.

Vrugbaarheid, naas aanpasbaarheid, bly die enkel belangrikste ekonomiese eienskap. BV se TKP bly reeds vir etlike jare onder 400 dae. Huidiglik, vir die 2008/9 seisoen staan die TKP op 386 dae.

Om erfdwang te verseker word ‘n Inteelt sowel as ’n Lynteelt stelsel toegepas. Wetenskaplike metodes gegrond op Prestasie Toetsing en die gebruik van Teelwaardes word vir hierdie doel gebruik. BV se gevorderde genetika verseker die teelt van diere wat teel soos hulle lyk. KAMPIOENE TEEL KAMPIOENE.

BV diere is nie oorvoer nie en word net beter na hulle verkoop is.

Rekordpryse sedert 1984

 

 

Hiernaas word die rekordpryse vir beide bulle en vroulike diere sedert 1984 in tabelformaat weergee. Klem word geplaas op die getal rekordpryse wat agter die Buffalo Valley naam pronk. Nege uit Vyftien oftewel 60% in totaal. Graag wil ek ook u aandag vestig op die feit dat die rekordprys van R 32 000 vir vroulike diere wat in 2012 deur Neuman Broers ge-ewenaar is, vir ’n 3 in 1 groep was en nie slegs ’n dragtige koei nie. Buffalo Valley behou dus nog steeds die rekordprys vir ’n dragtige koei.

Veertig persent (40 %) van die rekords vir bulle en 100% vir die vroulike diere kan nog steeds agter die Buffalo valley naam geskryf word. Dit is die Buffalo Valley waarborg en ’n ware uitstekende prestasie. Dit sluit aan by die bovermelde vraag: Hoekom BV Genetika? Hierdie resultate spreek vanself en onderskraag die stelling hierbo gemaak, tw. “BV se gevorderde genetika verseker die teelt van diere wat teel soos hulle lyk. KAMPIOENE TEEL KAMPIOENE.”

Rekordpryse Sedert 1984
Jaar	Bulle	Teler	Koeie	Teler
1984	19 000.00	Buffalo Valley
1988	21 000.00	O de Jager
1990	50 000.00	O de Jager
1997			9 250.00	Buffalo Valley (Dragtig)
2002			18 000.00	Buffalo Valley (Dragtig)
2003	52 000.00	M Blom
2004	65 000.00	Buffalo Valley	19 000.00	Buffalo Valley (Dragtig)
2006			21 000.00	Buffalo Valley (Dragtig)
2007			32 000.00	Buffalo Valley (Dragtig)
2008	70 000.00	Buffalo Valley
2008	80 000.00	R v Rensburg
2011	107 500.00	Neuman Broers
2012	110 000.00	Johan Fourie	32 000.00	Neuman Broers (3 in 1)
2012	115 000.00	Buffalo Valley

 

Koning Christoffel 5

Hierdie bul is alreeds op ’n baie jong ouderdom (20 Maande) gebruik vir paring met 25 BV verse. Hierdie 2004 verse was slegs 15 maande oud terwyl hul gemiddelde massa aan die begin van die dekseisoen slegs 297 Kg was. Desnieteenstaande die jong ouderdom en lae massa, was 20 van die 25 verse (80 %) beset. Hierdie, sy eerste 20 kalwers is reeds 100% goedgekeur. Die hêrbesetting persentasie van hierdie 20 eerste kalf koeie was 75%. As mens na sy teling, en sy bloedverwantes kyk, kan ’n mens dit verwag. Die naam Koning Christoffel is afkomstig van Dr. Johan Fourie wat daarmee begin het en later vry algemeen gebruik is. Koning Christoffel kan dus as ’n ware beproefde bul beskou word.

Sy moer, BV Damsel 2E1, is uit die alombekende Grafiet bloedlyn geteel. Sy het 20 jaar oud geword en 14 kalwers, met ’n TKP van 362 dae, deur natuurlike geboorte gelewer. Al 14 is gekeur. BV Damsel 2E1 is ook in embrio programme gebruik deur beide Jannie Jacobsz en Jimmy Roos. Na die beste van my wete is nog 7 embrio kalwers hieruit gebore.

Een van haar dogters, BV Damsel 2E5 (BV 97114), wat deur Peet van Vuuren gekoop is, was Senior Kampioen op die Standerton skou. Van haar dogters, KZ 0350 en KZ 0507, was ook skou kampioene. Laasgenoemde was dan Junior Kampioen asook Groot en Opperste Kampioen in 2007. Een van BV Damsel 2E5 se bulkalwers, Kleinzonderhout Marnus 2 (KZ 0444) geteel uit Reinburg Marnus 2, is op die VDK se veiling te Frankfort verkoop vir R 50 000.00. Baie geluk Peet met sy prestasies. Daar is slegs 6 bulle wat vir R 50 000 of hoër verkoop is. Vier hiervan is uit BV teling en meer spesifiek uit die Damsel en Wildemuis lyne wat uit die Grafiet lyn geteel is. Verwys na “Die Wildemuis storie” in die BV Nuus van 2006.

The massive increase in the maize price has strengthened our determination to breed back to the basics, viz. our natural pasture, the veld. We promote the fact that the Drakensberger is pre-eminently a "Veldbees" yet we so often revert to the feeding and supplementation of our breed.

On average we mate a total of 250 head of Drakensberger cattle at Buffalo Valley annually. We then retain a total of 200 pregnant Drakensbergers. The other 50 animals are placed on our annual sale on the fourth Wednesday of May annually.

Om die Produksie en Reproduksie van die Buffalo Valley Stoet te illustreer, weergee ek die volgende inligting soos in die BV Nuus 2008 verskyn het:

KOEI / KALF MASSAS EN PRESTASIES

BV = Baie Vleis Hierdie kalf bewys die stelling

Die massas en prestasies word hiernaas in tabel formaat voorsien.

Koei / Kalf Massas en Prestasies 2011	Koeie by Geb.	Kalf met Geb.	%	Koei 205 dae	Kalf 205 dae	%	Groei	% Her- besetting
Koeie	427	37	8.6	506	228	45.0	+ 79	87
Eerste Kalf Koeie	356	36	10.0	449	224	49.8	+ 93	78
Verse								98

 

Paul André, editor to the USA Cattle magazine, "BEEF" visited South Africa. This visit included a quick stopover at Buffalo Valley Farms. Paul André was so impressed by the Drakensberger breed that, on his return, he published an article in "BEEF", August 1990, on the Drakensberger under the title - "You can't keep good cattle down".

The introductory two paragraphs, verbatim, follow:

"If nothing else, Drakensberger and Nguni cattle have to be rated as superior survivors. Parasites, diseases, harsh climatic conditions, official and unofficial government policies and other disparagers all have failed to put them down.

They are not mere survivors, though. Both breeds are making contributions to the cattle industry in South Africa. In fact, the potential offered by these breeds could have significant impact in the future".

What a compliment to the Drakensbergers.

Ook maar nuuskierig, nes ek en jy!!!