Bonsmara–our cattle of choice

Two years ago Herman decided he would like to get some cattle to wander about the backlands. Our neighbour on the backfence Oom Piet , a third generation farmer, had some Bonsmara to sell. Beautiful, chocolate brown cows with soft eyes and gentle natures.

Bonsmara are a South African breed of cattle. In the 1930′s there was a need for a breed of cattle that would thrive in the sub-tropical regions of Natal and the Transvaal and be good meat producers. The exotic British cattle had the desired growth and breeding but didn’t perform in the hotter climate and were very suseptible to the tick borne diseases. The indigenous Afrikaaner cattle were disease resistant and handled the heat well, however they didn”t have the desired growth potential, developed late sexually and didn’t calve regularily.

A breeding programme was set up where they took five different British bulls and bred them with Afrikaaner cows. They had good results with the Hereford and Shorthorn crossbreeds, which they further mated with  3/4 Afrikaaners to get 5/8 Afrikaaner and 3/8 Hereford or Shorthorn–the result being the Bonsmara (named after ”Bonsma” a man involved in the breeding and “Mara” the name of the farm they were bred on). 

Seventy-five  years later the Bonsmara is a efficient, productive beef  breed that is disease resistant, low maintenance, highly adaptable,  has low calf mortality and good fertility.

It was also in our favour to get the cattle from our neighbour as it meant we could just open the gate inbetween us and allow the cattle to come through–no transport costs, no stress on the cattle and they would  be very used to the diseases in this area making them hardy and resistant.

A short note on Oom Piet–our neighbour who sold us the Bonsmara–pictured on the left.  He is 84 years old and was born and has lived on his farm all his life. He cleared the farm by hand from Rooikrans and farms with cattle and thatch. When we first met him he was 82 and had just bought a new stallion–to ride and tame himself. He is a living legend, his farm a legacy to hardwork and perserverance, a dying out generation when people had to be innovative and resourceful  to survive. They lived above and below the law, their farm was their world and they made the rules. Pioneering spirits, when “men ran with the wolves” and in Oom Piet’s case with a very naughty twinkle in those very blue eyes! 

On the right is a photograph taken on the day we took delivery of the cattle. With Herman is Oom Piet and his son. The cattle were rounded up and then tagged on the ear (our first experience of seeing a neck clamp in action). Quite an experience, keep in mind these are not tame milk cows but cattle that roam free on the veld.

There were then herded off to our fence line by one of the labourers riding a pony with very skew ears with a lot of attitude and keen to show off his cowboy skills.

They settled in well and have been breeding fantastically, the first lot we bought were all pregnant. We then bought a magnificient bull who has been very happy up there with all his ladies doing his duty. We are on to our third lot of calves–so our little herd is growing nicely. Below are a few pics of these gorgeous  creatures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the right is a picture of a three day old calf born on our farm. The mothers hide them away in the bushes for about a week and it is almost impossible to find them. We were very lucky to see this one.

It is still such a thrill when we go riding into the backlands to spot the cattle, it is like seeing game. With the sun glistening on their rich, brown hides. Sleek and beautiful, passing silently through the bushes or stopping to look at us inquisitively.