Braunvieh Cattle

Description

Braunvieh Cattle

The Witbek Braunvieh stud flourishes in the often taxing conditions of the cold Free State Highveld. Wth its sourveld grazing.One of the reasons this breed can withstand such a harsh environment is that it. Originated thousands of years ago, high in the Swiss Alps, where oxygen levels are relatively low. As a result these animals evolved to have a higher red blood cell count. Than any other cattle breed in the world. Braunvieh Cattle for sale. “This is why the South African Braunvieh excels in the extreme heat of Limpopo. Northern Cape and Namibi,a as well as the bitter cold of the South African Highveld, says stud owner Hans Bester.

“Over a period of more than 100 years, the Braunvieh has developed into a truly African breed. And become a serious contender in the beef cattle arena.”

Bester runs the stud on Sussiesdeel farm, near Vrede, with his three daughters, all of whom are veterinarians. Drs Daleen Roos, Hanri Bester-Cloete and Molly Lubbinge.
Bester and his wife Marina stay on the farm, Roos and Bester-Cloete are based in Vrede, and Lubbinge lives in Nelspruit.

A family affair

The Witbek Braunvieh stud comprises 100 animals, which include breeding cows, replacement heifers, and bulls. Bester takes care of the day-to-day management of the herd, shows and auctions; Roos, a senior Braunvieh selector, is responsible for lick management and breeding pairings; Bester-Cloete is in charge of finances; and Lubbinge keeps a record of birth registrations, cancellations, and identification of animals.

The three sisters run the animal health programme together.

The Braunvieh was at one stage criticised on a number of points, and Bester and his daughters have responded by addressing these problems specifically in their stud and turning perceptions around. For example, the breed was previously slated for calving problems, and Witbek Braunvieh has therefore made calving ease one of its primary selection criteria.

The establishment of the Witbek stud arose from the sisters’ earlier participation in youth livestock shows.

The breed is light brown with a creamy white muzzle (hence the stud’s name), a dark nose, and dark-blue eye pigmentation, which protects the animal against sunburn.

The family acquired their first Braunvieh cattle, including six heifers, in 2002 from the Alphine Braunvieh stud in Winburg, Free State.

“We chose stud breeding to add optimal value to our beef cattle concern. It costs virtually the same to rear a stud animal as it does a commercial animal, but the return on investment is considerably higher,” says Roos.