Albany’s finest bulls and cows sparked lively bidding at this year’s annual Hobson and Co Frontier Bonsmara cattle sale in the Grahamstown auction yard this week.
Speaking before Wednesday’s event, Paul Hobson, whose team prepared the grounds, said, “I think there’s going to be a lot of action.” He was right.
With 115 buyers registered at this year’s event, the turnout was exceptional.
Albany’s finest bulls and cows sparked lively bidding at this year’s annual Hobson and Co Frontier Bonsmara cattle sale in the Grahamstown auction yard this week.
Speaking before Wednesday’s event, Paul Hobson, whose team prepared the grounds, said, “I think there’s going to be a lot of action.” He was right.
With 115 buyers registered at this year’s event, the turnout was exceptional.
According to Hobson, while only half the auction yard was used in previous years, this year’s sale took up the entire space, with hundreds of farmers crowding for the best views.
Widely regarded as one of the best production sales of Bonsmara cattle in South Africa, the event drew buyers from all over.
The shrill ring of the bell signalled the start and with the characteristic fast-paced whirr of his voice, auctioneer Brandon Leer encouraged the bidders.
Fourie Scheepers had travelled from Fouriesburg in the Free State to make his bid of R80 000, the highest price paid for a bull on the sale, while the highest-selling female fetched R28 000.
Both were raised by top breeders Glynn Handley & Sons, who farm in the Bathurst area.
An average price of R34 000 was paid for the bulls on sale, up R12 000 from last year.
Farmers paid an average of R11 000 for females. A delighted Hobson explained that the sales, unprecedented in number and the size of the bids, followed recent droughts. Beef prices were high at the moment, and now that the rains had come, farmers could restock because they had water and good grazing once again.
Happy buyers and their families gathered afterwards to enjoy a braai and the rest of the sunny day.
