KwaZulu-Natal Sussex Cattle Breeders Club
Newsletter – August 2015
Royal Show 2015:
This year Sussex animals were again exhibited at the ever-popular Royal Show in
Pietermaritzburg. Prior to show week the KZN club received a grant from the Sussex
Society, which allowed us to renovate the clubhouse building and with help from the RAS in
supervising the contractors.
A total of 8 animals were shown this year: 2 young bulls from Bulls Run (Himeville), with 4
animals from Gray Maclean Stud shown by Linden Hewson from East London. These were
joined by a polled bull and female owned by James Stephen of Vigorex Sussex from FS.
We would like to commend Linden Hewson with his Gray Maclean Stud for supporting the
Royal Show by travelling up (15 hours!) from the Eastern Cape. Linden last showed at the
Royal Show 18 years ago. Judging took place on Wednesday, 3rd June under top judge
Martin Seyferdt. Results were as follows:
Senior Champion Bull: Gray Maclean LJ 12/294 ; Junior and Grand Champion Bull: Bulls
Run Victory 13/05 ; Junior and Grand Champion female: JS12/26 (Vigorex Stud, Vrede).
It is always such a pleasure to show at the Royal under the eye of expert cattlemen!
The Agro-economic climate – mid 2013
Grazing conditions in KZN are fairly poor this winter, but weaner prices are reasonable at
around R21 per kg. However, they are not expected to rise much due to the high maize price
which puts feedlot margins under pressure. In the meanwhile every effort must be made to
manage costs but without affecting overall productivity.
Up-country producers in the extensive beef areas had much lower conception rates due to
very dry conditions there, with many commercial herds only achieving 60 to 70% conception
for the 2015 calving season. This must lead to somewhat lower supply of weaners in 2016
and even 2017 in the other northerly provinces with an expected el Nino event this summer
likely to delay recovery of grazing.
Herd fertility and weaning weights
Ideally cows should be reaching 80-90%+ calving percentage annually. Rather err on the
side of caution in regularly testing your bulls for fertility. Also by inoculating weaners against
BVD (which sometimes occurs at sub-clinical levels), experience shows you can increase
your calving rate by 6%. Heifers which do not take the bull at first mating should be culled.
For commercial producers who are not achieving satisfactory weaning weights should
consider increasing F1 heterosis in their herds. Sussex is a pure Bos taurus breed and can
contribute to higher fertility, better conformation and heavier weaning weights. Getting the
balance right can make a big difference to your pocket.
Upcoming bull sales
Sales that have taken place recently have shown a decrease in selling prices for bulls. If this
trend continues producers will have the opportunity to buy more bulls this year than they
may otherwise have done.
The next sale in KZN where Sussex bulls are on offer is at Cedarville on the 18th August –
again through Farmers Livestock Agency and Auctioneers. Liege Lamb of Bulls Run Stud,
Himeville will be offering 15 two to three year old bulls.
This will be followed by the National Sale in Bloemfontein on the 20th August with 20 SP
bulls and 15 SP cows on sale.
As an aside, an article by Arthur de Villiers in the latest STOCK FARM issue (Aug 2015)
points out again, if ever a reminder was needed, that the practice of using home-grown
crossbred F1 bulls is a false economy. Their progeny’s performance can be up to 15%
lower than when using purebred bulls. Although the F1 animals may look impressive, the F2
generation generally results in disappointing performance – the benefits of hybrid vigour
(according to U.S. data) are seldom retained after more than one generation.
Obituary: It was with regret that we learned of the death fairly recently of Mr Robin Greene,
late of Amber Ridge, Howick. Robin was a stalwart of the Sussex Society, and for many
years was a leading breeder who won numerous times in the show ring. After his dispersal
sale of The Start herd, he retired to the South Coast before spending his final years in
Howick. R.I.P.
In conclusion
It is clear that there will be good demand for Sussex going forward. We hope all members
and beef producers have a more than satisfactory summer calving season! If cows calve
down with a body condition score of 2,5 there should be few calving problems. They will put
on weight in summer to carry them through the dry season.
We will be back with another newsletter next year. In an ever competitive beef industry,
access to strategic information is the key to successful farming. Accordingly we encourage
all producers and supporters of the breed to become members of the KZN Sussex Club. All
you need do is send an sms to the interim chairman James Stephen on 082 4940015, or email jstephen@vodamail.co.za for free membership, where after you will be kept informed of
events, sales, trends and other relevant information etc.
James Stephen (Chairman)