Frontier Bonsmara Sale Success 21 August 2013

Frontier Sale Report 2013

The Frontier BONSMARA group consisting of members JJ Park, Justin Stirk, Mark Lake, Brett Knott and Craig Handley held a very successful 8th annual sale at the Hobson & Co auction yard in Grahamstown on Wednesday 21 August. 87 buyers, mainly from the local areas registered in blustery windy weather. With the farming and financial situation uncertain nobody quite knew what to expect at the auction as the Frontier sale is always the first in the area.
Bidding on the 54 bulls started very cautiously but soon got into top gear. The top price achieved was for Lot 15, bred by Justin Stirk of Goodwoods Bonsmaras which fetched R 130000. The bull was bought by Danie Olivier of Hotvoor Bonsmaras from Melmoth. Other notable prices were for lot 9 (R52000) bred by Craig Handley and lot 29 (R51000) bred by Justin Stirk.
For the 8th consecutive year all the bulls were sold and the average this year was R 30500. Bulls sold from R16000 to R 130000 with bulls available to suite every farmer’s pocket.
The commercial females sold extremely well considering the tough economic climate. Bidding was brisk especially on pregnant heifers. Heifers (4 to 7 months pregnant) sold for an average of R 9350 – top price R11800, heifers (3 months pregnant) sold for an average of R 8606 – top price R9000 and weaner heifers sold for R4707 each with a top price of R 5400. Mark Lake achieved the highest price for the first category and Rod Nightingale for the last two.
The sale was a resounding success and the agents Hobson & Co and the auctioneer Brandon Leer were delighted with the outcome of the auction as both buyers and sellers should have gone home happy.
This auction once again proved that quality always has a value and the footprint of the BONSMARA breed is well and truly planted in the Eastern Cape. Only 3 bulls were sold to clients further than 140 km from Grahamstown