NEWS
to supply top genetics to the
breeders market and the hunting
market - “Where will they find
genetics like this - hopefully they
will buy it from us.”
To top it all they are hardy
and the biggest advantage is that
they can be brought in from the
outside throughout the year and
that long-horn cows are as much
in demand in the hunting market
as the bulls.
As far as he knows they are the
only game farmers doing in-depth
analyses where all the horns are
measured and predictions are
made regarding the potential of
the animals. Although you can
not always be right, it provides
a guideline for the future. We
measure everything, while other
breeders measure the length and
tip to tip only.
They have been farming with
game since 2010 and bought the
first Burchell Namibian golden
gemsbuck in 2012 at the well-
known Piet du Toit’s auction.
10 were bought at an average of
R825 000 per animal.
“It was a high premium, more
than double the market price, but
we have the best of the best and
the premiums will be made up
when we sell the golden gems
buck.”
They are also in the process of
expanding to a 5 000 hectare farm
in Namibia. The actual objective
is to not only have the numbers,
but to have the best - a quantity
of quality. The Kalahari bloodlines
have the best gembuck genetics.
OPTIFEEDS
As far as animal feed is concerned,
Ro’an buys all his feeds from
Optifeeds.
“We are satisfied with the prod
uct and the price and the animals
are in good condition.”
One thing he would like is
for the media to be consistent. A
commercial farmer can buy a R5
million plus tractor, but as soon as
a game farmer pays R5 million for
a buffalo, he is regarded as crazy.
It is, however, an investment in his
herd and it adds value.
Ro’an encourages produces
to establish a game component.
Kroonstud Game, which Ro’an
is involved with, will be hosting
a game day on 9 August 2017 to
show prospect game farmers the
ins and outs of the game industry.
RSVP before 2 August 2017 by
contacting Ro’an by e-mail at
[email protected].
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