Triumph and pride at the 2023 Hurwitz Boran Auction
On August 5, 2023, the Bull Ring Auction House in
On August 5, 2023, the Bull Ring Auction House in Davel opened its doors for the Hurwitz Production Auction. This auction, organized by Hurwitz Farming, is a prominent event in the Boran cattle industry, attracting buyers and Boran enthusiasts from far and wide. Hurwitz Farming is one of the pioneers of the Boran breed in South Africa, with nearly 30 years of involvement with this cattle breed. The herd was originally established in 1993 with embryos from the scarce Mafundzalo herd in Zambia and has grown into one of the largest registered Boran herds in the world.
This herd forms the core of this unique event, which takes place annually on the first weekend of August and in the second week of October. Apart from their significant contribution to the auction, animals from this herd are also available for the stud and commercial markets throughout the year.
This year's auction included many highlights, with impressive new record prices being achieved. Both Lot 10A and Lot 10B surpassed last year's record price by a considerable margin. Lot 10A, a bull named Joker (BH 18-761), achieved an impressive R3 million and was sold to Green Valley Boran Stud. However, the new record holder is Lot 10B, Jester (BH 18-490), which was sold for a staggering amount of R3.5 million to Ntaba Nyoni Stud, surpassing last year’s record holder, Jumbo (WZ 14-52).
All three record holders - Jumbo, Jester, and Joker - are full brothers from sire Khan (MHB 04-27) and dam Jasmine (HOT 10-24), a true testament to the exceptional quality of Hurwitz genetics. However, this remarkable gene line further solidified its fame with the sale price of Lot 12, Jumbo's daughter Lizzy (BH 19-286). Lizzy achieved the highest price for a cow with a calf at the auction, fetching R800,000. In total, the Hurwitz Auction generated a staggering R25.6 million on the day.
Hurwitz Farming takes pride in its commitment to the breed and boasts significant genetic diversity within their herd. They emphasize the importance of quality over quantity, where only the very best cattle survive strict selection criteria and are ultimately chosen to serve as breeding stock, supported by DNA verification. These core values reflect the heart of Hurwitz Farming's dedication to the Boran cattle breed.
Hurwitz Farming is proud of its dedication to the Boran breed and the exceptional genetics of its herd. They emphasize the importance of quality over quantity, with only the very best cattle meeting their strict selection criteria to serve as breeding stock, backed by DNA verification. The Hurwitz Production Auction of August 5, 2023, showcased the significance of these principles while highlighting the success, popularity, and value of the Boran cattle breed in South Africa. The auction achieved remarkable cattle prices, emphasizing the importance of quality and genetic diversity within a breeding herd. Year after year, this event is eagerly anticipated and remains a significant occurrence in the national and international cattle industry, attracting participants and buyers from all corners.
