Bonsmara Cattle

Description

Description
Bonsmara Cattle
The Bonsmara is the strongest breed in South Africa. The name Bonsmara was gained from Professor Jan Bonsma (Bonsma), the man who played a leading role in the development of the breed, as well as from the farm known as “Mara” where the breeds were bred.
The Bonsmara’s colour is red and brown and although they are horned cattle the breeders association requires that they be dehorned. The breed was obtained as a result of mating between local Afrikaner cows and European Shorthorn and Hereford bulls, the final composition being approximately 5/8 Afrikaner, 3/16 Shorthorn and 3/16 Hereford.
Bonsmara Cattle
CHARACTERISTICS
Adapts well to African climates
Produce high quality meat
A calm temperament
Early maturity
Low birth weight for easy calving
Well-developed udders with adequate milk to wean a strong calf
AVERAGE WEIGHT
Bull: 900 kg
Cow: 495 kg Calve: 34 – 36 kg
Bonsmara Cattle
The Bonsmara is the strongest breed in South Africa. The name Bonsmara was gained from Professor Jan Bonsma (Bonsma), the man who played a leading role in the development of the breed, as well as from the farm known as “Mara” where the breeds were bred.
The Bonsmara’s colour is red and brown and although they are horned cattle the breeders association requires that they be dehorned.
Genetic versatility
(Grey Brahman, Red Brahman, Gyr, Nelore, Indu Brazil and Guzerat)
More hybrid vigour with reference to:
Percentage conceived: 70.1 – 100.00%
Calving difficulty: 0.0 – 10.0%
Weaning mass and wean/cow mass ration: 50.6%
FCR (Feed Conversion rate): +6.7%
ADG (Average daily gain): +16.8%
The breeding of those sought after crossbred calves for the feedlot
Hardiness and adaptability due to low maintenance requirements, heat tolerance, disease resistance and bloat resistance
Higher meat income, due to late cutting of teeth at an age of 32 months
Early marketability. Brahman and Brahman crossbreeds are market ready at 30 months. Their age for market availability was 6.9 months earlier than that of comparable breeds, while their growth rate was 21% faster
Accessibility to ± 60,000 enrolled head of cattle in South Africa