South Africa – An Ankole heifer from President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Ntaba Nyoni cattle operation has sold for a record R6.4 million, setting a new South African record for a female animal across all cattle breeds.
The in-calf heifer, Queen Arusha (NANK23 001), was sold as Lot 20 at the Ntaba Nyoni & Friends auction held at Phala Phala near Bela-Bela in Limpopo on Saturday, 3 October.
According to TimesLIVE, the sale was confirmed by Veilingswinkel chief operating officer JP Smith and attracted an undisclosed buyer.
Farmer’s Weekly reported that the auction generated R22.5 million in total turnover, with about 120 registrations and approximately 100 people attending in person.
The sale also highlighted strong demand for premium Ankole genetics.
Two straws of sexed semen from Ankole bull Optimus Prime sold for R250,000 each, setting a new South African record for sexed semen across cattle breeds. The auction also saw 37 semen straws sell for R1.235 million and 19 embryos generate R1.445 million, according to Farmer’s Weekly.
IOL reported that 10 bulls were sold for a combined R2.75 million, while eight heifers averaged R482,500, with the highest price reaching R900,000.
The record sale adds to the growing commercial value attached to elite Ankole genetics in South Africa.
Ntaba Nyoni’s cattle operation has been associated with Ramaphosa’s interest in the Ankole breed since he encountered the cattle during a visit to Uganda. The farm has since developed a stud operation involving Ankole and other breeds.
The latest auction marks another major milestone for the president’s cattle-breeding enterprise, with Queen Arusha’s R6.4 million price establishing a new benchmark for female cattle sales in South Africa.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
