PG: 81 SANTA GERTRUDIS and herd development. The ninees brought another series of dry years, with 1995 and 1996 two consecuve serious droughts, of which 1996 was catastrophic. Due to these severe setbacks two whole cowherds and a selecon of cows, a total of nearly 400 cows had to be sold since 1980 in the vain hope of not ruining the veld. Santa Gertrudis were sold in the erroneous - since corrected - belief that they were less hardy than the Brahmans in a drought. The rotaonal grazing system did prove its value, but the amazing drought resistance of the Santa Gertrudis was established beyond doubt and was an important lesson of the drought. Losses were negligible and much lower than expected and on the whole less than that of the Brahman herd. What was leſt in 1999 -were two mulple sire Santa Gertrudis cowherds of under 200 cows each and two single sire herds of roughly seventy cows each. 5. Establishing and applying criteria for selecon Invesgaon into possibilies to improve digeson of the high fibre diets available on our hot and/or dry pastures were frustrated me and again by the problem that while opmum efficiency in digeson of this cellulose is quickly reached by moderate supplementaon with concentrates, efficiency quickly drops when this level is exceeded. Increasing concentrate feeding was too expensive. It also became clear that there were differences in producvity and/or adaptaon in cale on grazing, which could not sasfactorily be explained by simpliscally approaching them within categories such as digesve-efficiency or nutrion or short hair. Genotypic adaptability appears to be the sum of and the interacons of a complex of varying factors, which add up to a total which we perceive as a phenotype, but which defies analysis into constant components. However, as all environmental and genec factors acng together caused my cale to develop much slower on grazing than their potenal was on a high nutrional level, selecon for rate of gain and sexual development on local grazing clearly implied selecon for local adaptaon at the me suspected but now proven. The well-known dangers of the negave effect of selecng for rate of gain under high nutrional levels on adapve traits and ferlity would therefore not apply here. Within the Santa Gertrudis breed - as in the case in other breeds - the criteria, requirements and even applicaon of a breed standard of “grazers” and “feeders” are very different and somemes even conflicng. In one crucial respect, however, they do overlap: Adaptability of extensively commercially used Santa Gertrudis and their offspring is imperave and indispensable and will make or break any breed and in areas of hot summers and dry winters can only be determined on grazing with no or only a minimum of supplementaon. Too lile noce or cognisance is usually taken of the considerable beneficial or supporve effect of relavely small amounts of supplementaon with easily digesble carbohydrates (maize, molasses, etc.) notwithstanding the ravages of stress in cale (sheep, goats, etc). Adaptability of a breed like the Santa Gertrudis has therefore to be tested on grazing. Observaon during the drought reinforced insights gained from experience over the years, namely that genotypic “hardiness” or adaptability or even survival of the fiest under condions of heat and nutrional stress is not more phenotypically evident - or possibly even less - in Santa Gertrudis than in other breeds. Most assumed phonotypical indicaons of “hardiness” observed in cale (in good condion) like medium size, smooth coat, muscling or “early maturity” are based on unproven theories, conjecture or even fallacies, and are in most cases not more than evidence of successfully suppressed stress by means of supplementaon with carbohydrates - “a strong lick” or outright feeding. In order to reliably assess genotypic adaptability, from 1982 onwards it was therefore decided to grow out all bulls on grazing alone and to select them on rate of gain and sexual development. Top performing bulls, usually less than 2% of the bull crop, were used in the breeding herd with lile aenon to appearance except for sheaths. While this regime proved to be increasingly successful in the grazing herd, the nagging queson arose whether cale selected in this way would sll perform well under high nutrional levels applied by feeders. To answer this queson, from 1988 onwards annually the 4 to 8 top quality and top weight weaner bulls (usually the best of those few that reached the minimum required weight during the drought!) were therefore sent to be tested in phase C at Omatjene. These bulls usually, either as a group or individually excelled and out-performed all breeds in F.C.R. and most breeds in A.D.G., if not quite in A.D.A. Very few of them, however, aſterwards repeated their respecve performances on grazing. Out of over 50 bulls tested 1988 to 1996 in Phase C only about 12 made it into the breeding herd bull-baery aſter a year without supplementaon on the veld in one herd together with their contemporaries. Only two (87-150 and 92-223) also topped this pasture test of their respecve groups. Feed conversion rao, rates of gain, etc., in Phase C tests seemed to be irrelevant to performance on grazing, while conversely sons of top performers in tests on grazing were doing (and sll are doing ( 1998, 1999)!) exceponally well in Phase C tests (e.g., 93-6 sons). This again fied in with the concept, which emerged in my mind in the early eighes, namely that high performance on grazing and in hot areas was highly heritable and that selecon for
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and herd development. The nineties brought another series of dry years, with 1995 and 1996 two consecutive serious droughts, of which 1996 was catastrophic. Due to these severe setbacks two whole cowherds and a selection of cows, a total of nearly 400 cows had to be sold since 1980 in the vain hope of not ruining the veld. Santa Gertrudis were sold in the erroneous - since corrected - belief that they were less hardy than the Brahmans in a drought.
The rotational grazing system did prove its value, but the amazing drought resistance of the Santa Gertrudis was established beyond doubt and was an important lesson of the drought. Losses were negligible and much lower than expected and on the whole less than that of the Brahman herd. What was left in 1999 -were two multiple sire Santa Gertrudis cowherds of under 200 cows each and two single sire herds of roughly seventy cows each.
5. Establishingandapplyingcriteriaforselection
Investigation into possibilities to improve digestion of the high fibre diets available on our hot and/or dry pastures were frustrated time and again by the problem that while optimum efficiency in digestion of this cellulose is quickly reached by moderate supplementation with concentrates, efficiency quickly drops when this level is exceeded. Increasing concentrate feeding was too expensive. It also became clear that there were differences in productivity and/or adaptation in cattle on grazing, which could not satisfactorily be explained by simplistically approaching them within categories such as digestive-efficiency or nutrition or short hair. Genotypic adaptability appears to be the sum of and the interactions of a complex of varying factors, which add up to a total which we perceive as a phenotype, but which defies analysis into constant components.
However, as all environmental and genetic factors acting together caused my cattle to develop much slower on grazing than their potential was on a high nutritional level, selection for rate of gain and sexual development on local grazing clearly implied selection for local adaptation at the time suspected but now proven.
The well-known dangers of the negative effect of selecting for rate of gain under high nutritional levels on adaptive traits and fertility would therefore not apply here. Within the Santa Gertrudis breed - as in the case in other breeds - the criteria, requirements and even application of a breed standard of “grazers” and “feeders” are very different and sometimes even conflicting. In one crucial respect, however, they do overlap: Adaptability of extensively commercially used Santa Gertrudis and their offspring is imperative and indispensable and will make or break any breed and in areas of hot summers and dry winters can only be determined on grazing with no or only a minimum of supplementation. Too little notice or
cognisance is usually taken of the considerable beneficial or supportive effect of relatively small amounts of supplementation with easily digestible carbohydrates (maize, molasses, etc.) notwithstanding the ravages of stress in cattle (sheep, goats, etc). Adaptability of a breed like the Santa Gertrudis has therefore to be tested on grazing.
Observation during the drought reinforced insights gained from experience over the years, namely that genotypic “hardiness” or adaptability or even survival of the fittest under conditions of heat and nutritional stress is not more phenotypically evident - or possibly even less - in Santa Gertrudis than in other breeds. Most assumed phonotypical indications of “hardiness” observed in cattle (in good condition) like medium size, smooth coat, muscling or “early maturity” are based on unproven theories, conjecture or even fallacies, and are in most cases not more than evidence of successfully suppressed stress by means of supplementation with carbohydrates - “a strong lick” or outright feeding.
In order to reliably assess genotypic adaptability, from 1982 onwards it was therefore decided to grow out all bulls on grazing alone and to select them on rate of gain and sexual development. Top performing bulls, usually less than 2% of the bull crop, were used in the breeding herd with little attention to appearance except for sheaths. While this regime proved to be increasingly successful in the grazing herd, the nagging question arose whether cattle selected in this way would still perform well under high nutritional levels applied by feeders.
To answer this question, from 1988 onwards annually the 4 to 8 top quality and top weight weaner bulls (usually the best of those few that reached the minimum required weight during the drought!) were therefore sent to be tested in phase C at Omatjene. These bulls usually, either as a group or individually excelled and out-performed all breeds in F.C.R. and most breeds in A.D.G., if not quite in A.D.A. Very few of them, however, afterwards repeated their respective performances on grazing. Out of over 50 bulls tested 1988 to 1996 in Phase C only about 12 made it into the breeding herd bull-battery after a year without supplementation on the veld in one herd together with their contemporaries. Only two (87-150 and 92-223) also topped this pasture test of their respective groups. Feed conversion ratio, rates of gain, etc., in Phase C tests seemed to be irrelevant to performance on grazing, while conversely sons of top performers in tests on grazing were doing (and still are doing ( 1998, 1999)!) exceptionally well in Phase C tests (e.g., 93-6 sons). This again fitted in with the concept, which emerged in my mind in the early eighties, namely that high performance on grazing and in hot areas was highly heritable and that selection for
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it produced stress-adapted animals, which might also do well on concentrates (in feedlots), but that using fattened bulls (without testing them and their offspring on grazing!) from herds kept on a high nutritional level posed the danger of losing some or most of the Santa Gertrudis’ potential “hardiness”.
This makes participation in Phase C tests an expensive and even misleading redundancy for me but it is being continued to monitor and prove exactly this important contention.
The work published by Scholtz and Le Roux in 1993 has certainly since established that there is no correlation between feed lot and grazing performance. While this offers sensational insights and opportunities, breeders and breed societies alike, still seem to prefer the more convenient teachings of generations of revered academics (Hammond, Rice & Andrews ea.), and their unquestioning disciples who taught me and others to believe (since questioned by McDowell ea.) that ranch cow herds should be selected on pasture and their sires in feed lots.
Which, of course, is nonsense? Q.e.d. (please disregard this expression of my exuberance) On balance, Santa Gertrudis are best.
C. MANAGEMENT PRACTICES1. The herd is registered with the S.A. Studbook and is
a member of The Beef Cattle Performance - Testing Scheme, both with negligible effect on day to day decisions. A system of cow-cards has priority in being used. This card index was introduced for A.I. recordkeeping in 1953 and has been continued with improvements to the present and is practical and very comprehensive. Computerisation duplicating cow-cards has been introduced but could not replace the more practical and detailed cow-cards as yet.
2. Similarly a calf-book is kept which keeps records of a calf until it is about 2 years old.
3. Cows are weighed about 2 weeks after calving, when the calf is registered.
4. Heifer calves are all weaned into one herd and selected for bulling twice yearly at approximately 20 months of age. Culling is done then on weight-for-age, sexual development, and on faults. Culling rate is usually just below 10%.
5. Cows are selected on age (teeth!), fertility, weaning weights, weaning rates, herd retention of calves, occasionally temperament and uterus prolapses. Weaning is at 7 - 9 months; all calves are weighed then.
6. Two top-cut single sire herds are kept and two
larger multiple sire herds. Top cows and heifers are concentrated in the single sire herds.
7. Bull calves are as a rule not castrated and are all weaned into one herd, where they stay on pasture together till they are about 2 years old. They are then selected once a year on weight-for-age, scrotum circumference, sheathes temperament and coat score. About 30% of the better bulls are then selected into a separate herd, lightly supplemented on grazing (less than ½ % of body weight) for the next 10 months. They are regularly weighed and evaluated, and finally about one third are selected for sales and “keeper” bulls. This is usually less than 10% of the annual bull crop. All other bulls are sold for slaughter.
8. A comprehensive vaccination program is adhered to. Cattle are, however, not vaccinated against endemic red water and gall sickness. Breeding herd bulls are sheath-washed twice a year for Tricho and Vibrio tests.
9. Management and selection at the time is complicated by the general effects of long-standing drought and an abnormal increase in predators, which necessitates paddocking (kraaling) of calves.
10. All cattle are in a short duration grazing (less than 3 weeks) and long rest (5 - 8 months) rotational grazing system.
11. Breeding seasons are usually, depending on rainfall, from 15th January to 15th April and 15th August to 15th October.
12. Two groups, “A” and “B”, of one single sire and one multiple sire herds each constitute the cow herds. Herd bulls serve in their respective herd group for the duration of their service-life; each group of bulls always going back into the same herd group for breeding. Heifers are exchanged between the two groups, while cows are selected to move up and down between top cut single sire and multiple sire production herds within their respective groups.
Inbreeding is minimized by these measures. - See also accompanying diagram.
13. A few bull calves are annually tested in Phase C to monitor the effect on feedlot performance of animals from a herd selected on the basis of performance on grazing.
14. Absolute top self-bred and acquired bulls are single-sired to test their offspring for adaptability. Below average bulls are culled ruthlessly, regardless of purchase price and appearance.
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Importationof SANTA GERTRUDIS fromUSA in earlier years
>>> DI HILLHOUSE
>>> AJS LOCK
I started farming in 1939 in the Indwe district of the Eastern Cape with sheep and cattle. We have sourveld. My father farmed with a British breed but he found that these cattle did not thrive under these conditions so he tried using Afrikaner bulls. The first cross was promising and on the progeny he split the herd into three using Afrikaner/British breeds and half cross bulls, but this experiment failed as none of the subsequent progeny were as good as the first cross.
I bought a small herd of registered Afrikaner, but found they did not suit my conditions either. I then tried a herd of Brahmans with the same result. By reading overseas magazines I became interested in the Santa Gertrudis. King Ranch in Texas seemed to have had the same problem I was experiencing. Imperial Cold Storage had a few Santa’s and in 1960 after much persuasion they let me have a bull. He crossed well with my Shorthorns. I was able to market my steers at 20 months with a better weight than my previous 3 year olds. I found these cattle very mobile and they grazed my veld better than any other cattle I had tried.
I then decided in 1964 – 1965 to import and spent 6 weeks in Texas hunting for heifers. I eventually persuaded the
They saw us coming! The Texas cowboys didn’t only subdue the Wild Wild West, but also improved the Longhorn breed and did crossbreeding with Brahman and Dairy Short Horn to establish the Santa Gertrudis Breed. In the early seventies, South African Farmers rushed to Texas to import cattle and the Santa was one of the breeds which were imported. Many factors contributed that farmers (including us) were willing at the time to import animals, namely good Rand/Dollar ratio, dispersal of top breeding stock in Texas as well as the campaign to improve the breeds in South Africa.
late John Martin Senior and R W Briggs to let me have a selection of their “keeper” heifers and my first bull was from 9-Bar Ranch. Over the years I have imported many bulls and heifers.
People came from all over to look at these cattle and the breed took on well. There were problems in the beginning because of ignorance. Many culls came into the country but with the help of people like Rehuel Borstlap at field days and judging courses breeders are far more clued up these days and this great breed is here to stay.
The Santa society was founded on the 10th September 1969 in Windhoek and a lot of hard work and traveling followed until we were finally accepted as a recognized breed by Stud Book. I think I must mention the names of Mr du Plessis and Mr Marshall of Stud Book for their help and co-operation. Also to Rory Taylor, Hennie le Roux and Dr Jan Nel who stood by me in those early days and helped get the Santa Gertrudis off the ground in South Africa.
In 1973 my husband, Apie Lock and I, obtained our first six Santa heifers as well as a bull from Superior Land and Cattle Company in Texas. We imported these cattle unseen only on advice of our son in law, Obie du Plessis, who had seen the cattle. Will I ever forget how excited we were when the cattle finally arrived in Cape Town? Apie even borrowed a torch to go and look at the cattle in the crates on the first night of their arrival.
In 1974, Hans Brits also a Santa breeder, and myself with 25 Brahman breeders, visited Texas to buy cattle from well-known breeders. I bought seventeen Santa’s for our
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stud. The importation of the animals ended disastrously. The ships were overloaded with all the cattle these farmers bought. As a result the cattle arrived in extremely bad condition. When the loading ramp was lowered onto the key, a lot of the Brahman cattle jumped into the sea and a few of them drowned. Many of the cattle did not survive the trip or the stay in the quarantine station. We lost 3 heifers.
As always with something new, there was resistance against the Santa’s. We realized that this breed was young and unknown in South Africa and that we would have to work hard to obtain a market share. Bulls originally did not sell and therefore we used bulls on Afrikaner cows. These Fl heifers made excellent advertisement and proved to fellow farmers how good a Santa Gertrudis Bull can crossbreed.
We are very grateful that with a very humble and difficult beginning we obtained a lot of success with our Santa Stud.
The most important performances of the stud are the following:
1978: First SA Champion Bull - Locklore Caesar
1980: Second SA Champion Bull - “Gert”
1985: Third SA Champion Bull - Bosque
1985: SA Champion Cow - Locklore Gertrude 5482. She is a daughter of “Gert” and was also the runner up of the Gold Cup on the Rand Show
1989: Locklore Lucy - Gold Cup winner at the Rand Show and Vryburg Show
1990: Locklore Lucy - SA Champion Cow and runner up of the Gold Cup at the Rand Show.
1991: Locklore Tarzan 888 - First Santa Gertrudis bull bred in South Africa to be runner up of the Gold Cup at the Rand Show.
1994: Locklore Rover - Champion Bull at the Rand Show
1994: Locklore Gertrude - Champion cow at the Rand Show
1998: Locklore Ian - SA Champion at Bloemfontein Show
Locklore Caesar was the first bull calf of the first lot of heifers we imported in 1973. Caesar was South Africa’s
first National Champion at the SA Championships at the Royal Show in Pietermaritzburg. Caesar put his stamp on our herd as well as other herds. He was a long and muscled bull and bred good female characteristics.
We bought the well-known Big Red “Gert” in 1977 as a bull calf at the dispersal sale of Mr Gerrie de Jong of Howick. Gert, who was predominantly 9-Bar
breeding was only two years old when he became the second National Champion in 1980. His females had the most distinctive characteristics – and were winners of the Gold Cup and also runner up for the Gold Cup.
In 1983 we went to Texas to look for new strains and so we imported El Colina Bosque. In 1985 Bosque became the third National Champion. The night the Santa Gertrudis Banquet was held at the Carlton Hotel, the animals were welcomed as guests of honour. They were signed in at the reception of the Hotel, taken to the third floor with the kitchen’s lift and there, in their own cubicle, they enjoyed their own dinner with all the other guests. Using his initiative, the society’s president, Louis Botha, made sure that a great advertisement was made for the Santa’s.
Locklore Ian, was bred on the farm and we are now investing in his breeding. Ian breeds hardy bulls with good muscling and sheaths. His female progeny are of high quality.
We think with great appreciation of Martin and Norma Seyfferdt, who have served the breed and its breeders with dignity and sincerity. Martin did not only make a contribution to the Santa’s but also established himself in the beef industry.
Mrs Annie Lock
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>>> MJ BRITS
>>> HANSIE MERCKER - NAMIBIA
In 1974 we decided to start a stud farm, and began searching for a new breed in South Africa. We decided on the Santa Gertrudis breed, as we were impressed with the following factors:
1. The Santa is adaptable in virtually all climate conditions.
2. It is a selective grazer, eats everything, and walks long distances with ease.
3. Very few production problems. Cows calve easily as the calves are small at birth, and the cows show strong maternal qualities.
4. Breeds top weaners – average 20 to 40 kg heavier on 205 days than most other beef breeds. Cows produce sufficient milk for their calves.
5. The breed’s ability to grow is one of their outstanding qualities.
6. Shows a very favourable feed conversion ratio and produces quality meet both in the feedlot and on natural grazing.
7. Dressing percentage amongst the highest, and more palatable, edible meat.
8. Crossbreeds very well with indigenous breeds. Enables the ordinary farmer to upgrade his grade cattle to stud material.
Back in 1952, Mr Hansie Mercker saw a film show about King Ranch while he was a student at the Potchefstroom University. He was very impressed with the Santa Gertrudis breed. Unfortunately no Santas could be purchased at the time, therefor he started farming with his second choice, Afrikaner cattle, in 1954. Although the breed performed well, he was not satisfied with their production. When the 1974 “Texas rush” took place, he and a couple of other farmers went to the USA to buy the “new” type of cattle. Fortunately, the ZAR/USD exchange rate was favourable at the time, so that the cattle could be flown in from Houston.
The group of Santas he imported in 1974 consisted of the following:
• 10 heifers and one bull from Nine Bar Ranch
• 2 heifers and one bull from TS Ranch (Moe Cromeens)
• 5 cows from Lazy D Ranch
He used his Afrikaner stud to expand his Santa Gertrudis herd by infusion.
The stud began with 5 heifers and a bull that Hans Brits bought in Texas from San Jose Cattle Company. From this herd of 5, a bull calf, Henvia Bravo, was born. He was the sire of Henvia Spyker XY 79 009, the first major breakthrough of the Henvia Stud. In 1984 Henvia Spyker won the Gold Cup on the Vryburg Show.
In 1985 a son of Spyker, XY 83 05, was the Reserve Junior Champion of the South African Championships.
In the eighties, we bought the bull, Briggs 681/2, from Mr Mike Rattray. This bull sired beautiful female animals, and produced several champions. A Briggs son, XY 88 14, was the Junior Champion of the 1990 SA Championships. This bull was sold on the show auction for R50 000. Several stud bulls were bred from Briggs, namely XY 89 53, XY 89 55, and XY 92 55.
Wyhanka Predictor HB 86 04 was purchased, and this bull was the son of Big Red DJ 71 51, South Africa’s first performance test winner. DJ 71 51 also sired Wyhanka Toffie Appel HB 89 20.
Several champions were bred from HB 86 04 in combination with Briggs. HB 86 04 also sired XY 92 112. This bull bred a fine progeny of bull calves that performed even better than himself.
Mr Mercker claims the American sellers soon discovered that the South African buyers knew little about the Santa Gertrudis breed. “How else could it be possible that the breed selectors had to refuse so many of the imported animals?” he asked. Mr Mercker’s animals were all approved, but they were still not up to the standard he desired.
Shiner
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Due to the clash of seasons caused by the movement of the cattle from the Northern to the Southern Hemisphere, some losses occurred. Moreover, three obvious major deficiencies were found with the imported cattle, namely long sheaths, wry mouths and lack of constitution. One bull could not mount a cow due to his long sheath and there were deaths caused by poisonous plants.
The imported Santa Gertrudis cattle were too big for our field conditions. Right from the beginning, Mr Mercker selected for a medium frame type, thereby taking the lead in Namibia with the Santas. Mr Mercker further
mentioned his experience that light-coloured Santas adjusted more successfully and carried more meat. In Australia he saw a show cow that was almost yellow, and she was not rejected. Also, at auctions, light red bulls generally carried more meat and attained higher prices.
Mr Mercker said that he owned an exceptional imported cow, Lazy D 127, from the Nine Bar stud. Although she was never fed nor entered for a show, she had a calf every year and once she had twins. Her greatest great achievement was that two of her daughters were Grand Champions. The best animal he bred was the bull, Okombahe 9119 (Shiner).
>>> JOHN FYVIEThe Cathrew Santa Gertrudis herd is run on the farm Tregenna, which is situated in the Bergville district of Natal in South Africa.
Maize and soya residue form an important part of the fodder flow for the Santa Gertrudis herd which numbers about 400 cows. Cross breeding of indigenous Afrikaner cows with Hereford and Sussex bulls was practised before 1974. The system became complicated, and John felt that the herd was not making any genetic progress, so he looked for a means to simplify the breeding program on Tregenna. Roly Taylor, who was running Santa Gertrudis cattle at Estcourt, suggested that John should give Santa’s a try. John had never heard of Santa’s, probably because the South African government had blocked their importation prior to 1970. Roly organised a “Santa Gertrudis Breeders” tour to Texas in 1972, John and his wife Beth, were members of the tour party. A great time was had by the South African tour party who visited King Ranch, the originators of the Santa breed; Nine Bar Ranch, Dinn Ranch, Vesper Ranch, Chaparossa Ranch, Briggs Ranches and Frates Seeligson.
John and Roly returned to Texas in 1973 to purchase stud cattle. Cathrew purchased 5 bulls and 26 weaner females. Two bulls were from King Ranch, two from Nine Bar and one from Dick Vesper. Females were purchased from Briggs, Chaparossa and Dinn Ranches. The cattle arrived by air at Durban on 31 December 1973. The Rattray’s, Taylor’s and Fyvie’s spent a most unusual New Year’s Eve sipping champagne, between offloading lorry loads of our new Santa cattle, what excitement!!
The first Santa calves were born from these cattle in
April 1975. At the Santa World Congress held in Dallas in 1981, Wendt 1194 and Briggs 0721 were purchased. Briggs 0721 proved to be the most successful bull used in the Cathrew herd. He had exceptional muscling, excellent testicles, high libido and he was very hardy. His daughters have excellent udders and copious amounts of milk.
John and Beth attended the Santa Gertrudis World Congress in Australia in 1987. Semen from the, 1987 World Congress Champion; ‘Yarrawonga Warlock’ was purchased, he proved to be a good addition to the
Cathrew herd. Warlock sired about 100 useful progeny and a number of show champions, the 2001 Royal Show Champion bull was a Warlock grandson.
Briggs 0721 has a very impressive show record. He was the sire of Jackpot JF 84-81 who was the Orange Free State Junior Champion in 1986, he subsequently sold on public auction for R20 000-00. Briggs 0721 was the sire of Cathrew
Eunice; she was the Champion Santa cow at the Royal Show on numerous occasions. At the 1992 Royal Show she was runner-up Supreme Beef animal, a feat her dam JF 707 achieved at the 1983 Royal Show.
Cathrew Masterpiece JF 97-1 is the grandson of Briggs 0721. Briggs 0721 goes back to CA McDaniel’s Masterpiece 511, Briggs Oso Rojo 022 and Nine Bar V120, which are influential bloodlines in the Santa breed. Cathrew Masterpiece is the only South African Santa bull to be awarded a Platinum Award, in the National Beef Performance Testing Scheme. To qualify, his dam JF 84-38, sired by Briggs 0721, had to be an Elite Cow (minimum of 8 calving’s). JF 84-38 had 11 calves.
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Masterpiece had to be a Gold Merit Phase C tested bull, to qualify for a Platinum Award, this hurdle he passed with distinction.
Cathrew pay a lot of attention to feed conversion, in fact this trait is the only reason why Cathrew Phase C test their bulls. Bull JF 93-123 a grandson of Briggs 0721 has twice won the Rosan Trophy for feed conversion (Santa herds). One of his sons JF 98-24 had a feed conversion of
4,21 feed to 1 kg of gain. The National average is 5,88 to 1 for Santa’s.
John and Andrew are convinced that genetic improvement, rather than hybrid vigour, is the path to follow.
Tomorrow’s beef today.
THEN & NOW . . .THIS IS HOW THE SANTA GERTRUDIS ADAPTED TO IT’S SURROUNDINGS
. . . 1984
. . . 1999
. . . 2013
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WorldThe first International Santa Gertrudis Congress was held on 5 and 6 August 1975 at Brisbane, Queensland, Australia - 126 head, judge Arthur Bassingthwaighte
The second 1978 – Brazil
The third 1981 – USA
The fourth 1987 – Brisbane, Australia – 264 head, judge Anthony Coats
The fifth International Santa Gertrudis congress was held in March 1990 in Johannesburg, South Africa – 419 head, judges Martin Seyfferdt & Prof Frans Swanepoel
The sixth 1994 – Houston Texas
The seventh 2003 – Sao Paolo, Brazil
The eighth 2012 – Brisbane, Australia – 160 head, judge Rob Hart
The ninth 2015 – Paraguay
The tenth 2017 – Bloemfontein, South Africa - judges Martin Seyfferdt
Zigi von Ludwitz & Hendrik Prinsloo (Namibia)
C O N G R E S S E S
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1969 – 1972 Mr Don Hillhouse President before recognition by Department of Agriculture
1973 – 1976 Mr Tony Brink
1977 – 1978 Mr Gerrie de Jong
1979 – 1981 Mr J Louis Botha
1982 – 1983 Mr H B (Manie) Louwrens senior
1984 – 1985 Dr David L Griessel
1986 – 1987 Mr Geoff Botha
1988 – 1990 Mr John L Fyvie
1991 – 1993 Mr JL (Koos) Louwrens
1994 – 1996 Mr A Peter Savage (died at the age of 38 years in a motorcar accident on Augustus 28,1996)
1996 – 2000 Mr Pip Hobson
2001 Mr Johann de Wet
2002 – 2006 Mr Garth Ellis
2007 – 2010 Mr Marius Barkhuizen
2011 – 2012 Mr Koos Louwrens
2013 – 2017 Mr Willie de Jager
PRESIDENTSOF THE SOCIETYHillhouse
Savage
Hobson
Ellis
Barkhuizen
Louwrens
de Jager
Brink
de Jong
Botha
Louwrens
LouwrensGriesel
Botha
Fyvie
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Judges
O ld bulls
1978 Messrs R Borstlap, H Schneider- Waterberg and HM Seyfferdt - Royal Show Pietermaritzburg1985 Mr Anthony Coats (Australia) and H Schneider-Waterberg Johannesburg 1990 Mr HM Seyfferdt and Prof Frans Swanepoel Johannesburg 1995 Messrs Graeme Greenup (Australia) and Martin Seyfferdt - Rand Show Centenary 1998 Messrs Willem Pretorius and Martin Seyfferdt - Bloemfontein2001 Messrs Roe Wiid and Martin Seyfferdt - Bloemfontein2004 Martin Seyfferdt and Boetie Jooste - Vryburg2007 Martin Seyfferdt and Dr Tok Serfontein - Pretoria2010 Martin Seyfferdt and Llewellyn Angus - Pietermaritzburg2013 Dr Tok Serfontein and Jan de Jong - Vryburg2017 Messrs Martin Seyfferdt, Zigi von Ludwitz & Hendrik Prinsloo (Namibia) - Bloemfontein
1. HB 8028 WYHANKA TOFFIE APPEL HANS BRITS2. AT 8642 RAFT BARON A STEY3. XY 6812 HENVIA XY6812 THYS BRITS4. XY 7909 HENVIA SPYKER THYS BRITS5. SGBI 765 IMPORTED SCHALK THERON6. SP 8934 SANTAPINE GILMOUR PIP HOBSON7. SGBI 337 IMPORTED IAN HILLHOUSE8. DJ 78130 BIG RED DJ8130 AJS LOCK9. SGBI 888 KUBECKA 888 (IMPORTED) HJ MARX10. BIG RED DJ715177 (SIRE OF TOFFIE APPEL) THYS BRITS (W STRAUSS)11. JEFF31181 SOMBRERO JEFF31181 CJ DE WET12. DJW916 CONSORT DJW916 DJ WILLIAMS
