There are a varying range of investment opportunities the world over. However, when combing through some of these opportunities one comes across a rather unique and surprising industry, which for the most part, I am sure, has not made it onto your list of potential revenue generation opportunities.
The prices which some of these animals sell for will leave you in a state of shock. We now look at five of the most expensive livestock sold and what makes them so special:
Nguni Bull – R310 000
Agricultural auctions are an ideal way to acquire exceptional livestock, with renowned breeders ensuring their animals, stand out from the herd.
While auctions were officially put on hold during the first phases of the lockdown, ingeniusly on 9 May 2020, the KZN Elite Nguni auction took place through Facebook book owned, WhatsApp.
A proven bull was sold from the famous Nandi Nguni stud, of the LBC Biggs Trust of Cedarville, for a new Nguni world record price of R310 000.00.
The renowned Biggs family from Cedarville, who have been farming Nguni cattle for 44 years, were the sellers of this Nguni bull. Clive Biggs explained, what made this bull so special was it’s bloodline. As it is amazingly, a combination of two of the oldest Nguni herds in the country.
Making it not only extremely hardy, but also exceptionally fertile. This prized stud carries much meat, is well-built and passes his extraordinary genes onto his progeny.
Four Ankole Embryos – R102 500 each
The South African record price for embryos sold was shattered on 4 September 2019. This is when four embryos of the Ankole cattle breed were sold at the Stud Game Breeders auction for a staggering R102 500 each, to Piet Potgieter and Philip Botha from Leliepan.
The embryos represented a mating of the superb late Dyambo, an Ankole bull which was owned by President Cyril Ramaphosa of Ankole stud Ntaba Nyoni, combined with top Ankole cow Akira, owned by Dr Morné de la Rey and Simon Hodgson of Ankole genetics stud.
Since its official debut in the South African market, the Ankole breed has gained considerable traction, where the highest priced bull, Maximus, was sold for R640 000 and highest priced cow, Kyasha, was sold for a whopping R540 000.
Currently, the Ankole Cattle Breeders’ Society is one of the fastest-growing breed societies and already has over 20 members. The South African Ankole national numbers tally up to an approximate 1 000 cattle.
Why are these cattle so sought after? The answer can be found in their unique and royal appearance and toughness that allows them to be farmed anywhere. low veterinary and feed input, a remarkable disease resistance, internal and external parasite resistance, as well as ease of handling. This while boasting, heat tolerance and a great quality of milk and meat. i.e. The near perfect bovine!
Texel Sheep – R8 million
You read correctly, a Texel sheep sold for R8 million.
Being a breed of sheep which initially originated on the island of Texel in the Netherlands. This muscular animal is capable of producing high-quality lean meat. This being a major selling point when looking at modern-day palates and diets.
Double Diamond, the six-month-old sheep in question was sold at an auction in Lanark, a town near Glasgow in Scotland, on 27 August 2020.
The bidding war began at a reasonable £10,500, about R230,000, and rapidly escalated, with a final selling price of £367,500, about R8.1 million.
The sheep’s selling price has exceeded the previous record. This is when a Texel sheep named Deveronvale Perfection was sold for £231,000, or about R5 million in 2009.
As costly as these animals are, when it comes to livestock, too often we focus on farm animals and not wild game. South Africa is known for its spectacular wildlife, as well as private game farms and trophy hunting opportunities, which play a valuable role in not only the economy but the country’s eco-tourism and animal conservation.
Therefore, when it comes to acquiring prized livestock for game farms, owners of these establishments can expect to fork out a pretty penny. And when looking at the last two contenders on our list, we see this statement ring true.
East African Buffalo Bull – R332 500
This magnificent animal proves that size does indeed matter. Recently going on auction at Stud Game Breeders for a cool R300 000. As expensive as this magnificent creature is, it by no means the most expensive buffalo sold.
Cape Buffalo – R40 million
To end off, one of the most expensive wild game sales on record is a Cape Buffalo bull named Mystery, and he was bought by South African billionaire Johann Rupert in 2013 for a rather staggering R40 million.
These animals are just the tip of the iceberg. Be sure to take the time to investigate this multi-billion Rand industry’s oppotunities.
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Authors: Quinton Boucher
Edited: Calvin Swemmer
