HISTORY
Where it all started
EHLERSKROON BOERDERY
Ehlerskroon
Bonsmaras
was
started
on
the
recommendation
of
Professor
Johan
Grosskopf
in
1974.
Breeding
material
was
purchased
from
leading
producers
such
as
Bristow,
Robert
Taute,
Koos
van
Amstel,
Amfarms,
Dr.
Badenhorst
and
from
former
stated
herd.
To
broaden
our
genetic
base,
we
recently
purchased
bulls
from
Upgeorge,
Benchmark,
Dr.
D.
Nolte,
Dr.
Hartsenberg
and
Marloo Bonsmaras.
Our
herd
has
for
many
years
in
the
past
been
Mpumalanga
regional
finalists
of
the
ARC's
cattle
improvement
scheme.
Our
herd
won
the Farmers Weekly Trophy for the best performing cows in the national herd Bonsmara in 1991 and 2009.
Since
the
success
of
cattle
farming
depends
on
the
number
of
weaned
calves
and
weaning
weight
of
calves
produced,
we
have
during
the last 36 years of Bonsmaras breeding, constantly checked for birth weight, milk, fertility and growth.
As
can
be
deduced
from
the
BULB
breeding
values
published
by
the
ARC,
we
have
been
a
driving
force
in
all
the
major
categories,
and have always performed better than the breed average.
52 YEARS AGO
Professor J Bonsma
ORIGIN OF THE BONSMARA
EHLERSKROON ANIMAL FEED
ANIMAL FEED
Natural
grazing
does
not
contain
enough
levels
of
phosphate,
which
requires
that
it
be
supplemented,
especially
during
the
summer
months.
Although
natural
pastures
contain
Protein
in
Summer,
we
prefer
to
give
a
supplement
for
lactating
cows
to
provide
additional protein and energy.
The
extra
costs
involved
in
adding
these
supplements,
is
more
than
compensated
for
by
the
acquisition
of
heavier
weaning
calves
and
better
conditioned
cows
in
readiness
for
the
Winter months.
Natural
pastures
have
a
serious
shortage
of
protein
and
energy
in
Winter.
We
choose
also
to
replenish
phosphate
in
the
Winter
because
most regions have shortages.
Veld Groei Meel:
Feedlot:
E300
SUMMER MONTHS
WINTER MONTHS
CATTLE RATIONS
Sheep Lick - Does not contain Ureum
Sheep Woema - increases volume in sheep and
lambs
Dairy 21
Dairy Meal with 21 % Protein
Formulated with trace elements for Horses
SHEEP RATIONS
DAIRY
HORSES
The entrance to Ehlerskroon is situated on the R555 (NOrth East from Delmas) in Mpumalanga, South Africa.
S26.1002925, E28.7266517
Johan Ehlers: +27 82 892 2921 Johan Ehlers Jnr.: +27 67 748 7430 E-mail: info@ehlerskroon.co.za www.ehlerskroon.co.za www.ehlerskroonboerdery.co.za
Copyright @ 2017 | Ehlerkskroon Boerdery & Veevoere
After more than 20 years of careful breeding, South Africa created a new breed of cattle, the Bonsmara which, under the
anxious eye of Professor Jan Bonsma, went through its final critical test for official acceptance in 1958.
Below are excerpts from a report on the launch of this historic process from the Farmer's Weekly Issue of 15 May of that year.
After his return from a study tour of the US in 1937, Professor Jan Bonsma took the lead in the search for a new cattle breed
better adapted than the exotic breeds to the extensive semiarid and the subtropical regions of South Africa. The site of the
project, the land on which the Mara research station now stands, was chosen with the challenge of evolving a type consisting of
three-eight's indigenous blood and five-eighths exotic blood.
The first cross-bred calves were born at Mara and they formed part of a concentrated breeding program which included
extensive grading experiments carried out on British pedigree bulls and tribal cattle over a long period.
Nearing the end of the project a total of 60 bulls of the fixed new breed were loaned to farmers in different parts of the
country.
![[x]](index_htm_files/close.png "Close")
HISTORY
Where it all started
EHLERSKROON BOERDERY
Copyright @ 2017 | Ehlerkskroon Boerdery & Veevoere
Ehlerskroon
Bonsmaras
was
started
on
the
recommendation
of
Professor
Johan
Grosskopf
in
1974.
Breeding
material
was
purchased
from
leading
producers
such
as
Bristow,
Robert
Taute,
Koos
van
Amstel,
Amfarms,
Dr.
Badenhorst
and
from
former
stated
herd.
To
broaden
our
genetic
base,
we
recently
purchased
bulls
from
Upgeorge,
Benchmark,
Dr.
D.
Nolte,
Dr.
Hartsenberg and Marloo Bonsmaras.
Our
herd
has
for
many
years
in
the
past
been
Mpumalanga
regional
finalists
of
the
ARC's
cattle
improvement
scheme.
Our
herd
won
the
Farmers
Weekly
Trophy
for
the
best
performing
cows in the national herd Bonsmara in 1991 and 2009.
Since
the
success
of
cattle
farming
depends
on
the
number
of
weaned
calves
and
weaning
weight
of
calves
produced,
we
have
during
the
last
36
years
of
Bonsmaras
breeding,
constantly
checked for birth weight, milk, fertility and growth.
As
can
be
deduced
from
the
BULB
breeding
values
published
by
the
ARC,
we
have
been
a
driving
force
in
all
the
major
categories,
and
have
always
performed
better
than
the
breed
average.
52 YEARS AGO
Professor J Bonsma
ORIGIN OF THE BONSMARA
After
more
than
20
years
of
careful
breeding,
South
Africa
created
a
new
breed
of
cattle,
the
Bonsmara
which,
under
the
anxious
eye
of
Professor
Jan
Bonsma,
went
through
its
final critical test for official acceptance in 1958.
Below
are
excerpts
from
a
report
on
the
launch
of
this
historic
process
from
the
Farmer's
Weekly
Issue
of
15
May
of
that
year.
After
his
return
from
a
study
tour
of
the
US
in
1937,
Professor
Jan
Bonsma
took
the
lead
in
the
search
for
a
new
cattle
breed
better
adapted
than
the
exotic
breeds
to
the
extensive
semiarid
and
the
subtropical
regions
of
South
Africa.
The
site
of
the
project,
the
land
on
which
the
Mara
research
station
now
stands,
was
chosen
with
the
challenge
of
evolving
a
type
consisting
of
three-eight's
indigenous
blood and five-eighths exotic blood.
The
first
cross-bred
calves
were
born
at
Mara
and
they
formed
part
of
a
concentrated
breeding
program
which
included
extensive
grading
experiments
carried
out
on
British pedigree bulls and tribal cattle over a long period.
Nearing
the
end
of
the
project
a
total
of
60
bulls
of
the
fixed
new
breed
were
loaned
to
farmers
in
different
parts
of
the
country.
EHLERSKROON ANIMAL FEEDS
ANIMAL FEEDS
Natural
grazing
does
not
contain
enough
levels
of
phosphate,
which
requires
that
it
be
supplemented,
especially
during
the
summer
months.
Although
natural
pastures
contain
Protein
in
Summer,
we
prefer
to
give
a
supplement
for
lactating
cows
to
provide
additional protein and energy.
The
extra
costs
involved
in
adding
these
supplements,
is
more
than
compensated
for
by
the
acquisition
of
heavier
weaning
calves
and
better
conditioned
cows
in
readiness
for
the
Winter months.
Natural
pastures
have
a
serious
shortage
of
protein
and
energy
in
Winter.
We
choose
also
to
replenish
phosphate
in
the
Winter
because
most regions have shortages.
Veld Groei Meel:
Feedlot:
E300
SUMMER MONTHS
Sheep Lick - Does not contain Ureum
Sheep Woema - increases volume in sheep
and lambs
Dairy 21
Dairy Meal with 21 % Protein
Formulated with trace elements for Horses
S26.1002925, E28.7266517
Johan Ehlers: +27 82 892 2921 Johan Ehlers Jnr.: +27 67 748 7430 E-mail: info@ehlerskroon.co.za www.ehlerskroon.co.za www.ehlerskroonboerdery.co.za
The entrance to Ehlerskroon is situated on the R555
(North East from Delmas) in Mpumalanga, South Africa.
