A commitment to genetic excellence and sustainable farming practices ensures that Buckridge Bonsmara breeds high-quality cattle that are adaptable and productive, even in challenging environments.

Over the years, this stud has proven that their cattle is a valuable investment for commercial farmers, and their ongoing research and improvements contribute to the advancement of the Bonsmara breed.

For Buckridge Bonsmara, the journey to a successful cattle farming operation has required years of dreaming, vision, and hard work – all made possible by Bart Seevinck and his son, Frans.

Frans shares: “My father comes from a business background, but for many years, he was also a part-time ‘weekend farmer’ who mainly farmed with oxen. In 1998, he began expanding his farming interests drastically and in 2001 started farming full time.

“I joined the farming operation in 2004 and am still involved today with my own farming activities on the family land. Bonsmaras were always part of the picture, although we did crossbreeding with other red breeds for about ten years. Around 2008, we switched to pure Bonsmara breeding.”

Buckridge Bonsmara was registered as a stud with Bonsmara SA in 2012, when the top third of the commercial herd was identified and presented for the first selection process. This formed the foundation of the Buckridge Bonsmara herd. From there, the herd grew further to achieve SP (Stud Performance) status.

The Buckridge farm is located in the Tlakgaming lowlands, approximately 130 km north of Vryburg in the greater Molopo region in North West. This area is known as the “Texas of South Africa”. It is an optimal region for cattle farming, thanks to the dry climate that limits livestock diseases, and the sweetveld and semi-bushveld environment in which the cattle thrive.

“The Bonsmara breed was developed for all environmental conditions in Southern Africa. The Buckridge herd incorporates genetics from other parts of South Africa, such as the Bushveld, KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State, Highveld, and the Kalahari. What we’ve experienced, based on the feedback we receive, is that Buckridge genetics perform well in other parts of Southern Africa,” says Frans.

In today’s economy, cattle farming is very important for both breeders and buyers. Cattle farming is an integral part of South Africa’s agriculture, because beef plays a key role in meeting people’s daily protein needs.

Cattle farming is also a major source of employment in South Africa if you consider the entire value chain from the herders and herd managers, through the entire marketing process, to the waiter serving the steak in a restaurant. With the high demand for beef, there is certainly an emphasis on profitability for the farmer breeding these animals.

Frans adds: “Adaptability is a very important trait after fertility in a herd. Bonsmaras thrive under natural conditions and also have the ability to convert natural veld grass into high-quality beef at low input costs.”

Cattle farmers know that dreams don’t come true without hard work, endurance, and perseverance. For Frans, the future of the Bonsmara breed and the farming operation is one that is far from over.

He concludes: “The Bonsmara breed is in a very good place. In my opinion, we are the breed leaders in the cattle industry in South Africa and comfortably the largest breed in South Africa. Bonsmara SA is the leader in areas like myostatin and genomic testing. This will enable the breed to achieve leading advancements in cattle breeding in the future.”