Zimbabwean Farmer Goes Big, Forks Out R50K for Prized Manso Heifer
Zimbabwean farmer Justin Mawoyo has spent R50,000 on a prized Manso stud heifer after emerging as the top buyer in the category at a South African Brahman auction.
Mawoyo secured the animal at the Kroon Vee winter auction held at Buckshee Farm near Vryburg on 23 May 2026.
His purchase was the highest price paid for a Manso stud heifer during the sale, where buyers from several southern African countries competed for quality Brahman cattle.
Zimbabwean Buyers Make Their Mark
Mawoyo was not the only Zimbabwean buyer to make a major purchase at the auction.
Chihoro Stud also took home the most expensive red stud heifer after paying R48,000 for the animal.
Red stud heifers averaged R37,222, while Manso stud heifers achieved a higher average of R37,800.
Buyers from Zimbabwe, Uganda and Eswatini were among those participating in the female cattle market.
Strong Demand for Brahman Females
The results reflected continued interest in Brahman breeding stock despite the auction being described as a buyer’s market.
Commercial Manso females averaged R24,900, with the top animal reaching R28,000.
Red commercial females recorded an average of R22,700, while the highest-priced animal in that category fetched R29,000.
Jan van Zyl said the family was pleased by the prices achieved by the commercial females.
He noted that cattle markets naturally experience fluctuations, with some animals attracting exceptionally high prices.
Van Zyl Family Marks 54 Years
The auction was hosted by the Van Zyl family in partnership with the Meerkat platform.
The family has been breeding Brahman cattle for 54 years.
Jan van Zyl said they remained grateful to continue operating at full pace after more than five decades in the industry.
Jan van Zyl junior described the auction as successful, with bull buyers attending from different parts of South Africa.
All auction animals had been vaccinated against foot-and-mouth disease as a precaution.
However, he said it was difficult to determine whether concerns surrounding the disease had influenced buyer behaviour.
R140,000 Manso Bull Takes Top Price
While Mawoyo’s R50,000 purchase topped the Manso heifer section, the auction’s overall highest price went to a bull.
Manso bull Nkosi JVZ 220565 fetched R140,000 after being purchased by CLM Farm, owned by Charles le Maitre of Pretoria.
Manso bulls averaged R78,000.
The top red bull, JVZ 230016, sold for R90,000 to Hennie and Hein Booysen of Kuruman.
Red bulls averaged R71,666.
The post R50K Splash! Zimbabwean Farmer Walks Away With SA Auction’s Top Manso Heifer appeared first on iHarare News.
