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PRODUCTION

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MANAGEMENT

BREEDING

SALES RESULT

BREEDING POLICY

The economic existence of the Gelbvon stud is directly dependent on the economical advantages that our genetics offer the commercial breeder. Client satisfaction is foremost in our policy. Continuous gathering of information and studying tendencies in the marketplace, offers us the opportunity to purposefully breed genetics that will suit our customers. This balanced approach to breeding produces highly adapted bulls with the necessary growth capacity, which will not only affect its performance ability in a production system, but will breed highly effective female animals of a medium frame, that will annually produce a calf, with the necessary growth capacity. The genetic composition of the Gelbvon enables it to exploit the harsh African environment to the utmost.

The breeding policy is based on economically important traits, ie: Reproduction Growth capacity Adaptability

Our animals are of a medium sized frame, show good muscling, as well as teat and udder conformation. They have a smooth hide and an excellent temperament that enable them to thrive under different commercial production systems in changing circumstances.

The development of a distinctive type of Gelbvieh is the result of 20 years of objective evaluation. Performance is measured by the visual appearance, as well as functional efficiency. Extreme emphasis is not placed on "fancy points, but the animals must meet the breed standards as prescribed by the breeders' society.

Maximum genetic development is accomplished by:

Breed numbers: A large herd of 600 ensures that high selection pressure is maintained.
Fertility and weaning percentage are valued.
The generation interval is shortened by:
The use of young bulls - the principle being that an excellent bull is always capable of producing male progeny better than
     itself.
Mating heifers early and not keeping cows too long in the herd.
The flow of genetic material in the Gelbvon herd is demonstrated in the diagram.

Except for participating in phase A and B of the National Beef Cattle Performance Testing Scheme, annually two on-farm
     phase D tests for young bulls are completed. Suitable bulls are sent to phase C central testing stations regularly.
On a rotational basis bulls are also sent to Veld Bull Clubs, ie the Eastern Free State Club and the Nooitgedacht Club near
     Ermelo.

The reason for this extensive participation in performance testing is to evaluate the genetic abilities of the Gelbvon Stud, always keeping economically important production traits in mind.

PERFORMANCE

Cow Efficiency Cow efficiency is one of the most important traits in any beef production system. Cow effeciency (205 day weaning mass as a percentage of cow mass) for the Gelbvon herd is usually above 40%, whilst the spring calves of 1994 had an efficiency of above 50%!

Individual Performance

The Eastern Free State Veld Bull Club annually awards Merit Certificates to bulls that comply with the following performances:
Weaning index 100
Average daily gain 110
Average daily gain per day of age index 105.

Of the 32 bulls that Grey and Grey Estates presented to the said Club during 1988, 12 or 37,5% received Merit Certificates. This is the highest percentage achieved by any breeder of any of the participating breeds!

A Gelbvon bull of Grey and Grey Estates still holds the record for growth in a Phase C test with an average daily gain in a 112 day period of 2,607 kg/day!

Look at this! Average figures for 10 Bulls in phase C test (test 2/95) with the following results:

The best achiever was bull GG 94/214 which had an ADG of 2 339 g/day and a feed conversion ratio of 6,21.

Grey and Grey Estates proudly represented the Gelbvieh breed at the 1996 National Beef Performance interbreed
     competition for Performance Tested Bulls, held annually at the International Pretoria Show.

MANAGEMENT

Grey and Grey Estates annually set themselves the goal to produce genetically superior breeding material available to the South African livestock industry. An annual production auction is held, since the early eighties where bulls, cows, heifers as well as rams are offered on sale. This auction on the last Tuesday of February is already a popular occasion countrywide. Genetic material from Grey and Grey Estates has already been distributed over a wide area of the Republic of South Africa, as well as neighbouring countries.

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