Times Of Swaziland: TAMBANKULU ESTATES TO AUCTION 79 CATTLE

TAMBANKULU ESTATES TO AUCTION 79 CATTLE
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Sabelo Majola on 20/12/2024 09:15:00


MBABANE – Business people wishing to boost their beef trade will be happy to
know that Tambankulu Estates will be auctioning 79 cattle tomorrow.
The auction will be held at Tambankulu Estates in the Lubombo Region, below
Mabuya Stadium, commencing at 10am. The 79 cattle to be sold include 36
bullocks, 33 heifers and 10 cows as revealed by Mzamo Bhembe from Auction
Masters, who will be conducting the auction proceedings. Potential buyers are
advised that viewing starts today and there will be a refundable registration
fee of E5 000 paid on auction site or day of auction.
Bullocks are essentially young male cattle, and the term usually refers to
animals that have been castrated. The terminology varies a lot, while some
farmers and ranchers use bullock to mean ‘young bull’, others use it to
describe a youthful ox. Bullocks are commonly used for backbreaking tasks like
pulling carts piled high with up to 4 tonnes of sugar cane or other goods like
metal pipes and cinderblocks. A heifer is a young cow that has not yet had her
first calf, while a cow is a female that has given birth to at least one calf.
Abnormalities
Heifers are selected based on factors such as; the potential of the sire, the
milk production of the dam, proper growth, good health and freedom from genetic
abnormalities. Heifers can be ready for breeding between the ages of 12 to 14
months. They are typically bred at 15 months of age and have a nine-month
pregnancy. Heifers need adequate fibre in their diet, with at least 10 per cent
of their diet coming from a fibre source. They also need sufficient water, as
water limitations can depress growth rates.