It may sound like a load of bull to those who don’t know their Brahman from their Boran, but Cyclone was worth the R8 million spent on him at an auction last week.
Cyclone, a Boran bull, was bought last Saturday at the Hurwitz Farming 10th Production Auction at the bull ring in Davel, Mpumalanga, by Zimbabwean farmer Collen Tafireyi, making it the most expensive bull in Africa.
Last year Tafireyi, of Sinyo Boran Stud in Zimbabwe, bought 12 semen straws of breed legend Picasso GF 10-23, the father of the newly-acquired prized bull Cyclone, for R98 000 a straw.
Cyclone was bred and sold by brothers Simeon and Jarren Hurwitz of Hurwitz Farming.
Cyclone was sired by Picasso, one of the most famous bulls in South Africa, who was killed by lightning in 2022. Cyclone’s mother, Cremora, contributed to producing three exceptional herd sires.
According to Farmer’s Magazine, Boran cattle are highly sought after for both commercial and stud farming purposes. They are valued for their meat quality, reproductive efficiency, and adaptability to extensive grazing systems. Boran beef is known for its excellent taste, tenderness, and nutritional value.
Jarren Hurwitz said Cyclone’s price was exceptionally unusual.
“The previous breed record was in the Boran breed last year which fetched R3.5 million for a bull bought by President Cyril Ramaphosa,” Hurwitz said.
“That eclipsed the previous record to that which was set the year before at R2.3 million. All of these are very abnormal prices relative to the industry, that is within the breed. Within all beef cattle in South Africa the previous record for a beef animal was R4.4 million. This has almost doubled the previous record of any breed in beef cattle in South Africa, which is exceptionally rare,” he said.
Hurwitz said Cyclone's genetic make-up and lineage were well proven within the breed, as were the results that those genetics and heritage had achieved within the breed.
"Cyclone, from a structural point, which we call phenotypically, is exceptionally correct. Genetically he has very good blood lines. When you add those combinations in pedigreed animals there will be demand.
“People will take those genetics and try to further their stud herds and their breeding programmes with more sought after genetics which click together to form a structurally correct animal," Hurwitz said.
Sinyo Boran Stud wrote on its social media that they had to go all the way to wrestle everyone and win Cyclone BH 18 - 749 , the bull that has shaken the world.
“We are humbled and incredibly excited by this achievement and you will never doubt our commitment to excellence in the breed. What happened is a remarkable feat which is testament to our plans to become the Boran Stud of choice on the continent.
“As young people of our country, we have a duty to revitalise the Zimbabwe cattle industry and are on the right track,” said the social media post.
"When a farmer has passion for cattle naturally you develop instinct and a special eye to identify good animals. He first caught our eye in 2023. It was indeed love at first sight, about 10 months ago.
“We are thrilled we finally got him, breaking the barriers, breaking records, smashing the stereotypical and shaking the globe. This is a rare bull that is better than his own father, the breed legend Picasso GF 10 - 23.
“Although we were pretty sure back then that one day we will add him to our stud, we never imagined that we will own him against a new world record lofty price," added the social media post.
