VREDE, Eastern Free State — Two Merino veld rams topped the sale at the Eastern Free State Veld Ram Club's 40th auction, each fetching R35 000 at an auction held at the Vrede golf club on 15 July. The event formed part of the club’s anniversary weekend, which also included a dinner and prize-giving the previous evening.
Top-priced rams and their pedigrees
The highest-priced ram, registered 2369-25-6019, was bred by Pollie and Nandi Kruger of the Radnor & Kington farm near Cornelia. It was declared the best ram in the intake and posted strong performance indices across body weight, growth and wool traits.
"The auction was a great success. The Merinos are of exceptional quality and demonstrate significant genetic progress," said Dr Hannes Dreyer, animal scientist and manager of the club.
The buyer of the top ram was Willem Beyers of Cornelia. The second R35 000 ram, 447-25-6078, came from Fourie & Fourie Boerdery of Piet Fourie, also of Cornelia, and was purchased by Janro Jooste of Kestell. Both animals achieved strong index values that reflect a focus on multi‑trait improvement in the club’s breeding programme.
What the numbers say
Fifty rams were offered and sold at the auction, achieving an average price of R18 650. The sale was presented by BKB with Jan Mostert as auctioneer. Dr Hannes Dreyer, who manages the club and is a recognised animal scientist, framed the sale as evidence of measurable genetic progress in the flock.
| Ram | Breeder | Top indices (selected) |
|---|---|---|
| 2369-25-6019 | Pollie & Nandi Kruger (Radnor & Kington) | Body weight 106; ADG 122; Fleece weight 124; Wool value 131; Meat value 121; Economic value 125; Selection index 126.9% |
| 447-25-6078 | Fourie & Fourie Boerdery (Piet Fourie) | Body weight 103; Wool value 97; Meat value 115; Economic value 109; Selection index 108.7% |
Implications for local producers
The sale results underline demand for Merino genetics bred specifically for the eastern parts of the Free State, where producers have sought sheep that are well adapted to local veld conditions. The club, founded 40 years ago with that objective, has continued to emphasise traits such as weight, growth rate, fleece yield and combined economic value when selecting rams.
Buyers at the auction included locally based producers from Cornelia and Kestell, reflecting regional trade in breeding stock rather than national or export-focused transactions. The presence of an experienced auctioneer and an established commercial presenter — BKB — points to the auction’s professional handling and market transparency.
- Sale date: 15 July
- Venue: Vrede golf club, Vrede
- Top prices: Two rams at R35 000 each
- Average price: R18 650 for 50 rams
Context: breeding and adaptation
The Eastern Free State Veld Ram Club's breeding programme aims to produce Merino sheep that combine wool and meat value with resilience to local grazing and climatic conditions. The elevated selection indices reported for the top ram signal sustained emphasis on balanced improvement rather than single‑trait selection, which breeders say helps maintain animal robustness while increasing economic returns.
For regional producers, the auction serves several functions: a market to acquire proven genetics, a benchmark for pricing, and an informal barometer of how selection programmes are tracking. Auctions such as this also allow younger or smaller producers to invest in tested genetics rather than rely solely on unproven on‑farm sires.
Organisers said the anniversary events — a dinner, prize‑giving and the sale — celebrated the club’s four decades of operation and provided a platform to showcase results from its veld testing and selection programme.
Photographs from the sale show members, buyers and BKB staff posing with the two top‑priced rams. The event again highlighted the role of local breeder co‑operation in improving flock quality for the eastern Free State.
Additional details on individual rams and full sale catalogues were handled by BKB and the club; interested producers are advised to contact the club or BKB for records of performance figures and upcoming sales.
