MEDIA RELEASE
This year’s Agricultural Research Council (ARC) annual National Master Dairyman Awards ceremony was presented on Thursday 17 November 2022 as a hybrid event at Groot Phesantekraal Estate in Cape Town.
This prestigious competition celebrates outstanding performance by South Africa’s top commercial and smallholder dairy farmers and is recognised by key stakeholders as a highlight of the country’s agricultural calendar. The event was hosted by Agri-Expo, on behalf of the National Milk Recording and Improvement Scheme of the ARC.
Dr Litha Magingxa, President and CEO of the ARC, congratulated the winners and thanked them for their confidence in scientific innovation to improve productivity and food security. During the last year, the ARC provided scientific services to 105 dairy farmers to improve the genetic quality of the national dairy herd. “Dairy farmers are unique and arguably the most hardworking members of our society, and as such, they should always be treasured,” Dr Magingxa said.
Joyene Isaacs, Chairperson of the ARC, emphasised the importance of recognising dairy farmers as food providers, but also of support systems and partnerships in the dairy industry. “We all have a role to play, and because we play that role, we have food,” Isaacs explained.
The event was made possible in collaboration with partners including the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), Nedbank, Nova Feeds, Agri-Expo, AFGRI, Meadow Feeds, Semex South Africa, World Wide Sires South Africa, and Darling Romery.
The hybrid awards can still be viewed at https://agriexpo.co.za/arc-masterdairyman-awards/. Winners are awarded in various categories to acknowledge the country’s most outstanding achievers in breeding genetically superior animals, using performance recording and performance testing as tools.
The winners of the 2022 ARC National Master Dairyman Awards are:
• ARC National Master Dairyman of the Year 2022 and ARC Special Award for Innovative Development by a Dairy Producer 2022:
Fair Cape Dairies (Johannes Loubser), Durbanville, Western Cape
• ARC National Small-Scale Dairyman of the Year 2022:
Zim Dairy (Nompe Zim), between Harrismith and Kestell, Free State (for the fourth consecutive year)
• ARC National Herd with the Best Somatic Cell Count 2022:
E Zeeman (Etienne Zeeman), Swellendam, Western Cape, with 170 000 cells/ml
• ARC National Herd with the Best Intercalving Period 2022:
Tweekop Boerdery (Pieter Steenkamp and Dirk van Papendorp), Heidelberg, Western Cape, with an intercalving period of only 370 days
• Special award: ARC Honorary Award for Lifetime Contribution to the SA Dairy Industry
Peter Pentz Snr (Groote Post, Darling, Western Cape)
The finalists in the various categories were:
ARC Regional Finalists for Small-Scale Dairyman of the Year 2022
• Letsolo Poultry, Piggery and Dairy Farm (Christian Tsolo), Sebokeng, Gauteng
• Summerhill Farm (Gugulomuzi Ngcobo), Donnybrook, Ixopo, KwaZulu-Natal
• Zim Dairy (Nompe Zim), between Harrismith and Kestell, Free State
ARC Regional Finalists for Master Dairyman of the Year 2022
• E Zeeman (Etienne Zeeman), Swellendam, Western Cape
• JK Basson Family Trust (JK Basson), Darling, Western Cape
• Fair Cape Dairies (Johannes Loubser), Durbanville, Western Cape
• Rhodes Food Group (Jaco Swarts), Simondium, Western Cape
• Tweekop Boerdery (Pieter Steenkamp and Dirk van Papendorp), Heidelberg, Western Cape
• JJ Nel Family Trust (Hannes Nel), Ladismith, Western Cape
• Foundation Jersey Farm (Alan and Francis Webster), Weenen, KwaZulu-Natal
• Robertson Brothers (Gordon Robertson), Karatara, Western Cape
The ARC’s National Milk Recording and Improvement Scheme plays a critical role in the dairy industry through the provision of genetic improvement services, accredited by the International Committee for Animal Recording (ICAR). The objective of the scheme is to enhance the sustainability and profitability of production, ultimately contributing to food security, job creation and human capital development. For more information, contact Hendrik de Waal at DWaalH@arc.agric.za or 082 775 7703.
Issued on behalf of the National Milk Recording and Improvement Scheme of the ARC by
Isabeau Botha
Corporate Communication Manager
Agri-Expo
isabeau@agriexpo.co.za
021 975 4440 / 072 247 5868
www.agriexpo.co.za