The rise of the Bonsmara in South Africa

Please give us a short background on the reasons behind the development of the Bonsmara breed.

The Bonsmara was developed through a scientific crossbreeding programme that started in the 1930s. Prof Jan Bonsma wanted to produce an animal with good carcass qualities that would thrive under harsh climatic conditions. In the early 1900s, many Bos taurus breeds were brought to Southern Africa from Europe and the US, but these animals suffered subtropic degeneration due to the extreme heat and humidity in the northern part of South Africa.

However, the animals indigenous to Africa at the time lacked good carcass quality. The reason behind developing the Bonsmara was therefore to establish cattle that were hardy and adaptable but also good at beef