ORIGIN OF THE BREED

The first and formal adoption of the word Brahman originated with the inception of the American Brahman Breeders Association (ABBA) in 1924. Cattlemen attending their organizational meeting wrestled with the question of what to name this American Bos Indicus breed that Mr JW Startwelle called “… an entirely new breed of beef cattle”. Mr Startwelle, the first Secretary of ABBA and early driving force of their association, was indeed historically instrumental, when he suggested the word Brahman.

THE EARLY HISTORY IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

The introduction of the Brahman to the South African beef cattle scene originated back in 1954 when Mr Jurgen Crantz, of Windhoek, in South West Africa as they knew it in those days, initially imported eight males and ten females from Texas, USA, to be landed at Cape Town harbour.

Five of these bulls originated from Mr JD Hudgins, Texas, while one came from Mr Albert B Fay, Texas, another one from Mr VW Frost, Texas, and one from Lazy 3 Ranch, Texas. All ten females were from  famous JD Hudgins Ranch. We today salute the inspirations and motivations of Mr Jurgen Crantz of Namibia as the pioneer who unknowingly laid the foundation of what would have become a major breed in the production of red meat in Southern Africa.

Mr W Woker of Windhoek, South West Africa, Nuanetzi Ranch Ltd., the Normar stud of Mr AI Marais and Mr C Scheepers, all from South Africa, made other early imports in 1954. Breeders who were particularly prominent by importing many animals between 1954 and 1971 were, among others, JFW Herbst and son, JB Orpen of the Bar Circle Stud, Sisal Brahmans of Mr Eric Bilse, Ban Cattle Co. of Mr Louis Bosman,  D Terblanche, RELH Hunt, the Code Brahman stud of Mr AJ Coetzer and Mr BJ Maritz.

THE REMARKABLE GROWTH AND DEMAND FOR THE BREED

The contribution Brahmans have made towards the South African stud and commercial industry can be described as remarkable, especially during the first three decades starting in 1960. The distinctive appearance of the Brahman during the subsequent decade sets them apart  from any other traditional beef breed in South Africa. The hump on top of its shoulders, large pendulous ears, abundant folds of skin and distinctive colour  have contributed towards the phenomenal growth being recorded in those days.

The membership of 41 in 1960 increased by 465.85 % within the first ten years, births during the same period by 1 296.64 %, registrations 581.63 % and transfers by 1 542,64 %. This brought the Brahman into the limelight after only 10 years and remarks by the press such as the “Brahman is like a Chameleon because he adapts everywhere” were made in those days. The use of the Brahman as a maternal line has become significant due to the dramatic changes in the composition of our national beef population in South Africa

Official figures show that where the Afrikaner represented almost 45 % of the market share in 1965, the situation changed dramatically in 1985 to retain only 7.0 % of the registrations at the SA Stud Book and Livestock Improvement Association. Brahman registrations on the other hand increased from 4.4 % to almost 57.0 % during the same period. Currently there are 572 members with a total number of +60 000 enrolled animals.

Geskiedenis

OORSPRONG VAN DIE RAS

Die benaming Brahman is vir die eerste keer formeel gebruik met die stigting van die Amerikaanse Brahmantelersvereniging (ABBA) in 1924. Beesboere wat die vergadering van hul genootskap bygewoon het, het geworstel met die kwessie van ʼn geskikte naam vir die Amerikaanse Bos Indicus-ras wat mnr JW Startwelle beskryf het as “… ʼn algehele nuwe ras in vleisbeesgeledere”.  Mnr Startwelle, die eerste Sekretaris van ABBA en ʼn pionierdryfkrag van hul Genootskap, was inderdaad histories instrumenteel toe hy die woord Brahman voorgestel het.

VROEË GESKIEDENIS IN SUIDELIKE AFRIKA

Die Brahman het reeds in 1954 vir die eerste keer op die Suid-Afrikaanse vleisbeestoneel verskyn toe mnr Jurgen Crantz, van Windhoek in die destydse Suidwes-Afrika agt manlike en tien vroulike diere van Texas, VSA ingevoer het om na Kaapstad hawe verskeep te word.

Vyf van hierdie bulle was die oorspronklike eiendom van mnr JD Hudgins, Texas, terwyl een van Mnr Albert B Fay, Texas, nog een van mnr VW Frost, Texas, en die laaste een van Lazy 3 Ranch, Texas afkomstig was. Al tien vroulike diere was van die beroemde JD Hudgins Ranch. Vandag salueer ons die inspirasie en motiverings van mnr Jurgen Crantz van Namibië, wat deur sy insig en inspirasie, onwetend die grondslag gelê het van wat ʼn voorste ras in die produksie van rooivleis in Suidelike Afrika sou word.

Mnr W Woker van Windhoek, Suidwes-Afrika,  en vanuit Suid-Afrika : Nuanetzi Ranch Ltd en  die Normar stoet van mnr AI Marais en  mnr C Scheepers het almal vroeë invoere in 1954 gedoen. Tussen1954 en 1971 het die volgende telers en stoeterye o.a. veral prominent  figureer in die invoer van Brahmane na Suid-Afrika:  JFW Herbst en seun, JB Orpen van die  Bar Circle Stud, Sisal Brahmans van mnr Eric Bilse,  Ban Cattle Co. van mnr Louis Bosman,  D Terblanche, RELH Hunt, die Code Brahman Stoet van mnr AJ Coetzer en mnr BJ Maritz.

DIE MERKWAARDIGE GROEI EN AANVRAAG VIR DIE RAS

Die bydrae wat die Brahman tot die Suid-Afrikaanse stoet- en kommersiële bedryf gemaak het, veral in die eerste drie dekades na 1960, kan as merkwaardig beskryf word. Sy kenmerkende voorkoms onderskei hom van enige ander tradisionele vleisbeesras in Suid-Afrika. Die skof op sy skouers, groot hangende ore, menigvuldige plooie en kenmerkende kleur het alles bygedra tot die fenomenale groei wat in daardie dae aangeteken is.

Die ledetal van 41 in 1960  het met 465.85 % toegeneem binne die eerste tien jaar, geboortes het met 1 296.64 % toegeneem in dieselfde periode,  registrasies met  581.63 % en oordragte met 1 542,64 %. Dit het die Brahman in die kalklig gebring na slegs 10 jaar, en uitlatings soos “die Brahman is soos ʼn verkleurmannetjie omdat hy orals aanpas” is in daardie tyd deur die pers gemaak. Die gebruik van die Brahman as ʼn maternale lyn het betekenisvol geword vanweë die dramatiese  veranderinge in die samestelling van ons nasionale vleisbeespopulasie in Suid-Afrika.

Amptelike syfers toon dat waar die Afrikaner in 1965 byna 45 % van die markaandeel verteenwoordig het, die situasie dramaties verander het deurdat in 1985 slegs 7.0 % van die registrasies by die  SA Stamboek-  en Veeverbeteringsvereniging vir die ras aangeteken is. Brahman- registrasies, daarteenoor, het vanaf 4.4 % na byna  57.0 % gedurende dieselfde periode toegeneem. Daar is tans 572 lede met ʼn totale getal van +60 000 ingeskrewe diere.