Africa-Press – Eswatini. The Ministry of Agriculture will host a cattle auction at Magoga Fattening Ranch tomorrow.
According to a notice issued by the ministry, about 88 cattle will be up for auction. There will be 35 steers, 10 oxen, 29 cows, 10 bullocks, three bulls and one heifer. Those who would like to be part of the auction have been urged to contact 7617 7029.
This is not the first time the ministry has hosted an auction sale at the place as last time a total of 57 cattle out of 70 were sold at a massive cattle auction at Magoga Fattening Ranch. During this auction a total revenue of E425 100 was made by the ministry.
The highest cow was sold at E11 500, the lowest which was a calf was sold at E2 300 and government management fee was E70 220.
Information released by the ministry is that out of the 70 cattle there were 30 steers, 17 oxen, 20 cows and three heifers.
It was gathered that fattening ranches are government grass fed establishments or landscapes with the purpose of helping farmers under communal grazing to commercialise the beef industry.
The ministry states that fattening ranches aim at alleviating the grazing pressure in the communal grazing lands which resulted in range deterioration and hence soil erosion.
Each farmer is allowed to bring one to 50 herds of cattle provided the ranch is not yet reached full carrying capacity. The time frame for the fattening period is three months after which the cattle are sold by auctions on behalf of the farmer or that particular institution.
Minister Jabulane Mabuza revealed that they had so far conducted over nine beef cattle auction sales at Bhalekane Fattening Ranch and at dip tank level where farmers generated an income of E4 545 305 from the sale of 572 head of cattle.
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