All Bonsmaras must be earcoded according to the sketch below, within 30 days from birth and tattooed by the age of 12 months or before leaving the farm, whichever occurs first. Basic females must also have permanent identification, not only ear tags. Never alter tattoo marks. Advice the office in writing of any mistakes.

Identification numbers start from 1 every year on January 1st and must be used in consecutive order for bulls and heifers. Year numbers are allocated from the schedule below:

Jan 1999 Dec 1999 99
Jan 2000 Dec 2000 00
Jan 2001 Dec 2001 01
Jan 2002 Dec 2002 02
Jan 2003 Dec 2003 03
Jan 2004 Dec 2004 04
Jan 2005 Dec 2005 05
Jan 2006 Dec 2006 06
Jan 2007 Dec 2007 07
Jan 2008 Dec 2008 08

All Bonsmara calves have to be dehorned.

Monthly

Submit all documents to the office - preferably the 1st week in every month. Reply to all queries form the Society in writing within 30 days, otherwise calves will not be recorded and no computer numbers obtained for Performance Testing

Cow cards

May be obtained from the Research Institute to enter all relevant information for each animal. File these cards and always enter the information first onto the cow card before making out birth notifications to submit to the office (this is important and eliminates many errors).

Farm Software
Various computer programmes are available for record keeping, administration, printing and sending data to SA Stud Book and the ARC. The Bonsmara Breeders' Society endorses the BeefPro beef cattle management software package. Visit www.beefpro.net for more info.

A small book is available from the institute, Irene, for use in the field to record births and masses for record keeping.

Books are available on which 10 calves per page can be recorded. Read carefully what is requested and see that all information is filled in and signed. The birth notification numbers of both parents of a calf must be filled in , in the spaced provided on the birth notification.

1. When Bonsmara type females are selected as basic breeding stock, birth notifications are made out giving the identity number of the animal and what particulars may be available. The top copies of the birth notifications are submitted to the office within 30 days after inspection. If such birth notifications are not received within the time limit, the inspection will be declared invalid



2. All calves appendix A, B and SP, abortions and stillborns (no numbers are given to abortions and stillborn calves) - make out birth notifications and submit top copies to the office. Late fees will be charged on all birth notifications received after 60 days after birth. Notifications received later than 6 months after birth will be charged late fees of R25 each.

Age of dam Minimum # of calves
3 years and 3 months 1
5 years and 3 months 2
6 years and 3 months 3

1. Minimum inter calf period allowed - 271 days.



2. Maximum inter calf period allowed - 26 months (790 days)



3. A cow must rear at least 2 of any 3 consecutive calves (up to weaning age).



4. Gestation periods must be between 260 - 308 days.



5. A cow may wean not more than 2 calves with an index below 90.

This is a covering letter, the top half to be filled in by the breeder in connection with documents sent to the office. The entire first page must accompany any for you submit. The office will use the lower half as confirmation of receipt. NB: when the confirmation is returned by the office check if the office noted any forms missing etc, and reply to this if there are any queries. Then paste this receipt in your cover forms book. Should you not receive this receipt back, you should enquire after one month to make sure your mail reached the office.

This form is for removal from the herd of animals which died of were culled. All appendix A and B females and SP males and females that will not be presented for inspection must likewise be removed. SA stud book charges fees on all live animals, 2 years and older, eligible for registration. Also to be submitted monthly.

Once a year between February and June, annual inspections are conducted. Special application forms are sent from the office during the latter part of the year. Complete and return your application to the office by date indicated. the Clubs will work out the itineraries for the different areas.

Write all animals for inspection into the inspection book in their entire age groups, bulls and females separately with performance data, before the age of 3 years. Performance data sheets for the relevant animals must be kept in the inspection book for the inspectors to check data. All animals must be tattooed.

Each breeder is entitled to the following inspections annually:

One basic inspection of females when a new member joins the Society. An annual inspection once a year of basic and registered females together with bulls Phase B or D. One Phase B inspection of bulls annually. All Phases C and D will be inspected at the close. Breeders may decide not to have bulls inspected immediately after the Phase D test. They can slaughter those bulls which do not qualify and hold over the rest of the group for inspection later. It is preferable that inspection be done when bulls are older as it is undesirable and very difficult in practice to inspect bulls at too young an age. NB: Bulls must weigh minimum of 375 kg at the close of a Phase D test to qualify for inspection.

For each group of cows, the animal's identification number and birth notification number must be listed with the bull mated to. Within 2 months after the end of the mating season, submit these lists to the office.

When animals are sold out of hand, the details must be completed in the Transfer book in triplicate. Send the top two copies (one for office and one for new owner) to the office within 30 days so that the animals can be transferred to the buyer. Do not cancel animals on form E. A penalty is charged on transfers which are received late.

No unapproved animals may be sold except females sold as basic and calves at foot.

Birth mass is not compulsory but very important. Breeders are encouraged to take the actual mass. Weighing animals. Make sure that you weigh all animals at the required ages (see Performance Testing Books), particularly when buying cows with calves at foot - see that the calves are weighed and the information submitted to the Performance Testing Scheme. Computer numbers are required for all animals for which performance data is submitted. This number serves as proof that the animals are recorded at S.A. Studbook. Females. To qualify for their ratings at inspection, females must have a wean index plus at least one other index, either 12 months or 18 months.

All bulls must undergo a growth test. The male progeny of only appendix A females qualify as grade bulls.

Phase B

On the veld with or without supplements. Such bulls may be inspected with the annual inspection or one special inspection per year, before 3 years of age. Three indices are required (see Minimum Breed Standards for Performance Requirements). Apply to the office in writing 2 months in advance for a Phase B inspection. Blood type all SP bulls before using them for stud breeding.

Phase C1

All official test at the Departmental Bull Testing Centres. Contact your nearest centre for requirements and dates to enter bulls. Upon entering bulls in this test, complete an inspection form stating the test number, closing date of test and centre, submitting these to the office at least 2 months before the end of the test for inspection arrangements.

Branding for Performance Certificate:

'V' (Normal) = Gold merit
'<' (Point to head of animal) = Silver merit
'/\'' (Upside down) = Ordinary merit
'/_\' (Upside down with bar below) = Sub merit
All bulls completing a Phase C test that do not meet the minimum performance requirements will be slaughtered.

Phase C2

Non-Departmental Test centres. These tests function the same way as C1.

Phase C3 Automated Test Centres on farms of breeders. These must comply with the requirements of the Department to be recognised as official. These tests also function as C1. Test normally run for a period of 84 days.

Phase D

Growth tests of young bull calves.

D1 - On the farm single herd growth test. D2 - Centralised multi-herd growth test. D3 - Shortened single or multi-herd growth test.

These tests are official and usually held on the farm or at a centre. A minimum of 15 bulls from the same age group must participate. At least 5 must be SP bulls and the others van be commercial bulls. Contact the Regional office nearest you to arrange the dates for tests with them.

No documents are submitted to the office but you MUST give the office notice of the test, stating number of bulls and closing date at least 2 months before the end of the test.

Blood type all SP bulls before using them for stud breeding. All rejected must be slaughtered.

Once a year, approximately March, a complete herd list of all your Approved animals will be sent to you. If this list does not agree with yours, advise the office in writing, always update this list by adding new animals approved or bought and deleting culls and deaths.

Are payable within 60 days. Thereafter, bank rate interest will be charged on overdue accounts. Letters will be written to breeders who fail to pay their accounts. Should you have any problems in this regard, please contact the Breed Director.

All new breeders are invited to let us know in writing whether they are prepared to be trained as inspectors.

Operate in different areas under supervision of Club management committees, subject to the Breed Society Constitution and Regulations. Upon becoming a member of the Breed Society, you should at any time encounter a problem, please contact the office.

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