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Rustin Shawe: How Grassfields Cut Mating to 60 Days and Won Farmer of the Year

Near Wakkerstroom in Mpumalanga, a shorter mating season and careful records turned a Droughtmaster stud into a national award winner.

Who is Rustin Shawe?

Rustin Shawe farms at Grassfields in the Groenvlei district of Wakkerstroom, Mpumalanga, where he runs a Droughtmaster stud alongside a commercial herd. In 2024 he was named the Voermol Cattle Farmer of the Year, and the profile in AgriOrbit's feature on his farm is the main public account of how the operation works.

This profile covers his public professional record only. The story is less about size than about discipline: tight breeding seasons, pregnancy testing at fixed dates and a willingness to sell what does not conceive on time.

Droughtmaster and commercial cattle at Grassfields

The Grassfields Droughtmaster stud was established in 2010. Alongside it runs a commercial herd of Brahman, Simmentaler, Angus and Beefmaster cattle. Beefmaster bulls were introduced to the commercial herd in the mid-1990s to improve balance, according to the AgriOrbit feature.

The stud's foundation cows were chosen from the best commercial cows that showed Droughtmaster-like traits, with guidance from Ian Cameron. Pure Droughtmaster bulls are not yet available in sufficient numbers for the commercial side, so commercial bulls are chosen mostly by visual assessment at weaning with advice from Barry Simmons, while stud bulls are selected on pedigree, genetics, breeding values, growth and the production records of their dams.

Why shortening the mating season to 60 days worked

For at least 30 years the farm used a 110-day mating period. It was later shortened to 60 days and is still used. Cows conceiving in the first 60 days are marked, and the best bull calves are chosen from those conceived early in the season, which concentrates selection pressure on fertility.

Pregnancy testing is done twice for cows. The first test happens when bulls are removed, around 10 to 15 February, and shows about 83% of cows conceiving in the first 60 days. A second test at the end of March shows about 93% in calf. The intercalving period across the herd is between 360 and 380 days, and mortality from breeding to weaning for mature cows and heifers is about 5%, from all causes.

The Key to Shawe's Success

The AgriOrbit account points to a system built around timing and records. Each point below is drawn from the practices the article describes rather than from any claim about motives.

  • He tightened the calving window. Moving from a 110-day to a 60-day mating period concentrated calving and made late conceivers visible.
  • He sells late conceivers. Heifers conceiving late are sold at the production sale, which keeps the stud selecting on fertility.
  • He tests early and again. Heifers are tested at 40 days (about 80% conception) and again around day 110 (about 92%).
  • He feeds from the cropping system. Heifers graze maize residues on 100 hectares from 1 July, and the rest of 150 hectares is cut for silage.
  • He is working on timing sales. A growing share of weaners is held and sold as long yearlings in November, when prices are often higher, with a stated aim of eventually selling all weaners that way.
  • He plans for disease risk. A biosecure zone near the house with double fencing and a 28-day quarantine for animals being sold is his foot-and-mouth plan.

Heifer and cow breeding program

In 2023 heifers were put to the bull on 1 October. In 2024 the start moved earlier to 20 September, with bulls running until 10 January. The first pregnancy test on 12 December covers the first 40 days and showed an 80% conception rate, and the second test at the end of February showed 92%. Calving runs from August to October.

Cows go to bulls on 1 November and bulls come out on 10 to 15 February. Calves conceived in the first 60 days are kept on the farm.

Embryo transfer and marketing

Per the feature's embryo program section, the stud works with Embryo Plus in Brits. In the most recent round described, about 117 carrier cows were prepared and 15 donor cows selected. About 70% of donors were ready, producing 49 confirmed pregnancies with calves expected in August.

Weaners are usually sold in April. Holding some back as long yearlings until November is the farm's way of capturing higher prices later in the year.

Awards and where to read more

Shawe's 2024 Voermol Cattle Farmer of the Year title recognizes this combination of fertility records and cropping-and-cattle integration. The full feature is the best primary source for the numbers quoted here, and they are as reported at the time of writing.

For other farm and cattle stories, see the ranching section of farm.FM, or read a farm.FM story about Droughtmaster cattle.

Timeline

  1. Mid-1990sBeefmaster bulls introduced to the commercial herd
  2. 2010Grassfields Droughtmaster stud established
  3. 2023Heifers put to the bull on 1 October
  4. 2024Heifer start moved to 20 September; named Voermol Cattle Farmer of the Year
  5. Recent roundEmbryo program produces 49 confirmed pregnancies

Frequently asked questions

Who is Rustin Shawe?

Rustin Shawe is a South African cattle farmer in Wakkerstroom, Mpumalanga, who runs the Grassfields Droughtmaster stud and a commercial herd. He was named the 2024 Voermol Cattle Farmer of the Year.

What did Rustin Shawe change about his mating season?

The farm used a 110-day mating period for at least 30 years, then shortened it to 60 days, which is still used. Top bull calves are chosen from those conceived in the first 60 days.

When was the Grassfields Droughtmaster stud established?

The Grassfields Droughtmaster stud was established in 2010 and runs alongside a commercial herd of Brahman, Simmentaler, Angus and Beefmaster cattle.

What breeds does Rustin Shawe farm?

He runs a Droughtmaster stud plus a commercial herd that includes Brahman, Simmentaler, Angus and Beefmaster cattle. Beefmaster bulls were introduced in the mid-1990s.

Sources and further reading

Profiles are compiled from public sources and reviewed against them. See our editorial policy to suggest a correction.

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