Ferrero Bonsmara Claims Champion and Reserve Beef Carcass Titles at 2026 Royal Show
RAS President Tim Nixon presents Nelius Ferreira of Ferrero Bonsmaras with the Champion Beef Carcass award at the 2026 Royal Carcass Competition.
Ferrero Bonsmara enjoyed an outstanding 2026 Royal Carcass Competition, claiming both the Champion Beef Carcass and Reserve Champion Beef Carcass titles, as well as the Reserve Champion Beef Group of Four award.
The results marked a successful Royal Agricultural Show for Nelius Ferreira of Ferrero Bonsmara, at the new Royal Showgrounds at Tweedie, near Howick.
The Royal Carcass Competition forms the on-the-hook component of the Royal Fat Stock Show, providing an important assessment of the finished product. Following the live cattle judging earlier in the week, carcass evaluations were conducted by SAMIC at Halaal Fresh Meats Abattoir.
Ferrero Bonsmara's Champion Beef Carcass earned the prestigious General Arnott Memorial Trophy, presented by the Durban and Coast Society of Agriculture and Industry. The championship also carried cash prizes, a medallion, sash, rosette and certificate.
By securing the Reserve Champion Beef Carcass title, Ferrero Bonsmara completed a clean sweep of the two principal individual awards.
Ferrero’s success extended to the group judging, where it claimed Reserve Champion Beef Group, demonstrating consistent carcass quality across multiple animals.
The Champion Beef Carcass at the 2026 Royal Carcass Competition, exhibited by Ferrero Bonsmaras.
Nelius Ferreira of Ferrero Bonsmaras receives the Reserve Champion Beef Carcass award from RAS President Tim Nixon at the 2026 Royal Carcass Auction.
The Reserve Champion Beef Carcass at the 2026 Royal Carcass Competition, exhibited by Ferrero Bonsmaras.
Nelius Ferreira of Ferrero Bonsmaras receives the Reserve Champion Beef Group award from RAS President Tim Nixon at the 2026 Royal Carcass Competition.
The Reserve Champion Beef Group at the 2026 Royal Carcass Competition, exhibited by Ferrero Bonsmaras. The third carcass, not pictured here, was Ferrero’s Champion Beef Carcass.
The award-winning carcasses subsequently attracted support at the Royal Carcass Auction on Saturday, 10 October.
KwaMnandi Meats of Pinetown purchased the Champion Beef Carcass for R21,929.60, achieving R80/kg – the highest price per kilogram recorded in the beef division.
Yakoob's Meat purchased the Reserve Champion Beef Carcass for R21,342.96 and the Reserve Champion Beef Group of Four for R42,628.40.
The auction results provided a commercial measure of Ferrero Bonsmara's championship performance, with all three award-winning entries finding buyers.
The 2026 Royal Fat Stock Show and Beef Carcass Competition were supported by the KwaZulu-Natal Red Meat Producers' Organisation (KZN RPO), Voermol Feeds, HIPRA, ADM Animal Nutrition and the Royal Agricultural Society of Natal.
Ferrero Bonsmara's achievements formed part of the Society's 175th anniversary Royal Agricultural Show, reinforcing the importance of recognising livestock quality and commercial production performance at the Royal.
