Ferrero Bonsmara, Weston and Tregenna Farming Lead Royal Beef Carcass Honours
RAS President Tim Nixon presents Nelius Ferreira of Ferrero Bonsmara with the Champion Beef Carcass award at the 2026 Royal Carcass Competition Awards.
Ferrero Bonsmara, Weston Agricultural College and Tregenna Farming (Five Star Santa Gertrudis) claimed the leading beef carcass honours at the 2026 Royal Agricultural Show, while Vredesig, Hatari Farming and Twee Broers Dormers distinguished themselves in the lamb division.
The awards were presented on Saturday, 10 October, at the new Royal Showgrounds at Tweedie, near Howick, concluding the Royal Fat Stock Show during the Royal Agricultural Society of Natal's 175th anniversary celebrations.
The Carcass Competition is an important part of the Royal's agricultural programme, evaluating the quality and commercial value of the finished product. The 2026 competition followed on-the-hoof judging by SAFJA earlier in the week, with carcass assessments conducted by SAMIC at Halaal Fresh Meats Abattoir.
Auctioneer Tom Hodgson conducted the 2026 Royal Carcass Auction, facilitated by AAM Livestock Agents and Auctioneers, following the Royal Carcass Competition Awards.
Ferrero Bonsmara Claims Top Beef Carcass Honours
Ferrero Bonsmara dominated the individual beef carcass awards, claiming both the Royal Champion Beef Carcass and Reserve Champion Beef Carcass titles.
The Champion Carcass award carried the prestigious General Arnott Memorial Trophy, presented by the Durban and Coast Society of Agriculture and Industry, together with cash prizes, a medallion, sash, rosette and championship certificate.
Ferrero Bonsmara also secured the Reserve Champion Beef Group, completing a successful showing in both the individual and group categories.
At the subsequent Royal Carcass Auction, KwaMnandi Meats in Pinetown purchased Ferrero Bonsmara's Champion Beef Carcass for R21,929.60, achieving R80/kg – the highest price per kilogram in the beef division.
Yakoob's Meat purchased the Reserve Champion Beef Carcass and Reserve Champion Beef Group of Four.
The Champion Beef Carcass at the 2026 Royal Carcass Competition, exhibited by Ferrero Bonsmara.
Nelius Ferreira of Ferrero Bonsmara receives the Reserve Champion Beef Carcass award from RAS President Tim Nixon at the 2026 Royal Carcass Competition Awards.
The Reserve Champion Beef Carcass at the 2026 Royal Carcass Competition, exhibited by Ferrero Bonsmara.
Nelius Ferreira of Ferrero Bonsmara 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 Bonsmara. The third carcass, not pictured here, was Ferrero’s Champion Beef Carcass.
Weston Agricultural College Claims Two Beef Carcass Honours
Weston Agricultural College secured two awards in the beef carcass competition, winning the Royal Champion Beef Group of Four and Second Reserve Champion Beef Carcass.
The Group of Four championship, one of the major awards in the beef division, carried the Crafcor Hygrade Floating Trophy, cash prizes and the Royal's championship sash, rosette and certificate.
At the subsequent Royal Carcass Auction, the winning group was purchased by Yakoob's Meat for R58,319.40, the highest total sale value achieved by a beef lot at the auction. Yakoob's Meat also purchased Weston's Second Reserve Champion Beef Carcass for R22,886.85.
Unlike individual carcass judging, the group competition recognises consistency across several animals, making Weston's championship particularly significant.
The two awards highlighted the value of practical livestock production in agricultural education, adding to Weston's achievements at the 2026 Royal Show.
RAS President Tim Nixon presents Pierre Janse van Rensberg of Weston Agricultural College with the Champion Beef Group award at the 2026 Royal Carcass Competition Awards. Weston also claimed the Second Reserve Champion Beef Carcass award.
The Second Reserve Champion Beef Carcass at the 2026 Royal Carcass Competition, exhibited by Weston Agricultural College.
The Champion Group of Beef Carcasses at the 2026 Royal Carcass Competition, exhibited by Weston Agricultural College.
Tregenna Farming Repeats Super Ox and Biltong Cow Success
Justin Fyvie’s Five Star Santa Gertrudis (entered as Tregenna Farming), repeated his 2025 success, winning both the Champion Super Beef Carcass (Super Ox) and Best Slaughter Cow (Biltong Cow) awards.
The Super Beef category recognises heavier carcasses exceeding 340kg in cold mass. Fyvie's championship earned the Louwrens Floating Trophy, together with the associated cash prize and championship awards.
His Biltong Cow victory, in a category sponsored this year by Cure House, recognised another important aspect of commercial beef production and the value of mature slaughter animals.
At the auction, the Champion Super Ox Carcass was purchased by Monas Food Express, while Ashweald Farming (Pty) Ltd purchased the Champion Biltong Cow Carcass, according to the updated buyer list.
Fyvie's double victory was particularly noteworthy, as he also produced the Champion Super Ox Carcass and Champion Commercial Cow Carcass at the 2025 Royal Show. The repeat performance reinforces the consistency of the farming operation's beef production.
The RAS Champion Super Ox Carcass at the 2026 Royal Carcass Competition, exhibited by Tregenna Farming.
The Cure House Champion Biltong Cow Carcass at the 2026 Royal Carcass Competition, exhibited by Tregenna Farming.
Vredesig Takes Six Lamb Carcass Awards
Johnny Forbes of Vredesig enjoyed an outstanding lamb carcass competition, collecting six awards, including the Royal Champion Lamb Carcass.
The winning carcass was a Dormer–Hampshire Down cross, reflecting Vredesig's approach to producing commercially competitive lambs.
Vredesig also claimed First Reserve Champion Lamb Carcass and Champion Group of Four Lamb Carcasses.
These entries earned further recognition in the Substantial European Genetics categories, securing the Champion and Reserve Champion individual carcass titles, together with Champion Group of Four.
At the Royal Carcass Auction, Vredesig's Champion Lamb Carcass attracted strong bidding before selling to well-known Hampshire Down breeder Hennie Jonker for R56,250, at R2,500/kg.
Shaams Butchery purchased the First Reserve Champion Lamb Carcass and Champion Group of Four.
The results represented an exceptional showing for Vredesig, recognising the performance of its lambs both individually and as a group.
RAS President Tim Nixon presents Vredesig’s Dewald Linde (left) and Johnny Forbes (right) with their awards at the 2026 Royal Carcass Competition Awards. Vredesig claimed the Royal Champion Lamb Carcass, Reserve Champion Lamb Carcass and Champion Group of Four titles, along with the corresponding honours in the Substantial European Genetics categories.
The RAS Champion Lamb Carcass at the 2026 Royal Carcass Competition, exhibited by Vredesig.
The RAS Reserve Champion Lamb Carcass at the 2026 Royal Carcass Competition, exhibited by Vredesig.
The RAS Champion Lamb Group of 4 at the 2026 Royal Carcass Competition, exhibited by Vredesig.
Hatari Farming Adds Four Carcass Awards
Marius Eksteen's Hatari Farming continued its successful Royal Show campaign with four lamb carcass awards.
Hatari claimed Second Reserve Champion Lamb Carcass, First Reserve Champion Group of Four and Second Reserve Champion Group of Four.
The stud also secured Reserve Champion Group of Four in the Substantial European Genetics category.
Hatari's Second Reserve Champion Lamb Carcass achieved R675/kg at the auction and was purchased by Zaid Omarjee. St Josephs Farm purchased the First Reserve Champion Group of Four, while RD Farming (Pty) Ltd was named as the buyer of the Second Reserve Champion Group of Four.
The carcass awards complemented Hatari's earlier victory in the on-the-hoof Fat Lamb Competition, where it produced the Royal Champion Lamb, as well as its outstanding performance at the Dormer National Show.
Together, these achievements made the 2026 Royal Show a particularly successful event for Hatari Farming.
RAS President Tim Nixon presents Hatari’s Janita Muller (left) and Marius Eksteen (right) with their awards at the 2026 Royal Carcass Competition Awards. Hatari claimed the Second Reserve Champion Lamb Carcass, the Reserve Champion Group of Four, and the Second Reserve Champion Group of Four. Hatari also secured the Reserve Champion Group of Four in the Substantial European Genetics category.
The RAS Second Reserve Champion Lamb Carcass at the 2026 Royal Carcass Competition, exhibited by Hatari.
The Reserve Champion Lamb Group of 4 at the 2026 Royal Carcass Competition, exhibited by Hatari.
The Second Reserve Champion Lamb Group of 4 at the 2026 Royal Carcass Competition, exhibited by Hatari.
Twee Broers Claims Both Super Lamb Titles
Twee Broers Dormers, represented by Tjaart Steenekamp, claimed both the Champion Super Lamb Carcass and Reserve Champion Super Lamb Carcass awards.
The Super Lamb category is reserved for heavier lamb carcasses exceeding 27kg on the hook.
Twee Broers' Champion Super Lamb Carcass subsequently became one of the highlights of the Royal Carcass Auction, selling to Zaid Omarjee for R110,580 and establishing a new record for the total price achieved by a single lamb carcass at the Royal.
The Reserve Champion Super Lamb Carcass was purchased by Maluti Breeding.
The double championship, followed by the record-breaking sale, capped an exceptional performance by Twee Broers Dormers.
RAS President Tim Nixon presents Tjaart Steenekamp of Twee Broers Dormers with the Champion Super Lamb Carcass award at the 2026 Royal Carcass Competition Awards.
The RAS Champion Super Lamb Carcass at the 2026 Royal Carcass Competition, exhibited by Twee Broers Dormers.
Tjaart Steenekamp of Twee Broers Dormers accepts the Reserve Champion Super Lamb Carcass award from RAS President Tim Nixon at the 2026 Royal Carcass Competition Awards.
The RAS Reserve Champion Super Lamb Carcass at the 2026 Royal Carcass Competition, exhibited by Twee Broers Dormers.
Recognising Excellence in Commercial Livestock Production
The 2026 Royal Carcass Competition highlighted the quality of livestock produced by established breeders, commercial farming operations and agricultural institutions.
With commercial agriculture a particular focus of this year's Royal Show, the carcass results provided an important measure of production performance beyond the show ring.
The subsequent Royal Carcass Auction attracted support from meat wholesalers, butcheries, farmers and breeders, demonstrating the commercial value attached to the championship carcasses.
The Royal Fat Stock Show and Carcass Competition were supported by the Red Meat Producers' Organisation (RPO), Voermol Feeds, HIPRA, ADM Animal Nutrition and the Royal Agricultural Society of Natal, with additional prize sponsorship for the Biltong Cow category from Cure House.
The competition and auction brought the Royal's 2026 fat stock programme to a successful conclusion, reinforcing the Show's longstanding commitment to recognising excellence in commercial livestock production.
