Frank Hinze (far right), winner of the Champion Group of Three title in the Royal Veld Heifer Competition at the 2026 Royal Agricultural Show, pictured with (from left) judges Rowan van Aardt, Dave Shewan and Brandon Leer.
Frank Hinze's red Brangus heifers claimed the Champion Group of Three title at the 2026 Royal Agricultural Show, while Donald Roseveare of DRG Farming secured the Champion Single Heifer award in a competition celebrating the quality of commercial breeding cattle.
Held on Friday 9 October at the new Royal Showgrounds in Tweedie, the Royal Veld Heifer Competition brought commercial cattle producers into the judging ring to demonstrate the results of their breeding programmes and the qualities that matter in productive, veld-raised breeding females.
Frank Hinze of Rhubeg Brangus claimed the Champion Group of Three Heifers title with his winning group of red Brangus heifers at the 2026 Royal Veld Heifer Competition.
Rhubeg Brangus Claims Group Championship
Frank Hinze of Rhubeg Brangus emerged victorious in the Group of Three Heifers championship, with his winning group of red Brangus heifers taking the top honours.
The Reserve Champion Group of Three award went to RDM Farming, the Watson family's operation, with their black Angus heifers.
Hinze's success followed a first-place finish in the Group of Three Beef Weaner Heifers class, where Rhubeg Brangus took the lead ahead of two RDM Farming entries, which placed second and third.
Hinze also achieved recognition with his Minimoo Dexters, taking second place in the Best Single Weaner Heifer class.
The group championship was a significant achievement for Rhubeg Brangus, recognising the quality and consistency of the winning animals in a competition where uniformity, sound breeding characteristics and adaptability are important considerations.
Duncan Watson of RDM Farming (far right), winner of the Reserve Champion Group of Three title in the Royal Veld Heifer Competition at the 2026 Royal Agricultural Show, pictured with (from left) judges Rowan van Aardt, Dave Shewan and Brandon Leer.
DRG Farming Takes Individual Honours
Donald Roseveare of DRG Farming also enjoyed an outstanding competition, securing first and second places in the Group of Three Open Beef Heifers class.
Roseveare went on to win the Best Single Open Heifer class before claiming the Champion Single Heifer title.
Lester Vickers of Waterloo Farm secured the Reserve Champion Single Heifer award, adding to a strong performance that saw Waterloo take first and third places in the Best Single Weaner Heifer class.
Together, the results highlighted the achievements of commercial producers whose breeding programmes are focused on developing sound, productive females suited to local farming conditions.
Donald Roseveare of DRG Farming (left), pictured here with judge Rowan van Aardt, secured first and second places in the Group of Three Open Beef Heifers class, and went on to win the Best Single Open Heifer class before claiming the Champion Single Heifer title.
Breeding Quality That Counts on the Veld
The Royal Veld Heifer Competition is designed to recognise the practical qualities required of breeding females in commercial beef production.
The animals are brought directly from their veld camps rather than being intensively prepared for conventional showing, allowing the judges to assess their natural condition, development and suitability for breeding.
Rowan van Aardt led the judging, assisted by Brandon Leer and Dave Shewan.
Speaking to Farmer's Weekly, Leer explained that functional efficiency was central to the judging. Particular attention was given to reproductive development, femininity, structural soundness, body depth and the ability of animals to maintain condition on the veld, especially following winter.
Consistency of type and quality was also an important consideration in the groups of three.
These criteria reflect the competition's purpose: to recognise breeding females capable of performing productively under the conditions faced by commercial cattle farmers.
Farmer's Weekly journalist Henning Naudé was on the ground at the Royal Show and provided further insight into the judging and the importance of the competition for commercial producers. Read his report, Royal Show puts the spotlight on veld-raised heifers.
Lester Vickers of Waterloo Farm (second from left) with judges Dave Shewan, Rowan van Aardt and Brandon Leer at the 2026 Royal Veld Heifer Competition. Waterloo claimed the Reserve Champion Single Heifer title, along with first and third places in the Best Single Weaner Heifer class.
Celebrating Commercial Cattle Breeding
The Royal Veld Heifer Competition provided an important platform for commercial cattle breeders during the Royal Agricultural Society of Natal's 175th anniversary Show, the first to be held at its new Tweedie venue.
The Society congratulates Frank Hinze of Rhubeg Brangus and Minimoo Dexters, Donald Roseveare of DRG Farming, the Watson family of RDM Farming, and Lester Vickers of Waterloo Farm on their achievements.
Our thanks go to all participating breeders, the judging team and the competition's sponsors, KZN RPO, AAM and the Royal Agricultural Society of Natal, for their contribution to the 2026 Royal Veld Heifer Competition.
