Rau Easy Farms
Rau Easy Farms
The Rautenbach family has bred Tuli cattle near Reitz, South Africa, since 1982. Today, Albie Rautenbach's Langlyf and Cornelis Rautenbach's Nonnie herds focus on fertility, moderate cow size, longevity and adaptation to extensive conditions. Nonnie reports a calving percentage of at least 95% since 1983, while both herds have recorded average inter-calving periods near 365 days.
The Rautenbach family's history with Tuli cattle began in 1982 near Reitz in South Africa's Free State. The area is known for sour veld and long, cold winters, and the family was looking for cattle that could maintain fertility under these conditions.
On the advice of Dr. Quintin Campbell, the Rautenbachs traveled to Zimbabwe to see Tuli cattle performing in extensive conditions. They were impressed by the breed's fertility, longevity, hardiness, calf vigor, temperament, natural polling and ability to perform with limited supplementation. Among the cattle they saw was a 22-year-old cow that had never missed a calf.
The family began bringing Tuli genetics from Zimbabwe into South Africa. Over the years, they imported more than 30 bulls from different Zimbabwean breeders in an effort to maintain a broad genetic base.
The family's cattle later developed into two closely related herds: Langlyf Tuli, operated by Albie Rautenbach, and Nonnie Tuli, operated by Cornelis Rautenbach. The two programs have continued to work closely together and held their first joint production sale in 1997.
More than four decades after the Rautenbach family began breeding Tulis, fertility and adaptation to extensive conditions remain central objectives of the Langlyf and Nonnie programs. Their cattle have also received repeated recognition within South Africa for fertility, cow performance and longevity.
Fertility is the primary selection objective at Langlyf and Nonnie. The Rautenbachs have focused on producing Tuli cattle adapted to the extensive conditions around Reitz, South Africa, where the cattle must contend with sour veld and long, cold winters.
Cornelis Rautenbach has described fertility as his first selection priority, with the objective of producing cows capable of raising a calf every year. Replacement heifers have historically been run with mature cows rather than receiving separate treatment.
Moderate cow size and calf production are also important to the program. Cornelis has stated that he prefers a smaller cow that weans a heavy calf over a larger cow that weans an average calf. His reasoning is that smaller cows require less forage, allowing more cows to be carried on the same land and increasing production per hectare. His stated goal has been for cows to wean at least 50% of their own body weight. In a published profile, his cows averaged approximately 420 kg, or 925 pounds, with calves weighing between 210 and 270 kg at weaning.
The reproductive records of the herds reflect the emphasis placed on fertility. Nonnie reports maintaining a calving percentage of at least 95% since 1983. Both Langlyf and Nonnie have also recorded average inter-calving periods close to 365 days, and individual cows within the herds have remained productive well into their teens.
Selection within the program also includes feet and legs, mouths, walking ability, temperament and bull fertility. Cornelis has specifically described fertility as taking priority over meat-production traits.
Langlyf and Nonnie participate in South Africa's formal performance-recording system, with their cattle carrying recorded information and genetic evaluations for a range of production and reproductive traits. Their long-term objective remains the production of fertile Tuli cattle adapted to extensive conditions.
