Life begins with Tulis
About fourteen years ago, a little seed was sown during a casual conversation with our auctioneering friend, Stefan Welz. As fellow cattle ranchers we had much in common and he asked us whether we had thought of using Tulis in our commercial breeding herd of Bonsmara-type cattle. From that tiny seed, a great love for the breed has sprouted and we are now the happy owners of a nucleus of stud animals, purchased from Tom van Rensburg at his dispersal sale at Spekboom, Addo, in October 2009.
Much to our delight, five calves were born before the sale, one on the day of the sale, and three on our farm in early November 2009. Of those born, seven are heifers…the Lord knew we would be needing more heifers !!
Being novices regarding Stud Book procedures and requirements, it was quite a sharp learning curve to make sure newborns were weighed in time, with concerned mothers hovering nearby! Use your imagination and picture two almost elderly farmers, a rubber tyre-swing, a hook scale, a “heave-ho” and a lot of sweat!!
We so enjoy the way these cattle trust us and respond to us when we check them or work with them in the kraal. We find them family-friendly, and as curious as our grandsons are. We love to sit among them, allowing them to approach, to smell and get to know us. Our city friends appreciate the experience of being close up and real with Tulis. There is no thought of being harmed when we walk among them. They respond to our call “Kom, Kom” when it is time to head off to the kraal, they know what is expected when they get there, and they know the way home again and will wait at the gate for us. The Rau immobilizer has made our work in the kraal so much easier – they are calmer since we have been using it. The regular checking in the camp has resulted in the calves becoming very tame. They are easy to find in the veld because they stay together in a group. At the coast, ticks are a serious problem, but they are managing to hold their own in spite of the tickload. We have to maintain a vigilant check on their udders - ticks love teats !!
In November 2009, we attended the Inspector’s Course at Vleiplaats, Murraysburg and were able to meet many of our fellow Tuli breeders. We appreciate the sense of ‘family’ we feel when we meet.
Our ten year old cow, SW 99 7, or ‘Blom’ as we call her, is quite a hog and has a particular penchant for mealie cob leaves. She watches carefully to see whether she’s in luck when we visit them and bellows a welcome when she sees us coming! The photo shows her licking her lips after one such treat, next to the cab window of the bakkie. She even stuck her head inside to find more!!
We are happy to have found a breed that suits our retirement needs and look forward to many more golden years of farming with Tulis.
Edie & Doug Galpin: Eagle’s Valley Stud, Kenton on Sea, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
These lovely reflections of the clouds are there because of the stillness of the river. In Psalm 23, we are told that the Lord, our Shepherd, ‘leads us beside still waters’……where we can easily have a leisurely, cool and refreshing respite from the busy-ness of life, as we still ourselves in His Presence and come away with the beauty of His character reflected in us…..
Bless the Lord, O my soul, all my inmost being, bless His Holy Name.
