Prime dairy farms with an abundance of water

● Van’s Auctioneers would like to remind farmers of the huge liquidation auction of various adjacent farms near Underberg in Kwa-Zulu-Natal — a total of approximately 3,000ha.

These farms truly have an abundance of water, with lots of land under pivot and dragline irrigation. There is also a lot of arable land. The dairy complex and equipment, as well as cattle and farm implements, will come under the hammer as well.

On day 1, October 17 at 11am, the farms with their pivots will be auctioned. Lot 1, the farm known as Waterford Farm and which comprises the bulk of the dairy operation, has a combined size of just over 1,300ha.

It is a dairy and beef farm and also has a horse stud. This farm has plenty of water, with nearly 100 dams, of which 36 are registered. There are about 433ha under pivot, and nearly 60ha under dragline irrigation.

The water supply is part of the Ngwawane Water Scheme, and the farm also has about 700ha of arable dry land and veld.

This farming operation handles 1,600 to 1,800 cows in milk and about 2,000 followers. The infrastructure, an impressive 13,000m², comprises a partially built 40point rotary dairy with table, handling facilities, silos, sheds, store rooms, houses, staff accommodation and much more. There are four Valley pivots on this farm, and they will be offered with the farm.

Walton farm will be offered as lot 2. Walton is 657ha, and has about 25ha under pivot and the rest as dry land and pastures. It has a satellite dairy building and staff cottage. The 11-tower Valley pivot will be offered as part of this lot.

River Farm, which is 174ha in extent, will be under the hammer as lot 3. It has about 21ha of dragline irrigation and nearly 60ha of arable dry land and approximately 90ha of veld.

These three farms will first be offered individually, and then together as one lot.

Penwarn Country Lodge is situated on a beautiful and picturesque farm of about 917ha. The farm has a wedding venue, chapel and lodge and the improvements consist of two lodges with luxury suites, five self-catering cottages and dormitory-style accommodation. Penwarn also has six storage dams with a combined volume of more than 900,000m³.

On October 18 at 11am the livestock and movables will come under the hammer. These include about 2,000 head of cattle, including about 800 cows in milk (delivering approximately 8,700l of milk a day), dry cows, steam cows, bulls, bulling heifers, open heifers and heifer calves. Beef cattle and a variety of game will also be available.

A large variety of farm implements will come under the hammer. John Deere harvesters and tractors, various mixer wagons, loaders, mowers, trailers, Isuzu trucks and many other implements will be on sale.

On October 17 the farms will be on auction at the Penwarn Trout and Equine Estate on the Bushman’s Nek Road, near Underberg. The livestock and implements will come under the hammer on Waterford the next day.

Purchasers can contact Van’s Auctioneers at 086-111-8267, or visit Van’s website.