Johannesburg - A group of South African dog breeders have gone to Namibia to register their boerboel breeders' society because they disagree with the breeding of black, gun metal and blue boerboels in the country, which fetch high prices overseas.
Their decision follows months of controversy after the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Daff) announced earlier this year that it did not recognise the “black boerboel” as a breed under the Animal Improvement Act, forbidding its export.
On Monday, the outcome of an appeal lodged by the South African Boerboel Breeders Society against the department is expected to be known.
Daff had instructed the society to obtain scientific proof that black boerboels have historic traits of boerboels and the society has contracted Unistel at Stellenbosch University to run genetic and scientific tests.
Andre Taljaard, a former KwaZulu-Natal representative of the society, says “concerned” boerboel breeders approached the Namibia Stud Breeders Association as a possible registering authority for the boerboel breed.
“We felt that the boerboel in South Africa has been dominated too much by internal politics, uncertainty, lawsuits and the promotion of the breeding of boerboels in various 'exotic' colours: black, gun metal, blue, Rottweiler colour patterns. These colours were never part of the original breed standard. After 30 years of existence, the boerboel is no closer to uniformity than it was 30 years ago.”
The colour variations were created as a “money spinner”, he says, with puppies fetching R7 000 to R15 000. “Every second breeder is making these variations. We’re leaving because we want to ensure the right breeding practices are involved.
“All we want to do is to go back to breeding the traditional boerboel.”
Meanwhile, Daff has incurred the ire of the SA Hunters and Game Conservation Association for recently adding 12 wildlife species to the list of tame and domesticated animals regulated under its Animal Improvement Act.
“We’re gravely concerned about this amendment that puts black wildebeest, blue wildebeest, blue duiker, bontebok, gemsbok, impala, oribi, red hartebeest, roan, sable, springbok, and tsessebe at risk of genetic manipulation and genetic pollution,” it stated this week.
The amendment will allow genetic manipulation and cross-breeding of wildlife in the same way that cattle are bred to obtain animals with specific characteristics for agricultural purposes, it claims. The description in the act states listed animals may be used “for the breeding, identification and utilisation of genetically superior animals to improve the production and performance of animals in the interest of the Republic”.
Saturday Star