The Drakensberger is indigenous to South Africa.

In 1497 when Vasco da Gama landed at the Cape he traded valuables for cattle, which were black in colour, from nomadic tribes, viz. the Khoi. However, it was only in the time of Jan van Riebeeck, and more precisely Simon van der Stel, that cattle farming started in earnest.

At the time of the Great Trek in 1836 – 37, some of the Voortrekkers left the Cape, and trekked northward with teams of black oxen for their wagons. These cattle were by then known as the Vaderlander.

Many Voortrekkers settled and farmed along the Drakensberg region. One of these families, the Uys family, who farmed in the Volksrust district, was dedicated to the breed, and began refining it. Eventually these cattle became known as the Uys cattle. In 1947 it was officially and appropriately re-named Drakensberger after the Drakensberg range where they were mostly concentrated. Ultimately the breed spread through most of the country.

A young pure bred Drakensberger bull

The Drakensberger thrive extremely well on sourveld grazing in cool, harsh climatic conditions. Hench they also adapt well in the Eastern Highveld where the farm Vlakfontein, and Treeferns Trout Lodge are situated.

Young Drakensberger beef cattle

The Drakensberger is a medium size sturdy breed, glossy black in colour, and known for its excellent tender beef, good milk production, and mothering ability. They are even tempered, and therefore easy to handle, and also very resistant to diseases.

At Vlakfontein farm the stud is being upgraded with breeding stock from J.S.(Kobus) Davel of the Moeilykheid Stud near Dullstroom.

The results are already visible as can be seen from the slide show: