Jan Bonsma

Bonsmara is a composite breed developed in the Transvaal Province of South Africa by Professor Bonsma at the Mara Research Station since 1936. The name of the breed was derived from Bonsma's name. The breed was obtained as a result of mating between local Afrikaner cows and European Shorthorn and Hereford bulls.

The breed was recognized in 1964, and its breed improvement program has been operating since then. he breed was registered in 1972. The Bonsmara were subsequently exported to Botswana and spread to the north of South Africa where they became well established. Today Bonsmara is not unique to South Africa, but is also found in Zimbabwe, Namibia, Zambia, Swaziland, Botswana,
Angola, Mozambique, Rwanda, Australia, Argentina, Paraguay, DR Congo, BrazArgentina and the USA where its value under similar conditions is appreciated.

Jan Bonsma was born in 1909 in South Africa. He earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science from the University of Pretoria (South Africa) in 1931 and his teacher’s certification the next year. He started teaching, then earned his master’s degree in animal science in 1936 and did postgraduate work at Iowa State University (ISU) with world-renowned animal geneticist Jay Lush.

In 1937 he returned to South Africa, and would lead a massive research program at the South Africa Department of Agriculture’s Mara Research Station in Limpopo for 23 years.

Bonsma’s mission was clear: to help solve South Africa’s cattle industry problem. The native cattle breed, Africkander, needed improvement to reach the commercial production of other breeds. European cattle were imported to the area, but they could not survive in the harsh environment.

After decades of research and experimentation, Bonsma and his team developed a new breed, the Bonsmara, of approximately 3/16 Hereford, 3/16 Shorthorn and 5/8 Africkander. Bonsmara cattle was made an official breed in 1972.
Throughout his career, Bonsma, who later was given an honorary doctorate; authored more than 200 works, including seven books; and spoke around the world on his knowledge of beef cattle. His list of accolades is long, with many from American universities and cattle breed associations because of his extensive work in improving breeds.
He traveled around the world speaking on his findings, often at universities. In fact, in 1975, Texas A&M University awarded him the “Distinguished Guest Professor.” He was the first foreigner to earn the honor.
This praise accompanied the award: “Never before has one man given so much to so many in the practice of beef improvement. Your educated but pragmatic approach to teaching your fellow man how to improve his efficiency of beef production will indeed leave its mark on the livestock industry for generations to come.”

The Alpha Bonsmara group does offer you usefull resources
and downloads like the e-book by Jan Bonsma titled
"Jan Bonsma and the Bonsmara Beef Cattle Breed"