The Ernst family is well-known for the precision in which they breed high value- and planes game at Bona Bona Game Breeders and use the same principles, which are good genetics, respect and hard work in Bona Bona Angus Stud.

As a student at the University of the Free State, MJ, a promising young farmer, already analysed the value of investing in Angus Stud and set his sights towards becoming one of South Africa’s top breeders. MJ is a third generation farmer. His grandfather was a pioneer and started farming in the old West Transvaal, in close proximity to where his father Pieter Ernst Snr purchased land near Wolmaransstad many years later.

MJ has gone to great lengths to purchase the best genetics Angus that the market has to offer. He studied each auction catalogue meticulously and gained knowledge from existing breeders to ensure that he purchases the best animals each auction had to offer.

In 2012 he purchased the cow JMS 06-256 at the Angus Alliance Auction, for a SA record price of R85 000.
The quality of animals that Bona Bona Angus invest in is also evident in their head stud bull, Bertus, who won the National Junior and overall Championship Bull award at the Bloemfontein show in 2013.