Highvelds International was formed in 1996 by Alan Bouwer and Pierre Bouwer as a seed stock breeding operation in Australia, specialising in South African breeds of small livestock.
In 1996, Highvelds International began importing White Dorper sheep, Van Rooy sheep and Boer goats into Australia in the form of frozen embryos. Later, Highvelds International began importing the Black Head Dorper breed and the Savanna goat breed. This process involved a large number of embryos brought in each year, until 2007, when the importation of embryos ceased. By this time, Highvelds International had become a well-known and established stud breeding operation in Australia.