Since importing his first Damaras from Namibia in the late 1980s, stud breeder Frank Blumenthal has firmly believed in the integrity of the breed. The Free State farmer says that the modern indigenous Damara has over the years evolved into a well-muscled animal with outstanding disease resistance and fertility under the hottest, driest conditions. Annelie Coleman reports.
Frank Blumenthal’s passion for his Damaras is almost tangible. “I’m far too loyal to my breed to even consider crossbreeding,” he says.
He knew from the first time he came across the Damara in 1979 in the far northern corners of Namibia that this was the ideal sheep breed for South Africa’s harsh, arid farming areas. The name of the breed is derived from the Damara area of Namibia.
THE FIRST DAMARAS
Blumenthal and his family farm on Zandraai (6 000ha) on the banks of the Orange River, near Luckhoff in the Free State. Zandraai Farms specialises in the production of export-quality popcorn and wheat under irrigation. The Damara sheep are kept on Karoo-type veld and grain stover. The farm’s official carrying capacity is one small stock unit on 3,5ha, and the flock is rotated according to grazing conditions. The flock normally consists of about 1 000 animals kept in 21 camps, each with its own watering point.
Temperatures fluctuate from below freezing in winter to the high 30s in summer, and the annual average rainfall is about 250mm. At the time of Farmer’s Weekly’s visit, the flock was down to 800 animals.
Blumenthal brought his first Damaras to South Africa from Namibia in 1987 and continued importing them until 1992. The animals came from a wide area north of Kamanjab and Grootfontein. He was determined to acquire as many of the true Kaokoland Damaras as possible, and therefore obtained animals from a variety of owners and breeders. This enabled him to establish a wide genetic base.
According to Blumenthal, Damara-type sheep occur in most of Africa’s desert areas, including Nigeria, Mali, Niger and Mauritania. With survival of the fittest being the main selection criterion in nature, only the hardiest and most adaptable animals have survived over the millennia, thus retaining the breed’s robust genetics.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة June 22, 2018 من Farmer's Weekly.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة June 22, 2018 من Farmer's Weekly.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
New farmers' seedling pitfalls
Inexperienced farmers may be tempted to grow seedlings from seed themselves, but they have much to gain by trusting a seedling grower at a nursery to perform this task for them instead
South African avocado production: a success story
Avocado production in South Africa has expanded markedly since the industry's humble beginnings over 80 years ago. From a small grove planted in 1938 in what was then Nelspruit, the industry has blossomed to seven million trees planted on 20 000ha. Dr Guy Witney, project manager at Great Brak Avos, spoke to Annelie Coleman about the country's avocado production.
Unlocking value through livestock exports
Exporting livestock might sound like a daunting business that's better left for big companies, but Gerrie Ferreira, who farms near Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape, has been doing it successfully for almost 30 years, sometimes in partnership with other breeders. He spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the huge potential this market holds, and offers some advice for farmers who are contemplating going this route.
An agribusiness's dedication to community upliftment
For agribusiness NWK, located in Lichtenburg, North West, corporate social investment is an important part of creating a positive influence alongside financial returns. Johan Bezuidenhout, NWK’s group manager of corporate marketing and communication, spoke to Annelie Coleman about why the company chooses to invest millions of rands in the area it operates in every year.
Empowering dreams, transforming lives
Since its launch in 2013, the Agri's Got Talent competition has revolutionised the lives of many farmworkers by unlocking their hidden talents and fostering a culture of empowerment. Glenneis Kriel spoke to various finalists about how the contest has changed their lives.
Foreign investment: agriculture maintains its appeal
South Africa remains a popular destination for foreign investors, despite an often negative outlook from its citizens. It is a gateway to Africa, and with its counterseasonal production to the Northern Hemisphere and favourable weather, local agriculture is especially well placed to attract foreign interest, bringing with it hope for rural communities
The real value and message of COP29 for SA agriculture
While the 2024 Conference of the Parties may have disappointed those who hoped for real progress, it's more important for South African agriculture to highlight its role in carbon mitigation
Improving efficiencies in feed and grain milling
Bühler, a Swiss-based company that provides solutions and equipment for various industries, including food and animal feed processing, has pledged that by 2025, it will deliver scalable solutions that will reduce energy, waste and water by 50% in the value chains of its customers.
Tips for better olive production
At an SA Olive Association field day in November, industry experts shared ways to improve olive production efficiencies, from soil preparation to harvesting.
More effort needed to protect vulnerable cheetah
On International Cheetah Day, commemorated every year on 4 December, emphasis was placed on the vulnerability of the species.
