Hendré Calitz, the chairperson of the Afrino Sheep Breeders’ Association of South Africa, manages the Koppiesfontein Afrino Stud near Smithfield for Piet and Theo Delport of Wesselsbron. Mike Burgess visited him to better understand the value of the Afrino under extensive conditions.
“I love the Afrino,” says Hendré Calitz, who manages 3 500 Afrino ewes (300 of which are stud animals) on 5 000ha for Piet and Theo Delport of Wesselsbron. “And I’m very proud of the progress of the Koppiesfontein Stud.”
The value of the Afrino, a composite breed (25% indigenous Ronderib Afrikaner, 25% Merino and 50% SA Mutton Merino) is its ability to produce meat and wool under extensive conditions with low inputs.
“If you’re farming extensively, there isn’t a better breed than the Afrino,” claims Calitz. “You don’t need to pamper them with feed and they’ll still give you a lamb and quality wool.”
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
The Delports first saw the Afrino at Nampo Harvest Day in the early 1990s. They then visited breeder Koot Pienaar between Philippolis and the Gariep Dam and were deeply impressed by the performance of his Afrinos.
“The sheep were in good condition despite not receiving any lick,” recalls Calitz. “They were running on hard steekgras veld in the mountains.”
It didn’t take the Delports long to put Afrino rams to their SA Mutton Merino ewes to breed a hardy, fertile sheep with exceptional mothering abilities, and by 2001, their Koppiesfontein Afrino Stud was registered and being managed by Hansie Swanepoel, who today runs the Delports’ Merino operation. The late Gerald van Heerden also played a central role in selection.
Born and schooled in Bethulie, Calitz always wanted to be involved in agriculture. After school, he studied at the Potchefstroom College of Agriculture, where he completed a diploma in 2005. He then left for England and Scotland to work on various farms, and after his return in 2007 took up a management position on the Delport farms near Wesselsbron.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Syngenta Seedcare celebrates a decade of innovation
Syngenta's ambition is to enable their customers' investments to grow in healthy soil from treated seeds to young plants through innovation and collaboration, writes Magda du Toit.
Agri workers shine at Western Cape awards
Lindie-Alet van Staden, a garden and olive orchard manager at L’Ormarins Wine Estate in Franschhoek, was crowned as the Western Cape Prestige Agri-Worker of 2024 at a gala event recently held near Paarl.
Small and large farmers recognised at grain awards
The annual Grain SA/Syngenta awards ceremony bears testimony to the quality of farmers in the grain industry.
Growing partnerships: Fedgroup's flexible and innovative approach
Janine Ryan spoke to Warren Winchester, general manager of impact investing at Fedgroup, about why the company became involved in agriculture, and what it offers farmers and their immediate communities.
Why fish farms fail, and how to avoid becoming a statistic
The popularity of launching fish farms is not matched by their success. Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions, explores the factors that cause most of these businesses to go under.
Where history and modernity meet in a luxurious setting
Brian Berkman kept his eyes peeled for ghosts in the oldest continuously run hotel in South Africa, but all he found was a fabulous two-night stay.
THE HITCHING POST
I'm a stylish elderly lady with a radiant glow and a good sense of humour that keeps me young at heart.
Cutworms: check the weeds on your fields!
Zunel van Eeden explains why understanding the ecological interplay between cutworms and weeds is crucial for effective pest management. Producers should disrupt the life cycle of cutworms to minimise crop damage.
Does high-density grazing mimic grazing patterns of game?
In their paper on high-density grazing in Southern Africa, professors Angelinus Franke and Elmarie Kotzé from the Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences at the University of the Free State say high-density grazing systems may not accurately reflect natural ecosystems. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Global grain outlook: 2024/25 marketing season
In its latest summer crops report, the Crop Estimates Committee says South African farmers intend to plant 4,47 million hectares of summer grains and oilseeds in the 2024/25 season, up 1% from the previous season. As South Africa exports maize and soya bean, Annelie Coleman reports on the latest trends in the international grain and oilseed markets, amid fluctuations in weather conditions and ongoing armed conflicts.
