Running Veld-Adapted Dohne Merinos Since 1945

The Blaine family near Kei Road in the Eastern Cape began breeding Merinos in the 1880s, and by the 1940s had established the Ross Dohne stud. This became a foundation stud in the Dohne Research Station’s breeding project near Stutterheim. Tom Blaine spoke to Mike Burgess about their determination to adhere to the ‘original true intention’ of the Dohne Merino.

Asked how much green feed is planted on the 1 200ha property, Tom Blaine smiles.

“Green feed? The best green feed on our farm is the kikuyu under the dripping gutters.”

The veld and lick, he says, are all that his sheep have access to.

“Our sheep cope in this environment, and it’s all because of the guys before us. I can honestly say that the sheep on this farm are the closest to the original true intention of the Dohne Merino: a dual-purpose sheep producing from the veld.”

FROM MERINO TO DOHNE MERINO

Tom, who farms alongside his father, Peter, and brother, John, on Ross farm near Kei Road in the Eastern Cape, is proud of the family’s historical contribution to sheep breeding in the region.

He tells of the first Blaine in the region, George, who imported Australian Merino genetics in the 1880s. The family continued importing Australian fine-wool genetics up until the 1930s, when stud ewes were producing on average 7,7kg of wool.

Tom’s great-grandfather, Jack, who inherited Ross farm, then started becoming concerned about their reliance on wool at the expense of fertility and mutton production. In fact, the problem became so severe that he was forced to buy wethers (hamels) from up country to make up for the paucity of lambs.

By the 1940s, Jack was determined to breed a more efficient, plain-bodied, dual purpose Merino for the sourveld conditions of Ross. His intentions dovetailed with that of JJJ Kotze from the Dohne Research Station near Stutterheim, and Jack, with his brother Deemie (from neighbouring Wauldby farm) were amongst the first farmers to become involved in the official Dohne breeding programme.