The Merino offers breeders a double income in the form of mutton and lamb for the local market and high-quality wool for the export market, says LeRoux Fourie, owner of Fourie Boerdery Merino Stud near Brandfort in the Free State.
He explains that it is a highly adaptable breed that can be farmed profitably in a wide array of climates and environments, adding that the modern Merino ewe is highly fertile and comfortably weans her lamb at 50% of her own weight at 100 days.
“The breed is known for top-quality and durable wool that’s internationally sought after. And it allows breeders the best of both worlds: valuable wool and excellent meat,” he says.
THE FARM
Fourie keeps his stud on 1 680ha divided into 12 natural grazing camps and 12 grain fields with individual watering points. His great-grandfather, Frans, started farming Merinos here in 1910, and the stud was registered in 1989.
Merinos have played an integral part in the mixed farming concern since Frans began farming. The sheep enterprise includes a commercial flock and a sheep feedlot.
Fourie says that he decided to establish a stud to add optimal value and supply superior breeding material adapted to extensive farming conditions. He was further motivated to do so by the stud industry’s selection support through systems such as performance recording and best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP).
Ongoing selection for fertility, efficiency and adaptability, and veld-testing of rams, officially branded and certified by the VeldbullRam organisation of Southern Africa, underpin the stud.
SELECTION
Denne historien er fra January 31, 2020-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
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Denne historien er fra January 31, 2020-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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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.
