Climate change is the biggest threat to global hunger and that it is the women who produce our food who suffer first — and worst.
As a result of climate change, between 50-million and 100-million people in southern Africa could experience water shortages by 2050, while about 75-million hectares of land in Africa now suitable for rain-fed agriculture could be lost by 2080.
The price of maize could double due to climate change alone — and other disasters could wipe out crops completely, destroying the primary source of livelihood for scores of women, families and communities.
Small-scale farmers, 70% of whom are women, are responsible for up to 90% of the food produced in some African countries. But most of them do not have secure rights to land, water or the financial resources to ensure they can cope when harvests are destroyed by droughts and floods.
There are approximately 249 million women livestock keepers in Africa for whom livestock represents a major source of income and an opportunity for wealth accumulation. While the majority of them are backyard livestock producers, a few have elevated their production to successful commercial companies. Women livestock producers across Africa play a critical role in reducing hunger and creating job opportunities for Africa’s youth. However, they often face steep barriers in advancing their initiatives. Access to land, finance, markets, training and information remain a greater challenge to women than their male counterparts. On the other hand, ownership of livestock is widely recognized as an important aspect of women’s economic empowerment. Women can receive livestock through inheritance, before or during marriage, or from farmer associations. Alternatively, they may opt to purchase animals directly. In particular, small ruminants and poultry require smaller capital investments thus providing an easy entry point for their participation in livestock markets.
It’s time that we recognised the important role of women farmers and prioritised their resilience to climate change to ensure they continue to play an important role in feeding our continent.
Sheep farming is also known as sheep husbandry, it is the raising and breeding of domestic sheep. It is a branch of animal husbandry. Sheep are raised for meat (lamb and mutton), milk (sheep’s milk), and fiber (wool). Sheep can be raised in a range of temperate climate conditions. In South Africa, the sheep farming business is very profitable. Though, the two main products for sheep farming are sheep meat (lamb & mutton) and wool. The lamb and mutton demand in South Africa is high, and exceeding 1,90,000 tonnes per year. In South Africa, there is a large export market for sheep wool. In this article we also discuss the below topics about sheep farming in South Africa;
- Is sheep farming a profitable business in South Africa
- What is the most profitable sheep in South Africa
- Benefits of sheep farming in South Africa
- Sheep farming business for beginners
Profitability can be challenging in sheep farming, but with productive sheep and close control of expenses, a profit is possible. Usually, sheep produce income from the sale of meat, wool, and milk. Approximately, there are 8000 commercial sheep farms throughout South Africa and about 5,800 communal farmers. In South Africa, the estimated number of sheep is about 28.8 million. Sheep farmers are represented by organizations with Dorper Sheep Breeders’ Society of South Africa and Merino South Africa being the most prominent.
Southern Africa is hosting a large sheep-like Merino, indigenous and locally developed genetic resource. Adapted to the agricultural production systems of the continent, it mainly represents a unique resource that has great potential for further development of its productivity. Before you start a mutton and wool sheep farming business in South Africa, there are some important decisions that you have to make. You have to decide on the size of the sheep production business i.e., how many heep you will have at your sheep farm. There are many different sheep breeds in South Africa, so you have to select which sheep breed you will use, the location of your business, and your target market. The size of your mutton and wool sheep farming business will depend on the amount of capital you have, and your target market. You must get a good sheep production business plan before you start a commercial sheep farming business in South Africa.
Sheep Breeds for Meat in South Africa
In South Africa, commercial sheep are farmed for either meat or wool, but certain breeds yield good quality and quantity of both. This will mainly focus on sheep breeds used in South Africa for meat production only. Also, there are available some developing breeds in South Africa like the Boesmanlander and the Bezuidenhout.
Merino – The Merino sheep make up numerically the largest sheep breed in South Africa with approximately 18 million countries wide. The South African Merino breed is plainer than the Australian Merino and folds development is moderate to suit South African conditions. It is an important resource for farmers, providing meat and wool.
Dorper Sheep farming in South Africa – The Dorper sheep breed was developed in South Africa and bred through the crossbreeding of the Persian sheep, Dorset, and Van Rooy sheep. Then, this resulted in a hardy, fast-growing meat breed suitable for low-rainfall regions. The Dorper sheep is a large and strongly built meat sheep with a white body and blackhead. This fast-growing fertile breed produces lambs that are slaughter-ready at 4 months. The breed does not need shearing and its skin – with a smooth grain and no creasing can be used for leather.
Black-headed Persian Sheep – The Black-headed Persian sheep breed is an ancient meat breed, and is believed to have originated in Somalia or the Middle East. This has long drooping ears, similar to goats. The color varieties of the Persian sheep breed are the blackhead (90%), redhead (4%), and the speckled Persian (6%). Persians are excellent mothers with an even temperament and the breeding interval is 8 months and a high percentage of twins are produced. It is bred mainly for its meat, although its skin and the blackhead Persian specifically can be used for the production of thin, high-grade leather products. The Persian breed is more resistant to disease compared to other sheep breeds.
Land reform and women empowerment - South Africa
Ile de France Sheep – Commercial farming with the Ile de France breed only started in the 1970s. Wool can contribute up to 20% of the Ile de France Sheep breed’s income. Though, most consider the Ile de France a meat breed only, to produce heavy early-maturing slaughter-ready lambs.
Van Rooy Sheep – The white Van Rooy sheep breed is a meat breed developed in South Africa and has white hair, prominent dewlap, and a fat tail and rump. A South African ‘developed’ meat sheep and the fertile Van Rooy sheep were bred to thrive in the drier climates of Southern Africa, typical of fat-tail breeds. It is a medium to large hornless sheep covered with white hair, with a thin wool undercoat on the front part of the body. Fat distribution is localized in the rump and tail. The fertile Van Rooy produces and raises lambs in extremely harsh conditions. It is used in crossbreeding, due to its unique gene pool. The age of the first lambing is 16 months. The Van Rooy sheep exhibits a fast growth rate, and rams are often used to crossbreed with other sheep breeds, to produce lambs with a good growth rate and early fat accumulation.
Meat master Sheep – The Meat master sheep breed is another South African-developed meat breed, bred from the Damara, Dorper, Van Rooy, and Ile de France breed. The Meat master 100-day weaning weight is about 27 kg. Meat master lambs can be slaughtered at 5 months of age, at around 38 kg, and may yield a carcass of 17.5 kg.
Dual-Purpose Sheep Breeds in South Africa
A dual-purpose sheep breed in South Africa refers to an animal that can be farmed for the production of wool and meat. South African studies have found that farming with a suitable dual-purpose breed for a specific climate can make a higher income than farming with a meat-only breed. Though, many parameters play a role, not least how each breed reacts to climate conditions such as drought. So, it is important to select the right breed to adapt to current farming conditions and weather patterns.
South African Mutton Merino – The dual-purpose Merino breed is also called the German Merino and was used to develop other sheep breeds such as the Dormer and Dohne Merino. Through breeding and selection, this sheep breed is now considered uniquely South African. This large sheep produces both meat and good quality medium to strong wool of 21 to 23 microns. Although initially developed to utilize winter grazing in the Western Cape and rear their lambs before grazing deteriorates in the summer season, the mutton Merino adapts well to a range of climates and is found countrywide.
Merino Land sheep – The Merino Land sheep breed originally from Germany is an exceptionally large sheep with a deep body. The first Merino Land sheep breed was imported from Germany in 1956 and quickly adapted to South Africa’s grazing conditions and climate. The Land sheep has a long and deep body, producing heavy lamb carcasses of 20 to 25 kg at 100 to 120 days with an above-average slaughter percentage of around 54%. The breed is fertile and can produce three lambs every two years with the first lambing at 12 to 15 months. Lambs are small at birth with few birthing problems. The Merino Land sheep produces a good crop of medium to strong wool.
Dormer Sheep – The Dormer meat sheep breed was ‘developed’ in South Africa through crossbreeding Dorset Horn rams with German Merino ewes. The name ‘Dormer’ mainly refers to the parent breeds Dorset and Merino. It was specifically bred for the cold and wet conditions of the winter rainfall regions of the Western Cape but is farmed successfully in temperate conditions on the natural veld and cultivated pastures. The well-muscled sheep shows early maturity age – first lambing is 18 months and is very fertile; and producing small, multiple lambs. The fast-growing breed exhibits a good feed conversion rate to produce slaughter-size lambs at an early age – lambs can be market-ready at three months, weighing 16 to 22 kg.
Afrino Sheep – It has a locally-developed dual-purpose sheep breed. The Afrino sheep is a large breed with wool of 18 – 22 microns which can contribute 20% of income; the rest is from meat production.
Suffolk Sheep – The Suffolk sheep breed is a polled (hornless) English sheep breed that was brought to South Africa in the late 1890s. Some people considered the Suffolk a meat breed but are also used for wool production. Suffolk sheep experience easy births, but rarely produce twins.
There are plenty of strong women who are defying protocol and speaking out, but will our leaders be ready to stand with them? They must, we must.
The South African agriculture sector continues to deliver growth and value to the economy, with a growth rate of 13.1% recorded in 2020, 8.3% in 2021 and a 3.6% year-on-year growth rate so far this year. At least 70 women farmers in key agricultural communities across South Africa provide ingredients, including ground nuts, tomatoes, white maize, small white beans, sorghum and wheat to the mark
Johann Pretorius CRA Group
