A NEW DAWN FOR SHEEP BREEDERS

Natures money maker

THE VISION

AdaptabillityFertilityCoveringTropgebondenheidVreetgewoontesMoederinstinkLoopvermoëPigmentasie

BespieringGroeivermoë

MelkproduksieKarkaskwaliteit

MEATMASTER

WHAT IS THE MEATMASTER?

The Meatmaster is a composite sheep breed developed in South Africa.

It is bred as a non-fat tailed hair type sheep for meat production.

It offers farmers an alternative with unique characteristics to meet the need of a huge market in South Africa and around the world.

DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

Meatmasters must have a percentage Damara blood.

We will remain an open herd book.

Meatmasters are developed by crossing different breeds and then purifying the crosses.

DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

It does not matter how breeders intend to breed their Meatmasters in the development stage…

..it is of vital importance though that the breed standards and selection norms of the Meatmaster are adhered to.

These form the basis of the Breed.

The Meatmaster sets the breed standards and how breeders intend to achieve it is up to them.

BREED STANDARDS Completely new and unique Breed. Ignores petty conformation issues. Totally focused on economic factors.

Designed to: Keep costs as low as possible! Income as high as possible!!

= MAXIMUM PROFIT!!!

COLOUR AND SKIN PIGMENTATION

Any colour, or combination of colours, is acceptable. Good pigmentation around the eyes and over the ears is

essential.

REASON To prevent cancer and eye infection. Stronger hoofs.

HEAD AND HORNS

Ewes must be feminine tending to be polled. Rams must be masculine also tending to be polled. Slight horns in both sexes are acceptable.

REASON

Easier to manage in sheep yards Less vulnerable to fly strike as result of horn injuries.

COVERING

Must have mainly short shiny hair Underlining blanket of fluffy fine Wool. Must never be shorn, natural shedding ability of coat is essential.

REASON Extreme Cold and Heat tolerance (Winter sub zero – Summer 45°C +) Protection from ticks No shearing costs. Neat and tidy – No fly strike.

EXCELLENT

AVERAGE

CULL

CULL

EXCELLENT

GOOD

CULL

FUNCTIONALLY EFFICIENT

CONFORMATION AND LEGS

Must be of average size. Have a functional efficient body conformation. Well placed legs with excellent walking ability.

REASON Easy lambing. Enough meat with good movement.

HINDQUARTERS

Excellent muscling in hindquarter and loin No fat localization. Strong legs with excellent placing.

TESTICLES

Well formed with excellent elasticity.

Absolute minimum abnormality and faults.

Head/Kop

NoseNeus

MouthMond

EarOor

Eye / Oog

Neck Nek

Sprong van Rib

Withers Skof

ShoulderSkouer

Brisket / Bors been

Knee/ Knieg

Pasterns/ Kootgewrigte

Loin/ LendeRump

Testis Sheath Skede

Hock Hak

Tail/ Stert

Hindquarter Agterkwart

Hoof Kloutjie

Hip/Heup

Sitbeen/ Pinbone

Draaibeen/thurl bone

Rug/back

Shoulder point/ Skouer punt

Ram’s are Masculine

Buite dy

Binnedy

Breedte oor Lende

Testis

Hak

Skenkel

Tail/ Stert

Hip / Heup

Sitbeen/ pinbone

Draaibeen / Thurl bone

Ewe’s are Femenin

CULL FAULTS

BODY CONFORMATION

RAMS Big and Muscular Especially strong over

the loins. Excellent balance

between length, width and depth

EWES Sleek and Feminine Well formed udder Excellent mothering

ability.

MeatmasterNote the exceptional DIFFERENCE in

bodystructure between the Ram and Ewe.

TAIL Must have a good

attachment. Preferably not be longer

than the hocks. Have a neat wedge shape

with only a moderate amount of fat.

Must never be necessary to have the tail taken off.

REASON Prevent ticks and fly strike. No stress or possible infection

with tail cutting – lower risk. Less work – Lower cost.

TAIL PROBLEM 1

Too short Too fat Not wedge shaped

CULLED

REASON Fat localization Poor carcass quality

TAIL PROBLEM 2 Too long Too fat Low attachment Totally unacceptable.

CULLED

REASON Mating difficulties Poor carcass quality

TAIL PROBLEM 3

Drooping rump Low tail attachment

CULLED

REASON Mating difficulties Poor Carcass quality

TAIL PROBLEM 4

Too fat Too wide

DISCRIMINATE

REASON Leads to mating difficulties Fat localization Poor carcass quality

THE IDEAL TAIL

Good Attachment No fat localization Not too short or too long Good wedge shape

IMPORTANT ATTRIBUTES TO TAKE NOTE OF

HERD INSTINCT

The Breed must have a very strong herd instinct.

REASON Vital for better management in rugged bush or mountainous

regions. Prevents wandering and going through fences. Protect themselves and their lambs from predators.

NON SELECTIVE GRAZERS

Excellent utilization of dry veldt None selective grazers Eats grass, bush, trees and shrubs

PURPOSEFUL SELECTION AND PERFORMANCE TESTING AS PART OF BREED STANDARDS

Select to achieve the following: Extremely fertile Sheep.

Good mothers that rear their Lambs without problems.

Virile rams with excellent serving ability.

Sheep with good movement and walking ability.

Lambs that will reach a slaughter mass of 12-25kg (depending on the area you farm in), off their mother, preferably before five months.

An average grading of A2-A3 must be achieved at above slaughter masses.

Do tick counts and select for it. Wean sheep as far as possible from dosing for internal parasites. No shearing.

No cutting of tails.

Minimal dosing, Inoculation and Dipping.

AN EASY CARE SHEEP IN ALL ASPECTS

FOR LOW IMPUT COST AND HARDINESS

METHODS OF IDENTIFICATION

Tattoo or ear tag before Lamb is 1 week old.

Tattoo or ear code before wean.

A clear tattoo only is sufficient for life time identification.

All sheep not clearly tattooed must have a tag and be ear coded as tags can be lost.

CR: Prefix

5: The Year (2005)

098: Follow number

CC: Prefix7: The Year (2007)010: Follow Number

NECESSITIE’S FOR RECORD KEEPING Shepherd Computer program can be downloaded from:

http://gadi.agric.za Make your own:

Mating book with date in and date out.

Birth notification book

Record above information in the “Shepherd” program (1) when rams are taken from the ewes (2) when 100 day weights have been taken.

Remember that the value and accuracy of your information will only be as good as the accuracy of the data you capture.

Remember that only lambs born within two months can be compared to one another. Lambs born outside this period must be identified as a separate group.

Ewe Number Ram Number

Lam no. Date of Birth Sex Dam Sire Weight Remarks

SEND TO THE A.R.C. IF “SHEPHERD” IS NOTNOT BEING USED

I.D. of each lamb Date of birth Birth status Sex Father Mother 100 Day weighing date 100 Day weight Weaning Status if one of multiples died before wean Divide lambs into:

Environmental groups Management groups

SEND TO ARC IF SHEPHERD ISIS BEING USED

After making sure that the information found on the previous slide is correct, choose the options:

Create Output File to Intergis System

Weaning

Send

SEND TO …

ADDRESS

A.R.C Animal Improvement InstitutePrivate Bag X 529Grootfontein Agricultural CollegeMiddleburg E.C5900

Arno van Graaf or Olivia Maritz Tel. +27 (0)49 842 2563E-mail: smallstock@arc.agric.za

THE SOCIETY Determined and Dedicated Effective Affordable

Services Delivered 8hrs a day available via telephone

Maintain Website – http://www.meatmaster.org

Help for Members and new Members

Sending circulars and accounts

Manage finances of Society

Keep minutes of yearly meetings

Help with advertisements

Can arrange inspections

COURSES: OPEN FOR MEMBERS AND THOSE INTERESTED Beginners Course: Must be attended by all members and new

members and the following will be dealt with: All administration regarding stud breeding Record keeping and basic performance testing What to look for when buying rams and ewes Breed standards, breeding and selection Those completing the course qualify to inspect their own sheep

Advanced Course: May be attended by all those who completed the beginners course. More advanced and in depth teaching of:

Breeding and selectionPerformance testing and the “SHEPHERD” programHow to act as a Meatmaster judge

SOCIETY CONTACT DETAILSFor courses, help or any information:

Sonja Wasserman

Tel: +27 (0)51 410 0955Fax: +27 (0)51 448 4220

Website: http://www.meatmaster.org

E-mail: info@meatmaster.org or sonja@studbook.co.za

POSTAL ADDRESSP.O.Box 1060BloemfonteinFree State9300

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM YOUR WHAT TO EXPECT FROM YOUR MEATMASTERSMEATMASTERS

NATIONAL SLAUGHTER LAMB COMPETITION

LAMBS BEFORE SLAUGHTER

SINGLE PLACING 22nd

23rd

55th out of 236

Carcasses

GROUP PLACING9th out of 59 Groups

AVERAGE LIVE WEIGHTS

41,5kg

NATIONAL SLAUGHTER LAMB COMPETITION

Take part in slaughter lamb competitions to improve your own Meatmasters

FUTURE OF THE MEATMASTER Success Guaranteed Because the Meatmaster…

…is selected solely for economic factors under natural conditions.

…ensures Breeders the highest income to cost ratio, i.e. max profit.

…distinguishes itself under extensive farming conditions.

…performs well in research projects regarding net income.

…has tender tasty meat with good carcass qualities.

…creates a lot of interest internationally because of its uniqueness.

…has extremely easy care and management.

…has no fancy points in selection.

…shows are used uniquely for breed promotion and education

…has compulsory performance testing for efficiency of production and reproduction.

SUCCESS OF THE MEATMASTER… …DEPENDS ON YOU!

BREEDERS:

Must Attend Beginners course !!

Type B Breeder must attend performance testing course

Get to understand natural breeding and selection principles.

Understand performance testing and apply it effectively.

Attend advanced course

Get involved with the Breed and its promotion.

ENSURE YOUR OWN SUCCESS Be disciplined and dedicated regarding your breeding and

selection.

Advertise the breed country wide, but especially in your area by means of:

Farmers union meetings and Farmer Days Expo’s Emerging Farmers Articles in Agricultural Magazines Participation in slaughter competitions Organize Sales Use local Newsletters or Newspapers Create your own website

MEATMASTERS WORLDWIDE

Breed established in: Australia Canada Mexico Namibia

MEATMASTER EWES IN AUSTRALIA

EXPO’S and SALE’S

• Rustenburg• Loeriesfontein• Hopetown• Upington

BACK A WINNER! The Meatmaster is undoubtedly a winning Breed.

Do your part and don’t wait for the Board or Society.

YOU ARE THE SOCIETY! You must be the motivation.

The Breed offers you everything… …your success depends fully on what you intend to do with it!

Get involved with the development and promotion of the Breed.It has the potential to change Sheep breeding worldwide!!!

Make this the investment of your life.

IT’S GOOD TO BACK A WINNER ! ! !

MEATMASTERS WILL SEE YOU THROUGH THE TOUGH TIMES…

… THE GOOD TIMES TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES

MEATMASTERS WILL TAKE YOUR FARMING ENTERPRISE TO NEW HIGHTS