Sheep & Goats

Farmer’s Weekly brings you the latest sheep and goat farming news and updates from South Africa and the rest of Africa.

Dormer sheep breed: Origin and history

Dormer sheep breed: Origin and history

The Dormer, one of the most popular mutton sheep breeds in SA today, has an interesting history.

Adding Dormers to a Merino operation

Well-known Merino stud breeder Eddie Prinsloo has diversified into Dormer sheep and is getting excellent results with this dual-purpose breed.
Communal goat farmer planning to go commercial

Communal goat farmer planning to go commercial

Most of South Africa’s livestock reportedly occur in communal areas, but few generate income.

Putting goat milk cheese on the map, one award at a time

A health setback for Alastair Catto, and Marianne Joos’s longing for goat milk cheese produced in Switzerland, brought this duo together in a partnership that would see them raking up cheese awards for their Goat Peter dairy. Lindi van Rooyen spoke to them about producing goat milk cheese for the most discerning palate.

Turning things around with Savannah goats

As many extensive farmers in the Karoo know, raising lambs successfully can be an enormous challenge. Farmer Flippie Loock from the Middelburg district knew he had to find an alternative, so eight years ago he started farming with Savannah goats. Heather Dugmore visited him.
Pedi sheep breed ewe and lamb

Supporting a family, week by lonely week

Malekaleke Maila farms with Pedi sheep on communal land in Limpopo. Unable to run his flock near his village, he is forced to spend each week away from home. Yet, through careful management, he earns a reasonable living and is paying for his children’s studies. Peter Mashala spoke to him.

The rise of Swakara farming

The South African Karakul industry was all but decimated in the 1980s and 1990s. Jaco Visser visited Karakul stud breeder Johan Moller in the Kalahari to find out about the industry’s resurgence and the high demand for Swakara pelts.

The legacy of the Wellwood Merino stud

Near Graaff-Reinet, on the farm Wellwood, one of the oldest and most respected Merino studs in the country, five generations of Rubidge sons have consistently bred outstanding Merino sheep. Heather Dugmore talks to Robert Rubidge.

Making it in the mohair business

an Lottering and Andries Mopiley’s Angora goat farming enterprise in Prince Albert shows that an agricultural empowerment project can succeed driven by motivated beneficiaries and mentored by the industry’s experts. Denene Erasmus reports.
Stan Burger with his Damara Sheep

Damara sheep: Adaptable and profitable

The Damara breed originated in Asia and spread to Southern Africa 2 000 years ago. Down the centuries, the extreme environment continually selected the hardiest, most adaptable specimens. Stud breeder Stan Burger spoke to Annelie Coleman about his passion for this remarkable breed.

Matriculant farms successfully with Boer goats

An early passion for farming can lead to a successful, profitable business for a teenager.
Diversifying production with goat’s milk cheese

Diversifying production with goat’s milk cheese

Brothers Jan and Dries Wiese recently added goat's milk cheese to their sheep farming operation.

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