Fourteen kilometres from Döhne, the birthplace of the breed itself, Southgate Döhne Merino Stud is a low-budget stud in what could be described as some of the most inhospitable sheep country in the Eastern Cape.
Alfred ‘Alf’ Cawthorn, later joined by his son Gerald and his wife, Erna, farmed Kaffrarian Poll Merinos, which he later amalgamated with the Walrich Mutton Merino. In 1980, these were merged into the Dohne Merino breed as it was being further shaped into the lineage renowned for its versatility today.
They registered a stud named after one of their farms, Southgate, in 1980. After Gerald’s passing, Neil and Morgan Potter and family procured it from Erna in 2024 and have aimed to secure the future of this storied stud.
The Potters have farmed Merino and Döhne Merino sheep for many years along with Bonsmara cattle, reflecting a commitment to hardy breeds that are well-suited to the South African veld and climate.
Guided by the motto ‘Bred for survival here – ready to dominate anywhere’, the Potters have tried to adapt to the challenges presented by the rigorous standards for data collection and efficiency demanded by Dohne Merino Breed Society of South Africa. They are constantly aware of the fact that they are not only farming for themselves, but also for the flocks around them and the future of the breed as a whole.
The Southgate Stud won the Logix Small-Stock Flock of the Year Award in 2025. Through the use of some of the most advanced practices available today, they strive for an ever-increasing lambing rate of 150%. This is in order to grow and to facilitate more stringent selection within their small flock.
Southgate is a very low-budget stud because the Potters lost most of their ground to stock theft and other economic factors associated with crime. They currently farm at an altitude where their sheep have to contend with harsh climatic conditions of mist and wetness, pushing the purpose of the breed’s inception to the limit.
Moreover, the veld grass on this land has a tested protein content of only 2% in midsummer, which means that these are hardy and unpampered animals that can thrive in any situation. That said, in winter especially, planted cereal supplements are a no-brainer on this land, although these sheep have a low reliance on artificial, commercial supplementary feeds.
A balance of fine wool fibre, positive clean fleece weight, and animal body weight are all considered to be the guiding goals by which the success of the breeding efforts of years gone by can be measured.
The Potters always aim for robust and weather compatible sheep, since the Potters have made every effort to know their customers and rely on a long history of sheep farming in the area to inform their breeding decisions. They are fastidious in record-keeping and information sharing so as to help prospective clients make informed choices when it comes to procuring high-quality rams.
A Southgate Döhne Merino is a high-profit, low input, disease-tolerant, virile and balanced sheep. This implies that a Southgate animal is perfectly suited to the Eastern Cape climate and is always a good choice in any situation.
For more information, Contact Morgan 071 939 0784 or Neil 083 599 4794
