a new dawn for sheep breeders natures money maker
TRANSCRIPT
THE VISION
Adaptabillity
Fertility
Covering
Tropgebondenheid
Vreetgewoontes
Moederinstink
Loopvermoë
Pigmentasie
Bespiering
Groeivermoë
Melkproduksie
Karkaskwaliteit
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
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.
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
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.
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
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: Prefix
7: 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 Institute
Private Bag X 529
Grootfontein Agricultural College
Middleburg E.C
5900
Arno van Graaf or Olivia Maritz
Tel. +27 (0)49 842 2563
E-mail: [email protected]
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 selection
Performance testing and the “SHEPHERD” program
How to act as a Meatmaster judge
SOCIETY CONTACT DETAILS
For 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: [email protected] or [email protected]
POSTAL ADDRESSP.O.Box 1060BloemfonteinFree State9300
SINGLE PLACING 22nd
23rd
55th out of 236
Carcasses
GROUP PLACING
9th 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
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 ! ! !