André’s aim is to produce wool with an average fleece length of 60mm to 70mm, although between 70mm and 80mm would be ideal. It’s 100% natural, 100% renewable and totally biodegradable too. It is also called Dohne or El Dohne Merino. © 2021 Farmer's Weekly Magazine | Caxton Magazines Digital |, Meet one of SA’s top Merino wool producers, Israeli technologies could boost SA agriculture, Easy-to-grow brinjals ensure steady profits, Backyard broiler business: Start small, dream big, Langkloof hailstorm damages apple, pear crop, Early rainfall could lead to fall armyworm infestations, Invitation for Expression of Interest In Milk Afric, ‘Farmers cannot afford to pay higher wages’ – agri role players. Like John before him, André sees the wethers as the money-spinners on the farm, because they produce better wool than the ewes and require fewer inputs. The same principle is applied today; the ewes have 42 days to take, and all those that don’t conceive are sold. It was once part of the historic Zoetendals Vallei farm that belonged to the Van Bredas of Bredasdorp, who owned South Africa’s first commercial Merino flock in 1817. During the whole of its colonial period, the Cape province remained the most important wool producing area in Southern Africa and although the sheep industry subsequently spread rapidly throughout virtually the whole of the country, 'Cape Wool' has become the international generic trade term for all wool produced on the sub-continent. Merino Wool and Sheepskin Products,Natural Fibres from South-Africa. Training programmes were put in place with retailers like Woolworths to encourage interest and purchasing in the Merino Wool product range. Acrylic Alpaca Bamboo Cashmere Cotton Extra Fine Merino Wool Merino Wool Mohair Nylon Polyester Silk Viscose Wool. Thanks to tweaks he has made to ewe and lamb management, André has increased the lamb survival rate from 51% to 79% over the past decade. I make that money back in the wool cheque.”. The average production per sheep is … It is a pretty new breed and was actually developed in the late 1930s. This helps improve wool quality and milk production and maintain ewe condition. Established in 1937, Merino SA has been representing the industry for more than eighty years. I first heard of merino wool being used in sportswear about 10 years ago when Icebreaker, the New Zealand merino clothing company, entered the South African market. The South African Meat Merino sheep is a breed of domestic sheep originating in South Africa. Rockdale 05-0182 RR, SAMM in Australia. “My father, John Albertyn, and my husband André and I have all put great effort into breeding sheep with good wool qualities, resulting in the flock looking totally different from what it did two generations ago,” says Pam Christie-Smith, who belongs to the sixth generation on the farm. The wet and dry technique is used to identify ewes failing to rear a lamb. Merino are the top breed in regions where sheep are bred for their wool rather than their mutton, as in New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, South Africa and the western United States. As you may know, Core Merino is a brand owned by the company BKB. Clearance Browse our … The lambs are provided with creep feed ad lib after they are born. I’d rather lose a little money by feeding too much than too little. Regia Premium looks particularly attractive in small Fair Isle and plait patterns. They always have access to clean water and ample food, shelter, preventive care, and speedy treatment, and often call thousands of acres home. Consequently, the South African woolgrower can give much more individual attention to his flock and take preventative steps to avoid flystrike. South American sheep – we’ve got you to thank for our Crazy Sexy Wool. Through breeding, farmers have over the years adapted the sheep to market demands and environmental conditions. While Merinos are no longer produced on the original farm, Kleiheuwel has continued the Merino tradition, and the flock had steadily improved with each passing generation. Your knits will be cosy but breathable so it’s a winner in every season. At the time of writing, the flock comprised about 1 500 ewes, 1 300 lambs and 2 000 wethers. The farm mixes its own feed consisting of maize, triticale and barley or oats, combined with supplements. Free Shipping in South Africa. SHOP THE COLLECTION. Kleiheuwel, situated near L’Agulhas in the Western Cape’s Overberg region, has a rich farming heritage. Today it is a common breed of sheep and found throughout the world. The South African Meat Merino or SAMM is a wool and meat sheep originating in South Africa, but now found throughout the world. Crops, meat and wool account equally for the farm’s income, but the operation is geared towards wool production. Ewes reach their reproductive peak at five years of age, after which they are sold. South Africa is mainly producing a Merino clip, which comprises over 80% of all lots offered for sale. Production per producer varies considerably with the 290;0 bigger growers producing more than 80% of the entire wool clip. The problem, however, is that buyers, like everybody else in the country, don’t know what is going to happen in South Africa, making them hesitant to get too closely involved with farms here,” he says. It’s worth it to buy #naturalfiber products. New Yarns & Shades Sirdar Adventure Haworth Tweed DK Country Classic Worsted Snuggly Replay Sirdar Jewelspun Sirdar Saltaire Snuggly Snowflake Chunky. South Africa is a vast and beautiful country with a rich history of sheep and wool farming. The Dohne Merino sheep is a breed of domestic sheep which was originated from South Africa. • The average flock size in South Africa is considerably smaller than in Australia. Source of fiber: South Africa, 22 micron minimum Gems 100% merino is a dream sweater yarn! Ewes that do not have milk, or are dry, are culled. The breed grows well in arid conditions as found in Australia, South Africa and parts of New Zealand. Underrated wethers The industry prides itself as a South African leader in wool and mutton production and Merino SA has a proud tradition of excellence and integrity. Wool length is a priority, and he has switched from shearing once a year to every six and eight months as prices are discounted for fleece longer than 90mm. A… Trumps Merino Stud - … It is also known as SAMM or South African Mutton Merino sheep. While Merinos are no longer produced on the original farm, Kleiheuwel has continued the Merino tradition, and the flock had … Texture. Culled animals are sold to an abattoir in the Eastern Cape. The animals all have access to supplementary feed all year. Attributes. A ewe that has to go an entire day without food after lambing in the morning won’t be able to look after her lambs.”. Cozy Merino Turtleneck Sweater The South African Meat Merino or SAMM is a wool and meat sheep originating in South Africa, but now found throughout the world. South Africa was the first country outside Europe which owned Merinos. “The BKB agent has years of experience, so he has a much better idea of what makes a great ewe than I have.”. Ethically sourced wool products begin with flocks of hardy Merino sheep grazing on green grass in the shadow of jagged peaks. Ewes are scanned and multiples are separated from single pregnancies. $198.00 $128.00 CAD. NR 17 #slippers and custom made calf length #boots in 100% Sheepskin. Consumption usually starts at 10 days after birth. Breeding However, the garments were, and still are, very expensive… That’s where CORE Meri… It was once part of the historic Zoetendals Vallei farm that belonged to the Van Bredas of Bredasdorp, who owned South Africa’s first commercial Merino flock in 1817. The rams are dosed with 20ml wheat germ once a week for a month to ensure they are in top form by the time they are placed with the ewes, while the ewes receive preformulated supplements from two weeks before the mating season starts in October until six weeks after they have lambed. THE HISTORY OF MERINO SHEEP . Animals are normally sheered annually and … These products are all registered in terms of appropriate legislation, • The largest proportion of the South African wool clip is from harsh, low-rainfall areas (for example the Karoo) where blowfly does not exist, • Making use of environmentally friendly Luci traps to eliminate blowfly, Read more about Cape Wool's code of conduct here in this pdf download. That’s wool for you – kind to you and kind to the planet. The Merino originated in Spain. The triticale and barley are usually undersown with lucerne, with the farm having 250ha under lucerne production. At the end of 2000 a small herd of Alpacas were imported from Chile into South Africa where they are bred for their wool as well as to encourage Alpaca breeders in South Africa. The earliest evidence of fine Spanish wool exports were to Italy in the 1390s and Flanders in the 1420s, although in both cases fine English wool was preferred. He can now present more lines of wool at auction, garnering much higher returns. “By feeding twice a day, we ensure that the ewes have constant access to fresh food. The first Merino Landsheep was imported from Germany in 1956 and quickly adapted to South Africa’s grazing conditions and climate. Young ewes weigh about 90% of their adult weight (65kg on average) when they are placed with the rams. Recently Added Need inspiration? Description The Merino is a medium frame white wool sheep. Conrtact 0824666174 or info@mohairblanket.co.za. The feeding regime has also been improved: “Merinos are unlikely to get too fat, with higher consumption generally turning into better wool yields. Spain became noted for its fine wool (spinning count between 60s and 64s) in the late 15th century, and by the mid-16th century its merino wool was acknowledged to equal that of the finest English wools. The Albertyn family started keeping records of the flock in 1942, and travelled across South Africa in search of superior Merino rams to improve it. “The ewe shouldn’t have any visible defects and she may be small, but not skinny,” says André. Different lines or genotypes within the Merino breed exist in South Africa, mainly differing with regard to skin development (pleats) and fibre diameter. Better survival Machine wash & dry. Rams usually have horns and ewes usually are polled. 100% Merino Wool Chunky Knit Blankets, Throws & Decor Hand Crafted. This history stretched back as far as 1789, when the Dutch Government donated two Spanish Merino Rams and four Spanish Merino Ewes to Col. Jacob Gordon, the military commander at the Cape at that time, on an experimental basis. kg of wool. As a result, the industry consistently generates a high quality, environmentally sound product for international markets. The wool diameter averages 18,7 microns for the flock as a whole and 17,5 microns for young ewes. The Merino wool fiber is considered the best quality, especially with regards to textile production. yes. I hand select my yarns to ensure they are the best quality merino wool, mohair, bamboo and cotton available. “John used to say that a lamb doesn’t die of cold if its stomach is full,” says André. André regularly attends BKB auctions in Port Elizabeth to strengthen ties with buyers, and the farm has established itself as a fine wool producer, with many wool buyers seeking it out. • Konsortium-Merino uses Mother Nature as chief classer and breeds a sheep which is adapted accordingly. It is a true worsted-spun yarn with a tight twist to minimize pilling while maintaining a high elasticity. Machine wash? Changing the shearing interval has meant that the ewes are now shorn just before they lamb, ensuring they are in a better condition to look after their young, says André. What is mulesing: Mulesing involves the removal of strips of wool-bearing skin from around the breech (buttocks) of a sheep to prevent fly strike.