Hoë reproduksie

Die beste VOV

Maklike hantering

Maklike geboortes

Dubbeldoelras

Suiwer witwol

Uitstekende karkas met ‘n hoë uitslag % 

Met behulp van navorsing en tegnologie oor die laaste paar jaar is ‘n hele omwenteling in alle boerdery afdelings teweeg gebring.  Die LNR het hier ‘n baie groot rol gespeel met veral fase D toetse van speenlammers asook fase C toetse by Irene waar baie interessante feite na vore getree het.  Die verwerking van ooie se data, reproduksie, interlam periodes, lanklewendheid, wol meting en die verskaffing van BLUP syfers hou vir die boer heelwat ekonomiese voordele in. Met fase C toetse by Irene is die wanpersepsie dat die Merino Landskaap ‘n groot skaap is wat baie vreet, die nek ingeslaan.  As in gedagte gehou word dat voeromsetverhouding (VOV) 6 keer meer belangrik is as gemiddelde daaglikse toename (GDT) dan kan die Merino Landskaap deur geen ras geklop word nie.

By Irene is afgekeurde ramme na voltooiing van die toets geslag om karkas eienskappe te bepaal. Die uitslag persentasie van die 12 diere was 53,4%. Wat veral insiggewend was, was dat slegs 30% van die lammers oorvet was.  Lammers het A2 en A3 gegradeer en dit bewys dat die Merino Landskaap ideaal is vir vetlam produksie en op ‘n baie jong ouderdom gereed is vir bemarking. Wanneer die uitslag persentasie deur getrek word na die VOV lyk die somme as volg:

Deur nou die berekende VOV te herlei na geldwaarde is heersende pryse van A2 slaglammers @ R35/kg en volledige afrondkorrels @ R2 650/T gebruik.   Die Merino Landskaap gee met 1kg lewendige massa 0.548 kg karkasmassa en het dus 4,836 kg voer nodig.  1 kg karkas gebruik dus 8.83 kg voer (4.836 / 548 x 1000) @ R2.65 = R23.39. Die gemiddeld van die ander rasse gee met 1kg lewendige massa 0.505 kg karkas en het dus 5,151 kg voer gebruik.  1 kg Karkas gebruik dus 10,24 kg voer (5151/505×1000) @ R2.65 = R27.03.  Die Merino Landskaap het dus teenoor die gemiddelde van die ander rasse 1,41 kg minder voer gebruik @ R2.65.  Dus R3.64 vir elke kg karkasmassa. Met ‘n gemiddelde lewendige massa toename van 13,3 kg per lam en ‘n uitslag persentasie van 53,4% soos bewys by Irene gee dit ‘n  lamkarkas toename van 7,1 kg. Teen bogenoemde besparing van R3.64 per kg x 7.71/kg = R28.06 per lam teenoor die gemiddelde koste van ander rasse.  Met 100 lammers gevoer = R2 806 – ‘n hele ton voer WINS! Tydens ‘n slaglam kompetisie by die Randse Paasskou het die Merino Landskaap ook baie beter as enige van die ander rasse gevaar. Die gemiddelde uitslag persentasie van die ander rasse was 50,5%.

Met Fase D toetse waaraan 8 telers deelgeneem het is bewys dat die Merino Landskaap ook op die plaas baie goed afgerond kan word.  219 Diere is getoets tydens ‘n gemiddelde toetslengte periode van 59 dae. Die gemiddelde ouderdom van die diere met afsluiting van die toets was 193 dae.  Die gemiddelde GDT was 359,9 g/d met die top groeier 505,9g/d.  Die gemiddelde GDT van 60 % van die diere was 400,9g/d.  Al die toetse is deur die LNR gemonitor en afgesluit.  Alhoewel die individuele voerverbruik nie gemeet kon word nie, is die totale voerverbruik van elke toets aangeteken en het die gemiddelde VOV baie goed vergelyk met die Fase C toetse by Irene.

Tydens die proewe het die Merino Landskaap se Temperament na vore getree as ‘n baie positiewe eienskap.  Alhoewel dit ‘n groot skaap is, hanteer dit maklik en is baie mak.  ‘n Erkende feit is dat mak diere se vleis baie sagter is as die van wilde en onrustige diere.  ‘n Baie insiggewende feit wat na verwerking van data by die LNR aan die lig gekom het, was die lanklewendheid van ooie.  Tot soveel as 10 lammings met gereelde meerlinge is aangemeld.  Voeg hierby die gemiddelde lampersentasie van 130% (syfers vanaf S A Stamboek).

n Ander belangrike eienskap is dat die Merino Landskaap met groot gerustheid gekruis kan word met enige ras sonder lam probleme aangesien die Merino Landskaap ‘n klein lam met ‘n smal kop by geboorte gee wat vinnig roei.  Die Merino Landskaap het ‘n goeie witwol vag van 22 – 28 mikron met ‘n A lengte op 12 maande, selfs by lakterende ooie.  Dit is insiggewend dat slegs 2 suiwer witwol rasse aan bogenoemde Fase C toetse deelgeneem het.  Daardeur word bewys dat die  Merino Landskaap met groot vrymoedigheid met  suiwer wit wol ras gekruis kan word sonder enige wolbesoedeling en kan dus ‘n bydrae maak teen vermindering en verswakking in Suid-Afrikaanse wolproduksie.

WHY SHOULD YOU FARM WITH

MERINO LANDSHEEP?

• High Reproduction
• The best feed convertion ratio
• Outstanding carcass with a high slaughter %
• Effortless handling
• Easy births
• Dual purpose breed
• Good crop of white wool

With the aid of research work and technology over the past few years a period of revolution was induced in all divisions of farming.  The ARC played a significant role with especially phase D tests on weaning lambs as well as phase C tests at Irene where very interesting facts were documented.  For the farmer the processing of ewe data, reproduction, inter lambing periods, long lifespan, wool measuring and the providing of BLUP figures have many economic advantages.

With Phase C tests at Irene it has been proved that the Merino Landsheep is not just a big sheep which eats a lot.  Kept in mind that feed conversion (FC) is 6 times more important the Average daily growth (ADG) there is no other breed that can compete with the Merino Landsheep.

At Irene all culled animals were slaughtered after the completion of the test to ascertain carcass qualities.  The slaughter percentage of the 12 animals were 53,4%.  The facts that only 30% of the lambs were to fat were very informative.  Lambs graded A2 and A3, which proves that the Merino Landsheep is ideal for fat lamb production and is ready to be marketed at a very young age.  When the slaughtering % and FC are processed, the figure looks as follows:

To convert the calculated FC to monetary value current prices of A2 slaughter lambs @ R40/per kg and fattening pellets @ R3 660/T was used.  The Merino Landsheep gives 0,548 kg carcass masses with 1 kg live weight and therefor need 4,836 kg feed.  1 Kg carcass uses 8,83 kg feed (4,836 / 548 x 1000) @ R3.66 = R32.29.  The average of the other breeds tested gives 0,505 kg carcass and therefor uses 5,151 kg feed.  1 Kg carcass need 10,24 kg feed (5151/505 x 1000) @ R3.66 = R37.33.  The Merino Landsheep uses 1,41 kg less feed as opposed to the average of other breeds.  This comes to R5.14 for each kg carcass weight.  With an average weight growth of 13,3 kg per lamb and a slaughtering % of 53,4 as proved at Irene a lamb carcass growth of 7,1 kg are given.  In the face of above mentioned saving of R5.14 per kg x 7.71/kg = R39.62 per lamb against the average cost of other breeds.  You get a whole ton profit with 100 lambs fed.

 At a lamb slaughter competition at the Rand Easter Show the Merino Landsheep also got the best of the other breeds.  The average slaughter % of the other breeds were 50,5%.

In a phase D test in which 8 breeders participated it have been proved that the Merino Landsheep can also be rounded of on the farm.  219 Animals were tested over an average testing period of 59 days.  The average age of the animals at the closing of the test were 193 days.  Average ADG were 359,9 g/d with the top grower 505,9 g/d.  The tests were monitored and ended by the ARC.  Although individual feed conversion could not be measured the total feed consumption were recorded and the average feed conversion turnover compared very good to those recorded at Irenes Phase C test.

In tests with the Merino Landsheep the docile temperament of the breed were especially commented on as a very positive trait.  Although it is a sheep with a large frame it handles easily.  An acknowledged fact is that docile animals meat are much more tender then those of wild and anxious animals.  After processing some data the ARC commented about the long lifespan of ewes.  As much as 10 lambings with several multiple births were recorded.  Add to this an average lambing percentage of 130%. (numbers obtained from S A Studbook.

Another important fact is that the Merino Landsheep can be crossed with almost any other sheep breed without lambing problems because the Merino Landsheep gives a small lamb with a long and narrow head and maintains a rapid growth tempo.

The Merino Landsheep delivers a good crop of white wool with an average micron of 22 – 28 and an A length at 12 months even with lactating ewes.  A very informative fact is that only 2 pure white wool breeds participated in the above mentioned Phase C tests.  Thereby it has been proved that the Merino Landsheep can be crossed with any pure white wool breed without any problems of soiling of the wool of even the weakening of the fleece.

REMEMBER MERINO LANDSHEEP FOR:

• Large frame on long, sturdy legs
• High carcass mass and quality
• Good crop of wool
• Adapts to climatic extremes
• Non-fastidious grazer
• Good maternal qualities
• High lambing percentage
• Small lambs, high growth rate
• Dominant prepotency
• Cross breeds with any other breed
• Excellent “off the veld” marketing
• Excellent response to intensive methods
• Prices not exorbitant
• Mules free