Natures money maker

A NEW DAWN FOR SHEEP BREEDERS

THE VISION

Adaptabillity Fertility Covering Tropgebondenheid Vreetgewoontes Moederinstink

Bespiering

Groeivermo
Melkproduksie Karkaskwaliteit

Loopvermo
Pigmentasie

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

EXCELLENT

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 45C +) Protection from ticks No shearing costs. Neat and tidy No fly strike.

AVERAGE

CULL

CULL

EXCELLENT

GOOD

CULL

FUNCTIONALLY EFFICIENT

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.

TESTICLES

Well formed with excellent elasticity. Absolute minimum abnormality and faults.

Rams are Masculine

Hip/Heup Draaibeen/thurl bone Withers Skof Loin/ Rug/back Lende Neck Nek Ear Oor Head/Kop NoseN eus MouthM ond Sprong van Rib ShoulderS kouer Shoulder point/ Skouer punt Brisket / Bors been Knee/ Knieg Pasterns/ Kootgewrigte Hoof Kloutjie Eye / Oog

Rump
Sitbeen/ Pinbone Tail/ Stert

Hindquarter Agterkwart
Hock Hak Testis Sheath Skede

Breedte oor Lende

Buite dy

Skenkel Testis Hak Binnedy

Ewes are Femenin

Draaibeen / Thurl bone
Hip / Heup

Sitbeen/ pinbone

Tail/ Stert

CULL FAULTS

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.

Meatmaster
Note the exceptional DIFFERENCE in body structure between the Ram and Ewe.

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

THE IDEAL TAIL

Good Attachment No fat localization Not too short or too long Good wedge shape

IMPORTANT ATTRIBUTES TO TAKE NOTE OF

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.

FOR LOW IMPUT COST AND HARDINESS

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

METHODS OF IDENTIFICATION Tattoo or ear tag before Lamb is 1 week old. Tattoo or ear code before wean.
CR: Prefix CC: Prefix 7: The Year (2007) 010: Follow Number

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.

5: The Year (2005)

098: Follow number

NECESSITIES 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.
Ewe Number Ram Number

Birth notification book

Lam no. Date of Birth Sex Dam Sire Weight Remarks

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.

SEND TO THE A.R.C. IF SHEPHERD IS NOT 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 IS 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: smallstock@arc.agric.za

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 0955 Fax: +27 (0)51 448 4220 Website: http://www.meatmaster.org E-mail: info@meatmaster.org or sonja@studbook.co.za

POSTAL ADDRESS P.O.Box 1060 Bloemfontein Free State 9300

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM YOUR MEATMASTERS

NATIONAL SLAUGHTER LAMB COMPETITION

LAMBS BEFORE SLAUGHTER

NATIONAL SLAUGHTER LAMB COMPETITION

AVERAGE LIVE WEIGHTS 41,5kg
GROUP PLACING 9th out of 59 Groups SINGLE PLACING

22nd 23rd 55th out of 236 Carcasses

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 Expos Emerging Farmers Articles in Agricultural Magazines Participation in slaughter competitions Organize Sales Use local Newsletters or Newspapers

Create your own website

MEATMASTERS WORLDWIDE
MEATMASTER EWES IN AUSTRALIA

Breed established in:

Australia Canada Mexico Namibia

EXPOS and SALES

Rustenburg Loeriesfontein Hopetown Upington

BACK A WINNER!
The Meatmaster is undoubtedly a winning Breed. Do your part and dont 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.

ITS GOOD TO BACK A WINNER ! ! !

MEATMASTERS WILL TAKE YOUR FARMING ENTERPRISE TO NEW HIGHTS

MEATMASTERS WILL SEE YOU THROUGH THE TOUGH TIMES THE GOOD TIMES TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES