The benefits of polled Merinos for SA's sheep industry

Earlier this year, a number of Merino stud breeders from Middelburg in the Eastern Cape formed the Nu Poll Merino Group, whose aim it is to breed polled sheep exclusively. Group member Tinus du Plessis explained to Annelie Coleman why breeding and farming these animals made business sense.

- Annelie Coleman

The Nu Poll Merino Group is the first of its kind in South Africa. Breeding polled animals holds many advantages, not least the fact that some feedlots are prepared to pay a substantial premium for polled weaners.

The recently formed Nu Poll Merino Group, based in Middelburg in the Eastern Cape, is the first of its kind in South Africa's Merino stud breeding industry. According to member Tinus du Plessis, the decision to focus on these animals was based on hard-nosed economics: polled weaners realise a premium of R1,50 to R1,80 more per kilogram from certain feedlots.

There are a host of reasons for this. Polled sheep are easier to handle and manage, and there is no need to regularly dehorn weaners, which reduces the on-farm workload. Injuries caused by fights between rams are also largely eliminated. In addition, polled Merinos are easier to shear, and there are no horns to become entangled in fences or in the horns of other sheep.

"Currently, the majority of Merino rams in the country are still horned, with only about 10% to 15% being polled. However, we expect demand for polled animals to increase substantially in the future because of the benefits they hold for both stud and commercial flocks. We've therefore decided to put only polled animals on offer at our group's next production sale, which is planned for 20 January 2023. We also plan to put a limited number of polled ewes on offer," says Du Plessis.