Make sure that more lambs survive to adulthood

In many communal areas, weaning percentage amongst sheep flocks hovers between 10% and 30% (compared with 80% to 90% for commercial farmers). This is unsustainable for a breeding operation, says Shane Brody.

- Shane Brody

During my years of overseeing livestock-breeding projects in the communal farming areas of the Eastern Cape, one of the biggest challenges has been to increase the numbers of lambs weaned successfully.

Lamb birth percentages in these communal areas are usually similar to commercial farming percentages, but the mortality rate of young lambs, and even young sheep, is a major concern.

With the price of lambs rising considerably over the past decade or so, many communal farmers cannot afford to buy replacement lambs from commercial breeding operations after a season of high lamb mortality.

A large number of Eastern Cape and Free State sheep-breeding operations have stopped sheep farming because of rampant livestock theft, and this has reduced the overall supply. This, combined with steady high demand from communal farmers for wool sheep that offer the yearly bonus of income from wool, has pushed up the price of sheep. Moreover, prices are almost certain to stay high. Communal farmers need to capitalise on this fact.

LOW WEANING RATES