Using data and technology to breed a climate-ready Merino

High on the shoulders of the Sneeuberg mountains near Cradock, the Jordaan family has shaped a Merino that survives where seasons no longer follow rules. They are building resilience against a future where 'normal' seasons don't exist, merging old-school stockmanship with genomics, nutrition science, and hard-won climate wisdom. Sabrina Dean spoke to Andrew Jordaan Jr.

- Sabrina Dean

Follow the Great Fish River north of Cradock and the landscape shifts quickly – irrigated pastures at 800m to 900m give way to koppies, then morph into the steep shale and grass slopes of the Sneeuberg mountain range, rising to nearly 1 800m.

It’s a landscape of contrasts: fertile bottoms fed by irrigation schemes, and rugged mountain veld where cold fronts bite, winds cut, and summer heat pushes animals to the edge of their comfort zone.

“Our sheep must perform in both worlds,” says Merino breeder Andrew Jordaan Jr, who farms with his father, Andrew Jordaan Sr, and brothers Wilhelm and Ginkel on their family farm, Spekboomberg. “The land forces us to think differently.”

The Jordaan family operates a diverse farming operation comprising a Merino stud along with Dormers, Angoras, beef cattle, and an irrigated dairy and a feed company. The Merino component has been developed under a philosophy passed down from father to son: “Breed sheep that can write their own exam on the mountain.”

Each generation has added layers of selection pressure shaped by climate variability, drought, and high-altitude endurance. In an increasingly variable climate, as seasons grow less predictable, this approach is proving more relevant than ever.

CLIMATE CHANGE AS BREEDING PRESSURE

The family farm Spekboomberg is a place where altitude, terrain and climate are as much a part of the farming equation as the animals themselves.

The operation spans irrigated lowland, Karoo veld, and high-altitude mountain veld. It is complex terrain and demands resilient animals.

“Our animals must perform in both worlds — the lush irrigated pastures and the tough mountain veld,” says Jordaan.

That balance influences every decision — from breeding to nutrition to grazing strategy.