Together with other Meatmaster sheep breeders we took part in the establishment of the
Meatmaster Sheep Breeders’ Society of South Africa. We were also involved in the preparation
of the application to the National Department of Agriculture to have the Meatmaster Sheep
Breed formally declared as a new established meat sheep breed in South Africa.
Meinfred Meatmasters were bred and kept exclusively in veld conditions for the last 10 years
with no supplementary feeding, except rock salt and calsium phosphate. The sheep thus had to
survive and produce in harsh Highveld conditions, especially during the Highveld winter. No
harvested “land” grazing was used during winter months.
Stud rams from Clynton Collett’s Meatmaster Stud in the Eastern Cape was introduced since
early 2005 to improve the coat covering characteristics and genetic variance of our Meatmasters.
Selection is done in accordance with the prescribed Meatmaster Breed Standards. We are unable
to supply in the total local demand for Meatmaster breeding stock and therefore have to work
from a “waiting list” from time to time to assist new breeders to get started.
An economic comparison of our Meatmasters with their parent breeds over a lifetime production
period of seven years yielded the following results and confirmed our vision that the new
composite breed was indeed an economic asset that should be preserved for the future.
