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Meinfred Genetics
Meinfred Meatmasters were developed from the initial crossing of five unrelated bloodlines
of veld adapted Ile De France ewes and three unrelated Damara ram bloodlines. In this way
sufficient genetic diversity was created to continue with F1 x F1 up to F3 x F3 animals with
limited inbreeding. The blood composition that was maintained during the breeding process
was 50% Damara blood and 50% Ile De France.
F3 and F4 Meatmaster rams were then put to Ile De France ewes and Damara ewes to breed
new F1 generations. F1 rams from Ile De France mothers and Meatmaster sires were then
mated with F1 ewes from Damara mothers with Meatmaster sires, resulting in a new F2
generation also with 50% Damara blood and 50% Ile De France blood.
Another F2 generation was bred by combining F1 rams from Damara mothers and Meatmaster
sires with F1 ewes from Ile De France mothers with Meatmaster sires in this way maintaining a
composition of 50% Damara blood and 50% Ile De France
blood, but creating new genetic diversity.
An “upgrading” program was then started by using Meatmaster rams on Damara ewes for
four generations breeding F1, F2, F3 and F4 Meatmasters. A similar program was started by
“upgrading” from Ile De France ewes with Meatmaster rams.
DNA analyses of Meatmaster sheep populations were also done at the ARC Animal Genetics
Lab at Irene as part of a PhD Study on the Breeding of the Meatmaster sheep. These results are
in the process of being finalised for publication.
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