Farmer's Weekly (South Africa)
Dual-purpose winners
Corriedales were set to make an impact in South Africa as they had done in so many other countries. Because the achievements of Corriedale sheep in Australia and New Zealand were so outstanding, they aroused interest in other sheep-rearing countries, and eventually the breed spread all over the world.
There are now some 110 million Corriedales worldwide and considering they were first bred in New Zealand as late as 1874, the breed’s expansion is quite phenomenal.
And although these sheep are not farmed in large numbers in South Africa, they are attracting increasing interest among local farmers.
It was in 1924 that Corriedale rams and ewes were first imported into South Africa from Australia, and they soon proved their ability to thrive and produce under the most variable climatic conditions imaginable.
CHALLENGING CLIMATE CONDITIONS
The breed is flourishing here under conditions ranging from those found in the Karoo to those prevailing in the high-rainfall and sour-grassveld areas of Natal. Since the original importation, South African stud breeders have made regular further importations from the leading studs in Australia and New Zealand, with the result that the quality of our Corriedales now compares favourably with that available anywhere in the world. The breed has proved its fertility under all environmental conditions and it is seldom that Corriedale ewes have a lambing rate of under 100%. In fact, many breeders are achieving lamb crops of 130%.
Twinning is common among Corriedales and twins usually thrive because the ewes have an abundance of milk, a factor that makes the breed worth considering for intensive slaughter-lamb production.
The mutton qualities of the breed can be appreciated when one considers that the ewes average 65kg live mass and rams between 100kg and 140kg when fully grown. Carcass mass is 18-22kg at an age of 130 to 160 days.
The meat itself is of the highest quality with good colour, a fine grain and excellent flavour. And the lack of excess fat makes Corriedale meat an attractive commodity.
The demand for Corriedale wool in South Africa seems assured because for many years local demand has exceeded supply, and the wool is imported annually.
This dual-purpose breed produces a white, strong, soft handling and kemp-free wool of high quality. Micron counts vary from 26 to 33, with the most desirable being 28 to 30 microns. It is normal practice to shear at eight months with three shearings in two years, 4-5kg of wool being produced at each shearing from mature sheep.
When Corriedales are classified, the ratio placed on the dual-purpose trait is 60% on conformation and 40% on wool. The breed’s pigmentation is also in its favour. They have dark to black noses, dark pigmentation around the eyes, and black hooves. The pigmentation helps prevent sunburn and black hooves are harder, so there are fewer footrot problems.
For the past four years, the South African Corriedale Breeders’ Society has been running a group breeding scheme, which is run on Terence Cooper’s farm in the Dordrecht area and is under his management. At present, 12 members are participating, but more are expected to join soon.
EASY TO CONTROL
Corriedales are renowned for their nonselective grazing habits and natural docility, which makes them easy to control. Yet supporters say this is not the main reason for their popularity.
That can be expressed in pure economic terms. When it comes to overall return per sheep per hectare, the Corriedale is ahead due to its combined productive characteristics, they say.
Rand values have been adapted for inflation. This article first appeared in the 9 October 1987 issue of Farmer’s Weekly and has been edited to adhere to the current style of the magazine.