AFRINO SHEEP BREEDERS'
ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH AFRICA
The AFRINO Sheep Breeders' Society was established on the 5 February 1980, at a meeting held on the Carnarvon Experimental Station. At the meeting the standards for the AFRINO sheep breed were drawn up. The primary goals of the Society today, are to maintain the breed standards, and to to promote benefits of the AFRINO sheep breed to both established and prospective stock farmers.
The Society also runs the "Veldram" project from which the benchmark for the AFRINO sheep breed is set.
In all breeds which have to produce and reproduce under adverse or sub-optimum environments, hardiness and adaptability are of paramount importance.
Selection of breeding sires and dams takes place under the same conditions tham those in which their offspring have to produce and reproduce. Another reson being that wool production is only 3 - 4 % of it's body weight.
In AFRINO sheep 80% of income is generated through meat production and 20% through wool production. The main selection objective is therefore to increase lifetime weight of lamb produced per ewe.
In the selection program, emphasis is placed not only on the quantity of lambs produced, but also on their quality. Therefore, lifetime total weight of lamb produced per ewe is the main selection objective. AFRINO ewes have outstanding mothering abilities and even in flocks where 500 - 600 ewes are lambing, bottle-fed lambs will rarely be found. Lambing difficulties are extremely rare.
The AFRINO sheep breed is known for its high quality meat with an even fat distribution over the carcass. Lambs do not accumulate fat at an early age and can therefore be marketed at a later stage and a higher body weight.Average marketing age is 7 -8 months under extensive conditions. Under feedlot or favourable conditions, lambs reach marketing weight as early as three months of age.
The AFRINO sheep produces Merino type wool, with a fibre diameter ranging from 18 to 22 micron. During selection, much emphasis is placed on wool quality (micron, crimp definition, clean yield), while care is taken not to decrease the amount of wool produced.
Where it all began.
Defining the Breed.
Stats and Averages.
Breeding Project.
Copyright © 2019 AFRINO Sheep Breeders' Association of South Africa, All Rights Reserved.
For visitors wishing to join the Assosciation. Click on the icon below to download the application form. Fill in the the form and email to: lea@wvdv.co.za.
For vistitors wishing to know more about the Association. Click on the icon below to download a copy of the Assosciations Constitution. The constitution is only available in Afrikaans.
During the late 1960's, a request was made to the Department of Agriculture by the wool industry, via the South African Agricultural Union, to develop a white woolled breed for the extensive sheep grazing areas.
This breed will:
Consequently, a breeding project was initiated at the Carnarvon Experimental Station in the North-western Karoo in 1969, whereby it was attempted to develop a white woolled mutton sheep, which combined the quality wool of the Merino with the reproductive performance and mutton producing abilities of the mutton breeds.
In 1976 it was evident that the cross consisting of 25% Merino, 25% Ronderib Afrikaner and 50% SA Mutton Merino best fulfilled the requirements set for the new breed. It was decided to retain only this cross for further upgrading and development of the breed that is today known as the AFRINO.
On 5 February 1980, the AFRINO Sheep Breeders' Society was established at a meeting on the Carnarvon Experimental Station and breed standards for this new white woolled mutton breed were drawn up.
The average productive performance of the ram and ewe lambs since 1990 are summarised in Table 1.
Table 1. Average productive performance (±s.e.) since 1990 of the ram and ewe lambs in the Carnarvon AFRINO flock
| Trait | Ram lambs | Ewe lambs |
|---|---|---|
| Birth weight (kg) | 4.85 ± 0.01 | 4.58 ± 0.01 |
| 42-day body weight (kg) | 16.0 ± 0.2 | 14.9 ± 0.2 |
| 100-day weaning weight (kg) | 32.4 ± 0.3 | 29.9 ± 0.3 |
| 5-month body weight (kg) | 33.6 ± 0.4 | 30.6 ± 0.4 |
| 6-month body weight (kg) | 38.3 ± 0.4 | 35.0 ± 0.4 |
| 7-month body weight (kg) | 41.0 ± 0.4 | 37.5 ± 0.4 |
| 8-month body weight (kg) | 45.9 ± 0.4 | 40.9 ± 0.4 |
| 9-month body weight (kg) | 49.6 ± 0.4 | 43.8 ± 0.4 |
| 10-month body weight (kg) | 53.1 ± 0.5 | 46.8 ± 0.5 |
| 11-month body weight (kg) | 56.5 ± 0.5 | 49.2 ± 0.5 |
| 12-month body weight (kg) | 60.8 ± 0.5 | 52.7 ± 0.5 |
| 16-month body weight (kg) | 64.8 ± 0.5 | 52.9 ± 0.5 |
| 16-month L.dorsi area (cm2) | 8.3 ± 0.1 | 7.9 ± 0.1 |
| 16-month fat depth (mm) | 4.1 ± 0.1 | 3.8 ± 0.1 |
| Greasy fleece weight (kg)a | 3.35 ± 0.05 | 3.10 ± 0.05 |
| Clean fleece weight (kg) | 2.02 ± 0.04 | 1.93 ± 0.04 |
| Fibre diameter (µm) | 19.5 ± 0.1 | 19.8 ± 0.1 |
| Clean yield (%) | 60.1 ± 0.6 | 61.7 ± 0.6 |
| Staple length (mm) | 82.4 ± 1.1 | 85.2 ± 1.1 |
| Number of crimps/25 mm | 18.7 ± 1.4 | 17.9 ± 1.4 |
| Coefficient of variation (%) | 16.7 ± 0.2 | 16.7 ± 0.2 |
| Standard deviation (µm) | 3.2 ± 0.0 | 3.2 ± 0.0 |
| Comfort factor (%) | 99.5 ± 0.1 | 99.3 ± 0.1 |
| Staple strength (N/Ktex) | 33.7 ± 1.4 | 34.1 ± 1.4 |
The average scores for wool and conformation traits, assessed subjectively at 14 months of age, since 1990 and scores of the 2015-born ram and ewe lambs in the Carnarvon AFRINO flock are presented in Table 2.
Table 2. Average scores for subjectively assessed wool and conformation traits (± s.e.) at 14 months of age since 1990 and scores of the 2015-born ram and ewe lambs in theCarnarvon AFRINO flock.
| Trait | Ram lambs | Ewe lambs |
|---|---|---|
| Conformation of the head | 32.9 ± 1.1 | 33.4 ± 1.1 |
| Softness of face cover | 33.3 ± 0.9 | 33.7 ± 0.9 |
| Pigmentation | 25.8 ± 1.5 | 26.8 ± 1.5 |
| Front quarters | 33.8 ± 0.8 | 33.1 ± 0.8 |
| Front pasterns | 36.1 ± 0.8 | 36.9 ± 0.8 |
| Hind pasterns | 36.6 ± 0.7 | 37.3 ± 0.7 |
| Hocks | 34.8 ± 1.0 | 34.6 ± 1.0 |
| Top line | 34.9 ± 0.7 | 36.0 ± 0.7 |
| Body length (cm) | 77.7 ± 0.8 | 74.4 ± 0.8 |
| Wither height (cm) | 69.4 ± 0.8 | 66.5 ± 0.8 |
| Heart girth (cm) | 102.0 ± 1.2 | 98.7 ± 0.7 |
| Front cannon bone length (cm) | 19.4 ± 0.4 | 18.6 ± 0.4 |
| Softness of fleece | 32.6 ± 1.1 | 32.0 ± 1.1 |
| Crimp definition | 29.7 ± 1.4 | 30.7 ± 1.4 |
| Uniformity of fleece | 35.2 ± 1.0 | 35.7 ± 1.0 |
| Density of fleece | 34.9 ± 0.9 | 35.5 ± 0.9 |
| Wool colour | 32.9 ± 0.9 | 33.6 ± 0.9 |
| Creeping belly | 33.8 ± 1.7 | 36.2 ± 1.7 |
| Scrotal circumference (cm) | 33.9 ± 0.5 | n/a |
| Teat length left (mm) | n/a | 23.9 ± 0.9 |
| Teat length right(mm) | n/a | 23.3 ± 0.9 |
Productive performance of the ewe flock over the past 35 years is presented in Table 3, while the reproductive performance of the 2016 lambing season is summarised in Table 4.
Table 3. Production and reproduction of AFRINO ewes (± s.e.) over the past 35 years in the Carnarvon flock
| Trait | Average |
|---|---|
| Body weight(kg) | 65.9 ± 0.9 |
Wool production | |
| Greasy fleece weight (kg) | 2.72 ± 0.09 |
| Clean fleece weight (kg) | 1.74 ± 0.04 |
| Fibre diameter (µm) | 21.0 ± 0.1 |
| Clean yield (%) | 63.7 ± 0.6 |
| Staple length (mm) | 74.9 ± 1.0 |
| Number of crimps/25 mm | 14.3 ± 0.3 |
| Coefficient of variation (%) (since 2000) | 17.9 ± 0.02 |
| Standard deviation (µm) (since 2000) | 3.51 ± 0.04 |
| Comfort factor (%) (since 2000) | 99.1 ± 0.1 |
| Staple strength (N/Ktex) (since 2008) | 31.5 ± 0.7 |
| Creeping belly score (since 2004) | 34.0 ± 1.1 |
Reproduction | |
| Total weight of lamb weaned/year (kg) | 36.42 ± 0.06 |
| Number of lambs born/year | 1.34 ± 0.10 |
| Number of lambs weaned/year | 1.18 ± 0.05 |
| Number of lambing opportunities | 3.33 |
| Total weight of lamb weaned/lifetime (kg) | 130.6 ± 2.5 |
| Number of lambs born/lifetime | 4.68 ± 0.06 |
| Number of lambs weaned/lifetime | 4.20 ± 0.05 |
| Milk production (liter/day) (2005 - 2014) | 1.93 ± 1.73 (1.62 - 2.17 among years) |
Table 4. Reproduction of AFRINO ewes for the 2016-lambing season.
| Trait | Average |
|---|---|
| Number of ewes mated | 202 |
| Ewes lambed/100 ewes mated | 92.1 |
| Ewes aborted/100 ewes mated | 0.5 |
| Lambs born/100 ewes lambed | 147.8 |
| Lambs born/100 ewes mated | 136.1 |
| Stillborn lambs (%) | 2.9 |
| Lamb survival rate (%) | 97.4 |
| Lambs weaned/100 ewes mated | 128.7 |
| Total weight of lamb weaned (kg) | 35.6 |
Selection in the flock is aimed at increasing reproductive performance and body weight, maintaining wool weight and fibre diameter and improving wool quality traits. Genetic trends for body weights, wool traits and reproduction are depicted in Figures 1 to 4 and summarised in Table 5. From the figures it is evident that the selection objectives with regard to reproductive performance, body weight and most of the wool traits have been achieved.
Figure 1 Direct and maternal genetic trends in birth weight (BW)
Figure 2. Direct and maternal genetic trends in 42-day (W42) and weaning weights (WW)
Figure 3 Genetic trends in 9- and 16-month body weights
Figure 4 Genetic trends in reproductive performance
Table 5. Genetic trends since 1990 in the Carnarvon AFRINO flock
| Trait | Genetic trend | R2 |
|---|---|---|
| Birth weight (kg) | y = 0.0120x-0.0226 | 0.9075 |
| Birth weight maternal (kg) | y = 0.0026x+0.0174 | 0.6232 |
| 42-day body weight (kg) | y = 0.0263x-0.0216 | 0.9205 |
| 42-day body weight maternal (kg) | y = 0.0010x+0.0171 | 0.1608 |
| 120-day weaning weight (kg) | y = 0.0545x+0.0658 | 0.9697 |
| 120-day weaning weight maternal (kg) | y = 0.0182x-0.0278 | 0.7266 |
| 9-month body weight (kg) | y = 0.2425x+0.2226 | 0.9914 |
| 16-month body weight (kg) | y = 0.4297x-0.0584 | 0.9919 |
| Total weight of lamb weaned (kg) | y = 1.6560Ln(x)+6.8935 | 0.6438 |
| Number of lambs born | y = 0.0785Ln(x)+0.3616 | 0.5403 |
| Number of lambs weaned | y = 0.0679Ln(x)+0.2851 | 0.5938 |
Age at first lambing: 17 months
Average marketing age is 7 to 9 months at 42 kg live weight under extensive conditions.
Dressing percentage: 46%
Carcass weight: 19.3 kg
Products
In AFRINO sheep, 80% of the income is generated through meat production and 20% through wool production.
Normal production environment:
Breed numbers
The breed society currently has 22 breeders. The total number of AFRINO sheep in South Africa is unknown.
The “Veld Ram” Breeding Project was started circa 1998, and is currently been run by Mr. Martiens le Roux, who has been in charge of data collection for the past 18 years. The aim of the project to ensure that genetically superior and environmentally well adapted animals are continuously available to the market
The project is run over a period of 6 to 7 months. Lambs between the ages of 5 to 7 months and weighing between 28 and 40 kg are divided into 2 groups: light and heavy. This provides for lambs from low rainfall areas and twins to be monitored. The weight of the animals in each group may not differ by more than 10kg.
The lambs are sheared before being released and again towards the end of the of the project period. The fleece of each is thoroughly analysed of which micro, length and nett return are the most important.
The lambs are sheared and released into an approved test area and must subsist on the vegetation of area without external feeding. The animals are weighed on a monthly basis.
Within 2 weeks after the completion of the project period, the average daily weight-gain is calculated from the data gathered during the project period and a selection index is drawn up.
The first selection takes place in the first 2 weeks of September. The rams are then sheared for the second time and the fleece of each is thoroughly analysed of which micron, length and nett return are the most important parameters.
All the rams are given a condition point evaluation in which fat distribution over the ribs and loins is measured and a number between 1 (very thin) and 7 (overweight) is assigned. From this the rams can be divided in weight classes: light, medium and heavy.
All rams with a selection index of less than 80 and/or a fleece nett index less than 70 are withdrawn from the project.
A second selection takes place in last 2 weeks of January to ensure that the rams are ready for auction.
Mr. M. le Roux (left) and Mr. H. Calitz (right) with prize ram.
