We recently had one week in South Africa looking for new genetics to complement our growing Afrino flock. We visited two studs, Clynton Collet's in Bethulie and Koot Pienaar's in Venterstad. Once again we were amazed at the harsh conditions that Afrinos are run in. We knew they did it tough, but forgot how tough the country actually is. The Afrinos are not drenched or given any supplements. The only extra they are given is a block of rock salt.
Sheep in Africa have to contend with a lot more than Australian sheep with coyote and jackal a real problem. They would take 15pc of lambs born

Trial
While on the trip we were lucky enough to look at rams involved in a unique trial. The trial involves the best 14 ram lambs (four months old) from individual studs being put into a very harsh environment that sheep have already gone through so all the best feed is gone. They are given two and a half months to even up and then shorn, scrotal measurements taken, micron and wool weights recorded, fat scored. They are then tested every 30 days after that. Everything that happens to them is noted including fly strike, which they are treated for, coyote attack etc.
Their lambs teeth don't actually fall out they are worn away, the feed is that hard. It would be interesting to see a trial like that conducted in Australia.

Selection
While in South Africa we were able to select a number of ewes to use in our next embryo program. We selected for bare breech, high comfort factor, micron and fertility. The record keeping in South Africa is such that every ewe has records going back 10-12 generations showing twins and triplets etc.
Every sheep we selected had a bare breech and every single one will be eye muscle tested.. We also selected nothing under 98pc comfort factor and nothing above 21 micron down to 18.
South Africans are finding that the fertility of the Afrino is very good and we believe there is definitely a place for them in Australia in terms of a prime lamb mother. They would be equal to if not better than our Merino-Border Leciester cross ewes because they are hardier and just as fertile.