By Alani Janeke
These ewes were not synchronised to lamb at the same time, said Francis Visagie of the farm Nanibees between Kenhardt and Brandvlei in the Northern Cape. So he was surprised when the ewes all had triplets around the same time last year.
“As the owner of the animals, I firmly believe – and science also supports this – that genetic traits don’t have as much to do with multiple births as good nutrition,” he said.
“However, the breed must also be fertile to produce such a lambing outcome. These ewes had very good nutrition at the time when they were serviced by the ram.”
Visagie also attributes the success to good management over many years. “If ewes are in healthy condition and their condition is good, they perform well.”
He says he has multiple births every year. Twins are more common than triplets, and quadruplets also arrive from time to time.
It’s important that the flock is fertile, and ewes that don’t lamb for a year or two are culled.
“One day someone asked me, ‘Where are your ugly sheep?’ Then I said they’re in the freezer,” he joked about his thorough flock management.
“And then there’s another story that rams with large testicles also play a role. It has nothing to do with the ram’s ability to mate or impregnate a ewe, but it is believed that rams with large testicles have female offspring that are more fertile than those of rams with smaller testicles. I don’t know if it’s scientifically true, but that’s what I’ve heard.”
Visagie’s flock has produced several twins and triplets again this year.
