Their lambs hit 35kg in two months – how two communal farmers cracked the crossbreeding code

For Kutama Nicholas Huma and his father, Mashamaite Huma, farming in Makgabeng village outside Bochum in Limpopo’s Blouberg Municipality has always required resilience and innovation. Operating within a communal farming system characterised by limited grazing land, mountainous terrain, high tick burdens and harsh environmental conditions, the father-and-son team have continually adapted their livestock enterprise to improve productivity and profitability.

By Lebogang Mashala, editor at African Farming

Their current operation consists of Meatmaster sheep and Boer goats, but this was not always the case. Before introducing these breeds, the Humas farmed Dorper-type sheep and mixed-breed goats. However, they found it difficult to generate satisfactory returns from the enterprise.

Also read: Making communal land profitable with Meatmaster sheep and Boer goats

The turning point came when they began hearing positive reports from farmers operating under similar environmental conditions who were successfully farming with Meatmaster sheep. Encouraged by these success stories, they decided to replace their Dorpers with Meatmasters.

“With the introduction of Meatmasters, we noticed a significant improvement,” says Kutama. “The breed produced excellent lambs and there was strong demand from buyers.”

The Mutton Merino is a versatile dual-purpose breed renowned for its excellent meat and wool production. Adapted to diverse South African conditions, it was specifically developed to produce quality slaughter lambs at an early age. Photo: Lebogang Mashala

Also watch: Neo Brian Rasehlo explains the advantages of crossbreeding (Setswana and English)

Inspiration from a Farmers’ Day

Although pleased with the performance of the Meatmasters, Kutama believed there was still potential to further improve production. During a farmers’ day hosted on the family farm, he was particularly impressed by a group of Merino sheep exhibited by another producer. The encounter inspired him to experiment with crossbreeding.

“We decided to introduce Mutton Merino genetics into our Meatmaster flock,” he explains. “The results exceeded all our expectations.”

Typically, lambs weaned at three months of age weigh between 30kg and 35kg. However, since introducing the Mutton Merino cross, the lambs have been reaching 35kg as early as two months of age. Photo: Lebogang Mashala

Also read: Health and nutrition drive success for Limpopo’s Meatmaster and Boer goat farmers

The Power of Crossbreeding

According to Kutama, crossing Mutton Merino rams with Meatmaster ewes has proven to be a highly effective breeding strategy. The cross combines the Meatmaster’s exceptional maternal qualities, fertility, parasite resistance and hardiness with the Mutton Merino’s superior growth rate and muscle conformation.

“The biggest advantages are faster growth and improved carcass quality,” he says. “The lambs are well-muscled, grow quickly and are highly sought after by feedlots and abattoirs.”

The crossbred offspring also inherit the adaptability of the Meatmaster, enabling them to thrive on natural veld conditions while reducing labour and veterinary and medication costs.

Also read: Communal farming that pays: Boer goats and Meatmaster sheep driving profit in Limpopo

Better Returns from Sheep

“The sheep give us better prices and are relatively low-maintenance,” Kutama explains. “We hardly ever sell at a loss. At worst, we break even. We usually market lambs at about eight months of age, whereas goats generally take much longer to reach market readiness.”

The early results from the crossbreeding programme have been highly encouraging. Of the first group of 36 pregnant ewes, the Humas recorded about 44 lambs, demonstrating excellent reproductive performance.

“This means we can potentially achieve three lambing cycles within 24 months,” says Kutama. “We’re still refining the system, but it looks very promising.”

The Meatmaster is a composite breed developed to thrive under extensive farming conditions and is a favourite among sheep farmers seeking productivity, hardiness and profitability. Photos: Supplied — Kutama Nicholas Huma and his father, Mashamaite’s Meatmaster sheep. Photo: Supplied

Also watch: Boerbok and Meatmaster mastery in Limpopo

Lower Mortality, Higher Productivity

One of the most significant improvements has been the dramatic reduction in mortality rates.

“We used to experience high mortality levels in our goat flock, but with the sheep we’re currently operating at less than 1% mortality.”

Growth performance has also exceeded expectations. Under normal circumstances, lambs are weaned at three months of age, with weights ranging between 30kg and 35kg. Since introducing the Mutton Merino cross, however, the lambs have been reaching 35kg as early as two months of age.

“The lambs are growing so quickly that we’re forced to wean them earlier,” Kutama says. “What’s impressive is that even after weaning early, they continue to grow well without any complications.”

A Formula for Future Growth

For the Humas, the crossbreeding programme has not only improved productivity but has also strengthened the sustainability and profitability of their livestock enterprise. Their experience shows how carefully selected genetics and strategic breeding decisions can unlock significant gains, even under the challenging conditions of communal farming systems.