New Zealand Meatmaster Sheep
A Composite Breed
New Zealand Meatmaster hogget ram in his winter coat.
The New Zealand Meatmaster breed was formed in the mid-2000s by a small group of breeders, following the South African breed standard where they were first established.
Meatmasters became incredibly popular with farmers in South Africa, with the quality of their meat and survival. They were soon exported to other countries such as the USA and Australia. Meatmasters are a high performing composite breed which must contain a percentage of the South African Damara.
What makes the Meatmaster unique is that the breed standard is all about performance and must contain the genetics and traits of the Damara. They are fully recorded and were bred to be a high profit low input breed for the farmer.
Typical traits of the Meatmaster are as follows:
- Excellent maternal instincts and highly fertile, the ewes will cycle most of the year and is possible to have two lambings in 18 months.
- They are non-selective browsers so they will thrive on pastures that are not usually grazed by other sheep breeds.
- High Quality meat with an impressive muscular structure, which translates to higher meat to bone ratio, making the breed incredibly efficient in meat production. Rams weigh between 80 and 105 kilograms and ewes between 60 and 80 kilograms.
- Naturally calm in nature. Lambs are born weighing 3.5 to 4.5 kilograms, their birth hair coat increases lamb survival, and they grow incredibly fast. They can reach weaning weights of 35 to 45 kilograms.
- They have a high flocking instinct, which makes stock movements easier.
- Fully shedding, no shearing or related costs. The hair coat is less prone to fly strike. No docking is required; tail should be hair and above the hock.
- Stabilised Meatmasters must meet all points in the breed standard and be multi-generational.
There are a handful of dedicated breeders in New Zealand focused on the future of this breed and it is now proving to be more popular with New Zealand farmers.
New Zealand Meatmaster ewe with twin lambs.
Twin New Zealand Meatmaster lambs.
Thanks to Bryan Ritchie for the above information and photographs.
