Sheep farmers in the OR Tambo District were given constructive criticism and valuable advice, from the judging panel on improving the quality of their livestock during the district leg of the flock competition, hosted by the Eastern Cape Communal Wool Growers Association (ECCWGA) in Viedgesville, Mthatha, on July 14.
Sheep farmers brought their best breeds in the categories of lambs, two tooth ewes, four to eight tooth ewes and Dohne Merino categories, with winners in each category receiving medicine for their livestock.
The quality of the sheep’s wool and body structure were the main determining factors of the winners.
Speaking at the event, King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) Local Municipality mayoral committee member responsible for rural and economic development, Councillor Mkhanyiseli Dudumayo, said government was committed to developing farmers in general to graduate from subsistence to commercial farming.
“The small-scale farming sector, for a long time, has not been developed to a level where farmers are able to derive dual income from their sheep flock, but we are happy with initiatives like the flock competition, which has opened the eyes of farmers to the fact that they can derive income from their sheep through wool production and selling them for meat production,” Dudumayo said.
He further said that government has devised several initiatives to support small-scale farmers in rural areas such as shearing sheds roll-out, as well as the livestock improvement programme spearheaded by the provincial Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform.
Dudumayo said that government was also working closely with farmers to come up with innovative means to combat rampant stock theft across the OR Tambo District.
The ECCWGA said the flock competition was organised to encourage healthy competition among sheep farmers to breed the best of the best while also providing a platform for farmers to get acquainted and share information on best practices in sheep breeding.
The Eastern Cape Communal Wool Growers Association will hold the provincial finals of the flock competition on July 27 at Tsolo Agricultural and Rural Development Institute.
