Fat Lamb Production
Ask any British shepherd and he will tell you that the sheep with black points produce the best eating lamb. Americans know this well. The Hampshire, a sheep with defined black points but clean, white wool, is one of the leading stud breeds in USA. It is significant that in Britain, where the best lamb meat from all over the world is available to the consumer, the Hampshire is a much sought after breed. Hampshires have led all other breeds in the export of stud sheep from Britain. Several years ago more Hampershires were exported that all other breeds combined.
South Africa's predilection for white-faced sheep has undoubtedly grown out of our history of Merino wool growing. All lambs sired by black sheep are slaughtered. There can, therefore, be no problem associated with wool clips.
We have underestimated the ability of sheep with dark points to produce lean meat at quick rates of maturity – meat of a taste sought in other lands where the consuming public is more discriminating. Perhaps the South African consumer has not learnt, or is not given the chance to be discriminating with lamb.
In an age when breeders are being exhorted to develop a sheep whose offspring grow rapidly and produce abundant meat on the leg and loin, it behoves us to learn more about the Hampshire sheep.
The breed has the vigour and ruggedness demanded by the commercial producer, and yet has sufficent refinement and desireable conformation to bring top prices when properly finished.
They are prolific breeders and famous for their early maturing qualities. Lambs weigh well at an early age. Although early maturing, they can be sold at heavier weights without fear of over fat at grading. They are world renowned for their quality carcasses.
Well fed Hampshires can gain half a kilogram (one pound) liveweight a day from birth and they can convert a larger proportion of food into early lambs and prime mutton in a shorter time than most other breeds.
They are hardy sheep and can stand adverse conditions as was proved during the last droughts in the North Eastern Cape. However, they are best adapted to an intensive system of farming.
As a result of the limited numbers of pure Hampshires in South Africa, rams are mainly used for cross-breeding purposes. The Hampshire suits this purpose ideally as its mating activities are not limited to any particular season of the year. It crosses with any sheep breed and establishes its early maturity carcass qualities to a large extent to its progeny. In good feeding conditions and with efficient management, Hampshire x Merino lambs can achieve a live weight of 35kg. and a slaughter weight of 17kg at 100 days. The progeny of these crosses are easily distinguished due to the brown or shades of brown on the face. Because the Hampshire carries a wool coat, the danger of contamination with kemp when crossed with wooled sheep is almost completely eliminated.
Although the Hampshire Down is regarded as rugged in Britain, thia does not mean that the pure Hampshire or its crosses will not meet with the expectations in extensive conditions in South Africa. Only good feeding conditions, created through planted pastures or green fodder on cultivated fields can ensure that the pure or cross lamb is marketable within 3.5 months and complies with the requirements for a high grade slaughter lamb.
Should the lamb suffer owing to poor management and a lack of sufficient good pasture and such a lamb reaches the pot-belly stage, it is seldom that such a lamb can be presented as a slaughter lamb of high quality at a later stage.
The objection that is sometimes heard regarding the black wool occuring at the points of the fleece of the legs does not really matter if it is carried over to the cross lambs since theses lambs are usually sold as slaughter lambs with there fleece. Breeders of pure Hampshire are aware of this black wool. They remove it during shearing and market the white wool separately. The wool of the Hampshire i being used for various purposes, including hosiery, knitting wool, flannel and especially felt.
South Africa's predilection for white-faced sheep has undoubtedly grown out of our history of Merino wool growing. All lambs sired by black sheep are slaughtered. There can, therefore, be no problem associated with wool clips.
We have underestimated the ability of sheep with dark points to produce lean meat at quick rates of maturity – meat of a taste sought in other lands where the consuming public is more discriminating. Perhaps the South African consumer has not learnt, or is not given the chance to be discriminating with lamb.
In an age when breeders are being exhorted to develop a sheep whose offspring grow rapidly and produce abundant meat on the leg and loin, it behoves us to learn more about the Hampshire sheep.
The breed has the vigour and ruggedness demanded by the commercial producer, and yet has sufficent refinement and desireable conformation to bring top prices when properly finished.
They are prolific breeders and famous for their early maturing qualities. Lambs weigh well at an early age. Although early maturing, they can be sold at heavier weights without fear of over fat at grading. They are world renowned for their quality carcasses.
Well fed Hampshires can gain half a kilogram (one pound) liveweight a day from birth and they can convert a larger proportion of food into early lambs and prime mutton in a shorter time than most other breeds.
They are hardy sheep and can stand adverse conditions as was proved during the last droughts in the North Eastern Cape. However, they are best adapted to an intensive system of farming.
As a result of the limited numbers of pure Hampshires in South Africa, rams are mainly used for cross-breeding purposes. The Hampshire suits this purpose ideally as its mating activities are not limited to any particular season of the year. It crosses with any sheep breed and establishes its early maturity carcass qualities to a large extent to its progeny. In good feeding conditions and with efficient management, Hampshire x Merino lambs can achieve a live weight of 35kg. and a slaughter weight of 17kg at 100 days. The progeny of these crosses are easily distinguished due to the brown or shades of brown on the face. Because the Hampshire carries a wool coat, the danger of contamination with kemp when crossed with wooled sheep is almost completely eliminated.
Although the Hampshire Down is regarded as rugged in Britain, thia does not mean that the pure Hampshire or its crosses will not meet with the expectations in extensive conditions in South Africa. Only good feeding conditions, created through planted pastures or green fodder on cultivated fields can ensure that the pure or cross lamb is marketable within 3.5 months and complies with the requirements for a high grade slaughter lamb.
Should the lamb suffer owing to poor management and a lack of sufficient good pasture and such a lamb reaches the pot-belly stage, it is seldom that such a lamb can be presented as a slaughter lamb of high quality at a later stage.
The objection that is sometimes heard regarding the black wool occuring at the points of the fleece of the legs does not really matter if it is carried over to the cross lambs since theses lambs are usually sold as slaughter lambs with there fleece. Breeders of pure Hampshire are aware of this black wool. They remove it during shearing and market the white wool separately. The wool of the Hampshire i being used for various purposes, including hosiery, knitting wool, flannel and especially felt.