FEATURED BREED
Drought-resistant Damaras eat like goats
S
mallholders in the drier
parts of Gauteng who
are looking for a breed
of sheep with a high level of
immunity to sheep diseases
and a resistance to internal
and external parasites would
do well to investigate the
Damara breed.
The breed is suited to any
type of pasture, having the
advantage that they graze
grass and “bossieveld” the
same as other sheep, but also
eat leaves like goats do. The
rump and back legs are so
developed that they stand on
their hind legs just like a goat
to eat leaves. They are
excellent at weed manage-
ment by rotational grazing,
thus reducing herbicide
requirements in your fields.
Because the Damara is lighter
than many other sheep, its
nutritional intake is compara-
tively lower and as a result
more animals can be housed
per camp.
Damara sheep have adapted
to extreme climates and harsh
environments across many
countries such as Egypt, Saudi
Arabia, many other Middle
Eastern countries, Sudan and
Namibia. Therefore, it is
possible to farm with Damara
sheep where water, grazing
and shelter are restricted.
Fat tailed sheep arrived in
South Africa between 200
and 400 AD. The Damara,
Damaras come in any colours and have smooth fur.
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Herero, Namaqua and the
Kam Karrin Khoisan tribes
farmed and traded with what
has become the Damara
sheep of today. The name is
derived from the Damara
area of Namibia.
The meat is described as
“juicy, tasty, flavoursome and
not mottled with fat.” External
fat is mainly located in the
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