Originally, in 1997, Van Rooy ewes were farmed in the Lady Grey district, however, due to poor ratings and discrimination of the Van Rooy lambs at the abattoirs; White Dorper rams were purchased in order to improve the rating. After a five year period, a problem with fertility became common which resulted in ewes not lambing when they were supposed to. A drought was also prevalent at the time and it was found that only the ewes with a Van Rooy tail lambed. In 2007, Van Rooy ewes were purchased on a sale at Lady Grey. This was an old stud from Mr. Lombard who stopped farming. His late father started the stud farm, but after his death, his son neglected the stud. In 2009, the ewes were moved to Pearston were the selectors of the Van Rooy Breders Association identified 47 stud ewes. During 2008 to 2010, a severe drought prevailed and it was found that the Van Rooy ewes lambed during the period, but the White Dorper ewes only lambed a month and a half later than the Van Rooys. The grazing habits of Van Rooys were also studied during the drought period and it was found that the sheep ate everything from Karoo grass to shrubs and bush. The sheep actually stands on its hind legs, like a goat, to get hold of the necessary food.
It was then decided to move back to pure Van Rooy sheep and for the period 2009 to 2011, Van Rooy rams were purchased at the “Griekwastad Veldramveiling” and only rams with the necessary growth potential, fertility and milk production (from the mothers’ side) were purchased. Only stud rams and one merit ram were purchased, which is now intensively being utilized in the stud as well as the commercial herd.
"The fertile and hardy sheep breed"
JAP Van Rooy stud
JAP Van Rooy Stud was founded in 2011 by three members, Alwyn Els, Johan Nel and Petrus Els. The objectives were clearly specified from the start.
OBJECTIVES
We wanted a breed with a high fertility rate, an increase of milk production in the ewes and a lamb that could be marketed (off the veld) as early as possible, with a weight of between 34 to 38kg and still with an A2/A3 grading. This would enable us to keep on more ewes due to the fact that lambs did not have to be accommodated for extended periods.
HISTORY
Originally, in 1997, Van Rooy ewes were farmed in the Lady Grey district, however, due to poor ratings and discrimination of the Van Rooy lambs at the abattoirs; White Dorper rams were purchased in order to improve the rating. After a five year period, a problem with fertility became common which resulted in ewes not lambing when they were supposed to. A drought was also prevalent at the time and it was found that only the ewes with a Van Rooy tail lambed.
In 2007, Van Rooy ewes were purchased on a sale at Lady Grey. This was an old stud from Mr. Lombard who stopped farming. His late father started the stud farm, but after his death, his son neglected the stud. In 2009, the ewes were moved to Pearston were the selectors of the Van Rooy Breders Association identified 47 stud ewes. During 2008 to 2010, a severe drought prevailed and it was found that the Van Rooy ewes lambed during the period, but the White Dorper ewes only lambed a month and a half later than the Van Rooys. The grazing habits of Van Rooys were also studied during the drought period and it was found that the sheep ate everything from Karoo grass to shrubs and bush. The sheep actually stands on its hind legs, like a goat, to get hold of the necessary food.
It was then decided to move back to pure Van Rooy sheep and for the period 2009 to 2011, Van Rooy rams were purchased at the “Griekwastad Veldramveiling” and only rams with the necessary growth potential, fertility and milk production (from the mothers’ side) were purchased. Only stud rams and one merit ram were purchased, which is now intensively being utilized in the stud as well as the commercial herd.
GOALS
We use the Sheeppro program to measure our animals and the animals are registered with SA Studbook. The process is still in infancy, but the necessary information will be available over time. The long-term goal is to increase the stud to 500 ewes and to improve our commercial flock to the same standard, so that no difference can be distinguished between the two.
