Goat and sheep farmers breed smarter to beat climate stress

This article is a follow-up to “Drought, rain, disease: Sheep farmers battle climate extremes”, previously published. While part one explored the challenges, this part looks at how farmers turn to local solutions to build climate resilience.

Despite enduring the harsh realities of drought, flash floods, and deadly disease outbreaks, sheep and goat farmers are refusing to be victims of climate change.

Across the country, farmers like Emmanuel Mudau are rethinking what it means to farm successfully in an era of extreme weather. For him, and many others, the answer is breeding livestock that not only survives but thrives in unforgiving environments.

As highlighted by Mudau and the Journal of Animal Breeding, the most sustainable way to achieve this is through selective breeding. In the face of climate change, strategic genetic selection is key to improving efficiency across livestock species.

“You must not farm against your environment. You must farm something that aligns with your environment; otherwise, you will always lose,” Mudau says.

Mudau primarily breeds Bushveld sheep, Savannah, and indigenous veld goats. He stopped breeding Boer goats due to their poor adaptation and high mortality rates.

The Bushveld sheep is part of an initiative in collaboration with the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) that Mudau forms part of. According to him, the breed is built for Limpopo’s harsh conditions.

Drought, rain, disease: Sheep farmers battle climate extremes

Strengthening livestock against diseases

“We needed a sheep that would adapt to our harsh conditions – our wireworms, heartwater, and [other] tick-borne diseases. We looked at the Pedi sheep, an indigenous African breed that survives in extreme conditions without antibiotics or vaccines,” he says.

Animal disease data published by the Red Meat Industry Services corroborates Madau’s claims about the “harsh conditions” that livestock need to be adaptable to (chart below).

Wireworm in sheep, for example, is a major concern, with 66.7% of Limpopo’s veterinary clinics reporting more than 10 cases between April 2022 and March 2025. Similarly, there is some concern for heartwater in goats – a serious tick-borne disease – with 62.5% of Limpopo’s veterinary clinics reporting more than 1 case during the same period. Although not to the same extent, foot rot is a third “harsh condition” facing the sheep and goats of Limpopo.

To enhance productivity, Mudau crossbred Pedi sheep with Dorper and Van Rooy sheep.

“The Dorper contributes good quality meat and strong growth rates, while the Van Rooy adds good milk production, ensuring the ability to raise twins and graze efficiently. We combined these breeds to create a sheep that would work for us while retaining more Pedi blood for resilience,” explains Mudau.

Emmanuel Mudau’s Pedi and Dorper sheep. Photo: Emmanuel Mudau

The ARC research on the Bushveld sheep is complete, with reports set to be released at an upcoming conference. The ARC and the government funded the initiative to develop a breed tailored to the region.

Goat farmer Mampshika Moloto from Limpopo has developed a calculated approach to breeding that balances adaptability with market demands. His breeding philosophy is straightforward yet effective: “Indigenous for resistance, Boer goat for meat structure,” Moloto explains.

By crossbreeding indigenous goats with Boer goats, Moloto aims to harness the strengths of both breeds. Indigenous goats are renowned for their ability to withstand harsh conditions, resist diseases, and thrive in drought-prone areas, making them ideal for sustainable farming. Meanwhile, Boer goats are valued for their superior meat quality and fast growth rate.

Through careful herd management and strategic breeding choices, Moloto says he is creating a more resilient and productive livestock operation.

Breeding for different environments

Vuyisile Nyende, a goat farmer from Gauteng, also struggled with various goat breeds that were not well-suited to their environment.

“We decided on indigenous goats after failing numerous times with other breeds due to a lack of knowledge and the need for adaptation in our area,” she explains.

“Some of the reasons were based on statistics showing that indigenous goats produce more meat per unit than other goats, which was beneficial for our customers and the business itself.”

Understanding the impact of climate change, Nyende sought goats that better suited their grazing management system. “We were looking for goats that are less likely to get foot rot because our area is more of a wetland. Also, we needed goats that are less susceptible to heartwater, a serious tick-borne disease.”

As the chart below indicates, 22.2% of veterinary clinics in Gauteng reported more than 10 cases of foot rot in goats between April 2022 and March 2025. Regarding heartwater in goats, 30% of veterinary clinics in Gauteng reported more than 1 case during the same period, a cause for some concern.

Indigenous goats have proven to be resilient, particularly in drought-prone areas. As Nyende states, “Preferably, indigenous goats don’t travel long distances when grazing during droughts. They maintain their skin condition even during dry seasons and don’t shed weight quickly, ensuring good meat production.”

Karoo farmers: Drought mitigation strategies

According to David Botha, production advisor for the National Wool Growers Association in the Northern Cape, much like Nyende, Mudau and Moloto, Karoo farmers have had to balance a tight rope to avoid falling into an economy-of-scale pit.

“In the economy of today, farmers in the Karoo are under pressure that they cannot survive on the norms of 30 years ago,” Botha says.

“What I’ve seen, especially with drought, is the farmer’s adaptation to significantly lower their herd numbers. But where industry norms tell you to go from 100% to 50-66% of your herd numbers.”

“So, for a few years, intensification of production was tried by many farmers. The risk with intensive farming in the Karoo is the feed that needs to be transported over many kilometres,” Botha explains.

Furthermore, according to Botha, many farmers have also considered other income streams like onion seed, saffron and ostrich production. These are secondary incomes to help mitigate the economy of scale.

“In many instances, you will find that farmers themselves or their partners have a non-agriculture-related job … to prepare themselves for the increasingly longer drought periods, farmers have developed other ways to offset pressure on the veld.”

Practices including soil erosion prevention and veld improvement plans have always been part of Karoo farmers suite of tactics. As Botha explains, “It takes 5-10 years for shrubs to establish itself. So generational farmers have been taught to plan ahead. This is the basis of regenerative farming. Protecting the soil.”

Keeping ewes cool without wasting water

In the Western Cape, Pieter de Wet, CEO and founder of Landrani, uses their hybrid Meatmaster sheep production system – a system built on resilience, sustainability, and continuous innovation. The Meatmaster’s adaptability to harsh veld conditions, parasite tolerance, and strong maternal traits make it ideal for the unpredictable weather patterns South African farmers increasingly face.

“In response to climate pressure on veld and grazing systems, we’ve invested in a wheat straw and urease treatment plant. This allows us to nutritionally upgrade a low-cost, locally available resource into consistent, high-quality feed, not just for lambs, but also for our breeding ewes.

“This significantly reduces pressure on natural grazing during dry spells and ensures consistent animal performance regardless of veld condition,” De Wet explains.

Water is another key area. De Wet explains how they have designed their system to naturally reduce water use: “By keeping ewes and lambs out of open, unshaded veld areas, we avoid the stress and dehydration often associated with heat exposure. Shade reduces their need to cool down via water intake – one of the most overlooked contributors to excessive water consumption in traditional systems,” he notes.

In addition, all their water systems are powered by solar energy, which means their groundwater utilisation is not only energy-efficient but also regenerative. Boreholes are given ample resting periods, and water usage is spread out sustainably across the farm.

“Our approach to climate change isn’t just about coping – it’s about building a system that thrives in it. By combining the genetic strengths of the Meatmaster sheep with smart feeding, shade provision, and renewable energy, we’re creating a more predictable and ethical farming model in increasingly unpredictable conditions,” De Wet shares.