The Afrino is a breed of
sheep
Sheep or domestic sheep (''Ovis aries'') are domesticated, ruminant mammals typically kept as livestock. Although the term ''sheep'' can apply to other species in the genus '' Ovis'', in everyday usage it almost always refers to domesticated ...
originating from
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...
.
It was developed by crossing
Ronderib Afrikaner
The Afrikaner sheep (also known as ''Cape fat tail'') is a breed of fat tailed, hair sheep indigenous to South Africa.
History
Afrikaner sheep are one of the oldest native sheep breeds in South Africa, along with sheep such as the Damara, Blac ...
sheep with
Merino
The Merino is a breed or group of breeds of domestic sheep, characterised by very fine soft wool. It was established in Spain near the end of the Middle Ages, and was for several centuries kept as a strict Spanish monopoly; exports of the bree ...
and
South African Mutton Merino (SAMM) sheep, and is classified as a
Merino
The Merino is a breed or group of breeds of domestic sheep, characterised by very fine soft wool. It was established in Spain near the end of the Middle Ages, and was for several centuries kept as a strict Spanish monopoly; exports of the bree ...
breed.
The Afrino was developed at the Carnarvon Research Station. It was made using 25% Afrikaner, 25% Merino and 50% SAMM genetics. This allowed scientists to combine the improved wool and carcass traits of the Merino and SAMM with the indigenous Afrikaner breed that was suited to the environmental conditions of South Africa.
It is a minor, dual-purpose breed farmed for meat and
wool
Wool is the textile fibre obtained from sheep and other mammals, especially goats, rabbits, and camelids. The term may also refer to inorganic materials, such as mineral wool and glass wool, that have properties similar to animal wool. ...
in
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...
. It produces fine wool.
The Afrino is also used as a terminal sire in meat production to increase early growth in lambs and reach slaughter weight sooner.
It has a relatively low rate of inbreeding compared to other South African breeds.
References
{{reflist
Sheep breeds originating in South Africa