Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
The secret to success lies in actively seeking new markets,
especially when you have a top-quality, niche product.
“We are proud of what we do as farmers because we have a passion for it,” says Richard Armstrong, the 2025 National Sheep Farmer of the Year, during Stockfarm’s visit to Tweeddale, the family farm in the Cathcart district.
A third-generation farmer, Richard joined his father, Barry Armstrong, on the farm in 1996. Barry established the operation as a commercial Merino enterprise, and the business later expanded when he was approached by his longtime friend, Cameron McMaster, to manage the Dohne Merino Group Breeding Scheme for Dohne Merino stud breeders.
“My dad and I have enjoyed an incredible relationship,” Richard says. “He brought the experience, while I brought the energy. By combining the two, we were able to grow the business and make it highly efficient and productive.”
Richard has managed the Tweeddale Dohne Merino stud since the late 1990s and runs a commercial Dohne Merino flock as well. In addition, the farming operation includes a beef component, Fenfield Reds, with weaner calves produced for sale.
One of the big highlights of Richard’s farming career came in 1997 when the Armstrongs, together with members of the group breeding scheme, were involved in the first-ever exportation of Dohne Merino embryos to Australia.
Returns on going the extra mile
“The success of a family farming enterprise depends on everyone knowing their role on the farm and working well together,” says Richard. “It is just as important for a farmer to plan for lean times, budget carefully, and ensure the business remains profitable.”
According to Richard, farming is about forward thinking, continually looking for new opportunities, maintaining sound management practices, and rearing lambs and calves through to weaning, not merely to survive but to thrive. “Reaching that point is expensive,” he explains, “especially on our sourveld grazing, where nutritional value drops dramatically during the winter months. Animals are encouraged to graze the dry grass, while production licks are provided as needed to keep the rumen functioning optimally.”
About 25 years ago, they took an innovative step by establishing a lamb feedlot on the farm. This was later upgraded to a fully automated system which has significantly improved efficiency and reduced turnaround time. “It is only about eight to ten days faster,” says Richard, “but when you do the calculations, it pays to move animals out sooner. The feedlot adds value by getting lambs ready for the market.
“Lambs are sold locally and in 2023 and 2024, we secured a contract through BKB, with lambs slaughtered in De Aar and exported to the UAE and Qatar. In 2025, most lambs were sold to an East London abattoir supplying Woolworths. It really is worth going out and finding your own markets.”
Their wool is marketed through BKB’s auction system, with most of it exported for processing and distribution worldwide. “We are extremely proud of the wool our sheep produce,” notes Richard. “We have achieved prices among the top ten on our respective catalogues.”
Breeding values are a priority
Each year only the best-performing animals are retained, while those that fail to perform are culled. Although some production traits cannot be measured directly, they remain essential to the success of the flock. Richard highlights the following key requirements:
- Sheep must be well adapted to their specific environment.
- Fertility is vital, especially for sheep producing on natural sourveld and consistently delivering a lamb each year.
As per Dohne Merino Breeders’ Society criteria, performance testing is compulsory and Richard utilises it as a vital selection tool. He relies on BLUP figures and estimated breeding values (EBVs) to identify superior animals. “We also assess our animals phenotypically through visual inspection and combine this with performance figures to identify the ideal rams and ewes. It isn’t always easy, but our goal is to use as much information as possible to make the most accurate selection decisions.”
As a council member of the Dohne Merino Society, Richard explains that the technical committee continually reviews breeding values, which change from time to time in response to changing climate and financial conditions. Currently, meat production contributes around 70 to 80% of sheep income on the farm, with wool accounting for the remaining 20 to 30%. As market trends change, their focus remains on adaptability and breeding sheep and rams that best meet the needs of commercial producers.
Three lambing seasons per year
The stud flock is mated for a 35-day period starting in March, achieving a conception rate of approximately 94 to 95%. The lambing percentage (in August) is around 130%.
The other two lambing seasons involve a smaller commercial flock of ewes that lamb on pasture in April. These ewes are synchronised but mated naturally (not artificially inseminated), and their lambs are weaned after 75 days. The wether lambs are then placed in a feedlot and marketed at a later stage.
The remaining ewes lamb extensively on the veld in November. This lambing season can be challenging, particularly when rainfall exceeds 100mm, due to increased humidity and a higher parasite burden. “We try to follow the green cycle, and therefore the majority of our sheep lamb in November when the veld is green,” says Richard.
Major threats in the area
Internal parasites are widespread, with wireworm posing the greatest threat during summer. Farm employees are trained to use Famacha charts, and Richard regularly conducts and interprets faecal egg counts. No fixed dosing programme is followed; flocks are treated only when necessary to limit the development of worm resistance.
The area is prone to dry spells and drought, which often result in water scarcity. This risk is mitigated by establishing a hay fodder bank on dryland pastures, where lucerne is produced for the sheep and cattle. Hay is purchased during the summer months when supplies are abundant, to prepare for dry spring conditions. Within the grazing system, a percentage of the veld is rested during the summer growing season to build a natural fodder bank.
Veld fires are a persistent threat, particularly in August at the end of the dry winter, as the area has few natural firebreaks. In 2017 and 2024, many producers, including Richard, lost a lot of grazing to runaway fires. As a result, producers are now making wider and more extensive firebreaks.
Stock theft is another serious concern in the area. In response, local producers have contracted Magma Security over the past few years, which has made a huge difference in reducing theft on the farm and across the district. – Carin Venter, Stockfarm
For more information, contact Richard Armstrong at 082 414 1605 or armstrong@nokwi.co.za
