Africa-Press – Lesotho. The merino sire had fetched a whopping M30 000 in an auction organised by the Wool and Mohair Promotion Project (WAMPP) at the Quthing Breeding Centre (Sheep Stud) on
Wednesday this week. Born on May 22, in 2019, the 89.8kg with fibre diameter of 20.3 microns, measuring 45 millimetres in staple length and boasting 99.3 percent of comfort factor was the highest
bid that went under the hammer. The one year and ten month-old broke the record of the two consecutive years running auction as its predecessor was sold for M16 900 in 2020.
The merino rams and ewes are said to possess fine and long wool, are large and more fertile. Also their lamb and mutton are reported to be of high quality in the market.
The WAMPP Project Director Retšelisitsoe Francis Khoalenyane said the project has key implementation strategies under the national breeding plan. He said those
include; artificial insemination, private commercial breeders, culling and exchange as well as the donation of the improved semen at the stud. The national
breeding plan he said was launched in October 2020 and it is implemented in the two studs of Quthing and Mokhotlong. Khoalenyane said the next auction, which will
be the third instalment is scheduled for Mokhotlong and will be held before the end of this year or early 2022. Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Hon.
Tefo Mapesela pledged the government’s support to the farmers. Mapesela said there is no need for the farmers to go to South Africa and purchase the high quality rams and
ewes as they are now produced in the country. “It is high time that we earn our livelihoods from our sheep,” he said. The Minister further charged the Lesotho National Wool and Mohair Growers Association
(LNWMGA) to embark on a national tour in all districts to identify the high
quality sires and draw their semen samples which he said will be sent to laboratories for analysis and classification purposes. One of the bidders in the auction who spoke to the Informative Newspaper, ‘Maliketso
Mokhethi said she came to bid for the good merino sire as she needs it to improve her livestock and for the top quality wool which she said will generate
her a better income. Although she was outbid by the highest bidder who scooped the M15 100 sire which she was eyeing, Mokhethi said she was not deterred
adding that she was not looking for the ewes. The Semonkong based farmer further stated that she is impressed by the quality of the merinos produced in Lesotho adding that there will no longer be a need to go to South
Africa to buy the sheep. Boasting 100 sheep, she encouraged women to participate in animals farming as there is “life” in that kind of farming. It is estimated
that 50 000 populations benefit from the WAMPP and of this, the 25 percent of the households benefit in the form of improved animal health, husbandry and
breeding. For his part, the Principal Chief of Quthing Seeiso Nkuebe urged the farmers to take care of their animals. He said as the animals are about to go to the posts, they should
be well nurtured for the production of top quality wool and mohair. At the time of going to press the request for this reporter about the number of sheep that
went under the hammer and the total estimates of the proceeds collected had not been furnished by the office. Asked where the proceeds will go, the WAMPP Project Director said there is a dedicated account
for the sale proceeds which is a revolving fund that goes into the wool and mohair project. He said WAMPP is an overseer but capacitates those who run the
project, the Lesotho National Wool and Mohair Growers Association (LNWMGA) to, amongst others, procure improved semen for the farmers, adding that the aim is to sustain the project so that it should outlive its stipulated time span.
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