Dab solver - Afrikaner sheep

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The Afrikaner sheep is a breed of [[Fat-tailed_sheep|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 (sheep)|]], [[Blackhead Persian]], [[Pedi (sheep)|]], and [[Zulu sheep|Zulu]] (Nguni).<ref>{{cite book|title=Animal Production |accessdate=26 August 2012|year=2008|publisher= South Africa|isbn=978-1-77025-118-2|page=89}}</ref> Their ancestors were brought down from the middle east by the [[Khoi-Khoi|Khoikhoin]] people.^ref Ronderib Afrikaners are thought to be the first sheep imported to Australia, with the [[First Fleet]] in 1788, but today are very rare in the country.^ref

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The '''Afrikaner sheep''' is a breed of [[Fat-tailed_sheep|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 (sheep)|Damara]], [[Blackhead Persian]], [[Pedi (sheep)|Pedi]], and [[Zulu sheep|Zulu]] (Nguni).<ref>{{cite book|title=Animal Production |accessdate=26 August 2012|year=2008|publisher=<<link:0>> South Africa|isbn=978-1-77025-118-2|page=89}}</ref> Their ancestors were brought down from the middle east by the [[Khoi-Khoi|Khoikhoin]] people.<ref>{{cite book|author1=H. J. Deacon|author2=Janette Deacon|title=Human Beginnings in South Africa: Uncovering the Secrets of the Stone Age|accessdate=26 August 2012|year=1999|publisher=Rowman Altamira|isbn=978-0-7619-9086-4|page=181}}</ref> Ronderib Afrikaners are thought to be the first sheep imported to Australia, with the [[First Fleet]] in 1788, but today are very rare in the country.<ref>{{cite |url=http://www.abc.net.au/landline/content/2006/s2190012.htm |title=Rare Breeds |work=Landline |publisher=[[ABC News (Australia)]] |date=2008 }}</ref>

== Varieties ==
There are two varieites of Afrikaner sheep; The '''Namaqua Afrikaner''' and the '''Ronderib Afrikaner'''. Their long, fat tail is an energy store which helps them survive long dry seasons, when fat or [[lipid]] breaks down it provides energy and water at the same time; hydrogen is present in all lipids, although hydrogen is not water when not combined to another molecule it automatically grabs two oxygen molecules and becomes [[H2O|H<small>2</small>0]] water, the rest of the molecules associated with the lipid become energy and combine to form other nutrients.

The Namaqua Afrikaner is known for its hardiness in extreme environmental conditions.<ref>{{cite |url=http://gadi.agric.za/articles/Snyman_MA/productive.php |title=Productive and Reproductive Performance of Namaqua Afrikaner Sheep |publisher=Grootfontein Agricultural Development Institute }}</ref> It is a slender, lanky sheep with a fat tail, and is not particularly favored for modern lamb production. Namaqua Afrikaners are generally white with a red or black head, and large fat tails. What the breed lacks in market meat desirability, it makes up for in its foraging ability and hardiness in desert conditions.<ref>{{cite |url=http://www.indigenousbreeds.co.za/indigenousbreeds/sheep/namaqua |title=Namaqua Afrikaner |work= South Africa's Indigenous Farm Animals }}</ref>

The Ronderib Afrikaner is one of the larger breeds of South African indigenous sheep. There are two known sub varieties of this breed, one that has soft, fine, shiny hair being the Blinkhaar Ronderib Afrikaner, and the Steekhaar Ronderib Afrikaner having coarse hair, which was thought to be extinct. However, twenty animals were found in 1995 on a farm near [[Upington]]. The ribs of both are oval in cross section rather than flat. It is these two characteristics of coat and rib shape which distinguish this distinctive breed. Like the Namaqua Afrikaner (mentioned above) the breed is very adept to desert conditions and is remarkable for the long Seasons it can survive with little or no water. The Ronderib Afrikaners show further characteristics of desert animals in that, similar to the [[gemsbok]], their heels are close together. The aim of the old Ronderib breeders was to develop sheep with shiny coats suitable for making of skin blankets.<ref>{{cite |title=Blinkhaar Ronderib Afrikaner |url=http://www.indigenousbreeds.co.za/indigenousbreeds/sheep/blinkhaar |work= South Africa's Indigenous Farm Animals }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* [http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1439-0388.1960.tb00132.x/abstract History and Origin of the Ronderib and Namaqua Afrikaner Sheep] H. Epstein, 1960

[[Category:Sheep breeds originating in South Africa]]

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Dab solver - Afrikaner sheep

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