HISTORY OF LETELLE
The Letelle descends from the Spanish Merino. In 1785 Spanish Merino’s found a home on the French Government’s experimental farm Rambouillet just outside of Paris, and became known as Rambouillets. The Spanish Merino was a plain-bodied sheep carrying fine wool. From France they were exported to other countries including South Africa.
van der WaltIn 1921 – 1922 the original breeder of the Letelle, the late Mr TP van der Walt, acquired 35 large, plain-bodied ewes carrying fine wool from the Barkley East district. They were mainly of the Rambouillet type. He also acquired 3 rams with the same qualities to serve as a nucleus for his breeding plans. His ideal was to breed a polled Merino sheep capable of yielding the maximum amount of wool and mutton per grazing unit. His aim was that the progeny of these sheep would produce good quality mutton at an early age and carry true Merino wool, therefore a balanced Merino adapted to South Africa’s harsh climate.
OUR MISSION
“Since 1920 the Letellemark breeding policy has been based on a process of natural selection under natural environmental conditions, in this may not only to identify the sheep that is adapted to its environment but also an animal able to produce wool and mutton economically in its specific environment and under normal management principles.
We strive to provide rams within reach of every farmer in the Republic.”
