Our Heritage
Leliekrans Farm, located near Sutherland in the Northern Cape, carries a proud legacy of farming that spans generations. Established in the 1930s when Piet de Lange’s grandfather began buying the land piece by piece, the farm was named after the lilies that bloomed under the cliffs – Leliekrans. From Afrikaner sheep in the early years, to Merinos in the 1940s, and Dorpers in the 1970s, each generation worked to improve and strengthen the animals under their care.
Today, Leliekrans is home to the Leliekrans Meatmaster Stud. Piet and Nelia de Lange continue the family tradition, breeding Meatmasters that thrive in the extreme Roggeveld climate – with freezing winters, scorching summers, and low rainfall.
Piet de Lange with a flock of ewes in the field.
The fertility of Meatmasters is one of their strongest traits, and their lambing percentage is exceptionally high.
The Leliekrans Difference
It takes grit, passion, and discipline to farm successfully in the Roggeveld. Leliekrans Meatmasters are bred to meet this challenge. From the very beginning, Piet focused on producing sheep that are:
- Hardy and Adaptable – bred under extensive veld conditions with natural selection at the core.
- Highly Fertile – with exceptional lambing percentages and strong recovery ability.
- Structurally Correct – ensuring mobility, walking ability, and good carcass quality without over-muscled frames.
- Genetically Strong – improving every generation through careful breeding and record-keeping.
Our Breeding Approach
Breeding Policy
At Leliekrans, good genetics come first. Our Meatmasters were originally bred from Damara mothers and Dorper fathers – combining mothering ability, flocking instinct, hardiness, and fertility. We breed with purpose, carefully pairing rams and ewes, and recording performance over generations to ensure continuous improvement.
We believe that correct structure is more important than colour. A Meatmaster must have strong legs, good mobility, and resilience under tough veld conditions, producing meat of high quality without sacrificing fertility or adaptability.
Natural Selection
Farming success begins in the veld. Lambs are weaned and moved straight into grazing conditions, where they must adapt and thrive. In dry periods we support them, but in good times they are placed on the hardest veld to test their strength. Each month, less adaptable animals are removed – leaving only the strongest, most resilient animals in the stud.
As Piet explains: “My father always said you must adapt to changing circumstances. I believe the sheep we breed must also have that ability.”
Carcass Quality
We focus on breeding functional animals that perform under extensive conditions. Meatmasters at Leliekrans are well-structured, fertile, and productive. Their carcasses offer good muscling and meat quality, while retaining mobility and endurance – essential for farming in the Karoo.
Feeding Management
Our flocks are raised primarily on the Karoo veld, supplemented only when necessary during drought. This ensures that our Meatmasters remain veld-adapted and resilient, capable of thriving in natural grazing systems across South Africa.
Performance for the Future
Every ram and ewe at Leliekrans is bred with the future in mind. By recording ewe fertility, lambing results, and pedigrees, we track progress across generations and strengthen our stud year after year.
Our Meatmasters have proven themselves even under extreme drought conditions – maintaining fertility, lambing more than once a year, and recovering quickly after hardship. Few other breeds can match this performance.
Recognition in the Industry
As reported in Veeplaas by Koos du Pisanie, Leliekrans Meatmasters have played a key role in the development of the breed. Through years of disciplined selection and breeding, Piet and Nelia gave the Meatmaster a valuable head start in South Africa, proving that crossbreeding Dorpers and Damaras under veld conditions can create a hardy, fertile, and adaptable sheep for the future.
Our Promise
At Leliekrans, investing in our Meatmasters means investing in genetics that are tested, proven, and built for the future. Whether in the harsh Roggeveld or elsewhere in South Africa, our Meatmasters are bred to perform.
