The Letelle is top of the chops
“As a dual-purpose breed, the Letelle offers an income balance of roughly 70% meat and 30% wool,“ explains Thys. “It produces superfine wool of less than 19 micron, has excellent fertility and maternal characteristics, has a medium frame, and produces high-quality meat.”

The Letelle breed is known for superior quality meat with an excellent texture and exceptional marbling, says JM (Toitjie) du Toit, chairperson of Letelle (Pty) Ltd, the body governing the breed. He says DNA profiles done in November 2010 prove the breed offers enough genetic variability to select from to breed economically balanced animals.

Letelle sheep are early-maturing, reaching an ideal slaughter liveweight of 33kg to 35kg at around 150 days under favorable conditions. “I market some weaner lambs after four to five months at 33kg to 35kg with a carcass weight of 18kg to 21kg, or lambs directly after weaning to feedlots,” says Thys. 

Members of Letelle (Pty) Ltd determine Letelle ram prices at a biannual general meeting, at roughly R2 200 to R3 200. This unique system ensures that rams are available to buyers at affordable prices. Letelle store lambs are in great demand at feedlots as their medium frame ensures an excellent feed-conversion ratio.

Letelle – The perfect-balance sheep

https://www.farmersweekly.co.za/animals/letelle-the-perfect-balance-sheep/