The Pedi sheep is a breed of sheep native to South Africa. One of three of the Nguni type, along with Zulu and Swazi, they have been in the region since 200-400 AD. The breed gets its name and characteristics from having been raised primarily by the Bapedi people in the north of the country. Pedi are smaller fat-tailed sheep kept for meat, are polled, and are generally white, brown, and red The fat-tailed Bapedi sheep arrived in South Africa between 200 and 400 AD with the Bapedi people, who had migrated into the Northern Province and settled south of the Soutpansberg. Ever since then the black people of the area had maintained these sheep without modern scientific methods. The Breed has thus been subjected too natural selection for centuries.

The tail tale

The Pedi's distinctive fat tail is an important adaptive advantage. Fat reserves stored in the tail can be used when they are needed, especially at lambing. The fat reserve in the tail often disappears at this time. "Modern European breeds don't store fat and depend entirely on daily nutrition but a Pedi can fall back on its fat reserves if immediate nutrition is insufficient," says Hannes. "It builds up reserves in good times for lean times. "Rams are easy to keep and don't need much feed. I run them separately from the rest of the flock but put them in with the ewes for six weeks a year."

Breed Characteristics

The breed is a naturally polled hair sheep with a wedge shaped tail. The length of the tail can vary with a maximum length between the hocks and the hooves. The breed has a lively appearance with a comfortable gait and strong flock characteristics. The breed is also fertile and the ewes have strong maternal instincts and are very protective towards their lambs. The teeth are strong and hard, which ensures longevity.

Head

The breed has a roman type nose that is more prominent in rams. Scurs can occur in rams. Eyes are of average size, bright and brown in colour. The eyes are further protected by well-developed eyebrows and movable eyelids. The ears are small, of average length and angle 45o downwards. The ewes have a small dewlap extending from the jaw to the neck. This dewlap is larger in rams.

Size

A relatively small framed sheep with a typical symmetrical respiratory type build. Adult ewes measure from 60cm at the withers. The torso is long, oval and horizontally, slightly flat. The top line over the head is concave, extends downwards in the neck, upwards over the shoulder and downwards again over the back and again upwards over the rump with a typically downward sloping croup. The legs are relatively long and thin, but strong and well placed. Strong and well-constructed and well pigmented hooves and preferably an inter digital gland. Well-developed thigh muscles. Joints are relatively long and this, at an angle and shock absorbent – not short and upright.

Colour and Hair

While a large variety of colours occur, the nose, eyebrows and ears must be well pigmented. The skin is pigmented, colour varying from uniform brown through white with a red to brown head to a variety of brown and white or black and white patterns to all black. In Pedi's black is genetically recessive. The hair is generally short with a cashmere type under-coat, especially in winter. Young sheep tends to have longer hair with more wooliness. They lose this as they get older. Coloured areas of the skin should be glossy.

Tail

A typical wedge shaped fat tail that is broad at the base and narrows carrot-like to the tip. Some animals have a shorter top part that turn upwards towards a thinner terminal tip. Spiralled tails are not acceptable. The length of the tail varies, but should not extend lower than half way between hocks and the feet.

Fertility

The breed is known for high fertility with strong mothering instincts. Twins occur and ewes are capable of rearing both. Pedi Sheep mature at an early age and can be mated at an early age.