Royal Show Agricultural Guide 2018

Sheep and Wool
Those needing to take
a break at this year’s
Royal Show in Pietermaritzburg
were able
to head to the newly
revamped Sheep and Wool Expo,
take a seat on a hay bale and be
entertained by sheep shearing
demonstrations and daily workshops
on spinning, dyeing, knitting
and felting
There was also a range of products
perfectly timed for winter, and
visitors could buy wool slippers,
women’s clothing, knitting yarns,
scarves, hand-knitted jerseys,
pullovers, hats, mohair blankets,
shawls, socks and much more.
The Sheep and Wool Expo
welcomed two new exhibitors this
year, both of which appealed to
foodies. Karusaf, a division of Williston
Abattoir, came all the way
from the Northern Cape, and exhibited
free-range, certified Karoo
lamb. Their products included cut
and packed full and half lamb, as
well as their innovative Braai Box,
containing braai essentials.
Karoo Goats Milk Products also
exhibited for the first time. This
company has won numerous
cheese awards, and was awarded
the coveted trophy for SA Cham-
pion Goat’s Milk Halloumi for
2018.
There were a number of return
exhibitors this year. Yarn Stash
Pmb, owned by local independent
dyer, Wendy Bloy, specialises in
dyeing small quantities of “one
of a kind”, unrepeatable colourways.
The yarn bases are Merino,
Mohair and Blue-faced Leicester,
and include double knitting, sock
weight or “fingering” yarns, all of
which are processed in South
Africa.
Goats had a strong presence
this year, and the KZN Indigenous
Veld Goat Club once again represented
the goat fraternity with
outstanding goats and kids. The
Club partnered with Vleissentraal
and the Royal Show to host a
commercial all-breeds auction
on Saturday, 2 June. The KZN
Goat Agribusiness Project also
returned to the Expo. This group
of agricultural innovators has seen
the potential in goats to boost
food security and stimulate small
entrepreneurs.
The Agricultural Research
Council once again presented an
informative, interactive display of
livestock and some of their projects.
As a popular, interactive exhibit,
the Sheep and Wool Expo is a firm
favourite for children and adults
alike, and has been an ongoing
success at the Show. As one of
the exhibits that demonstrate the
Show’s tradition of introducing
town to country, its popularity is
largely due to the fact that it covers
all aspects of sheep and wool,
from conception to consumption.
It is a unique kind of expo, in that
the raw and retail products, as
well as the animals they are derived
from, are seen side by side.
60 Royal Show 2018