Karoo Meridian — Operations Plan
The land, the flock build, the shearing, feedlot and veterinary infrastructure and the operating cycle underpinning Karoo Meridian.
Section 6 · Business Plan
Operations Plan
The land, the flock build, the shearing, feedlot and veterinary infrastructure and the operating cycle underpinning Karoo Meridian.
6.1 Farming system
The Company operates an extensive-plus-precision hybrid: rotational
grazing across fenced camps sized to Karoo carrying capacity (regional
norms of 5–10 ha per small stock unit in the more arid sections),
planned veld recovery cycles, strategic supplementary feeding in late
gestation and lactation, and feedlot finishing of market lambs.
Precision systems — RFID ear tags, electronic weighing, reproduction
analytics and mortality monitoring — give individual-animal economics
across a 31,000-head flock.
6.2 Flock build-up
| Parameter | Y1 | Y2 | Y3 | Y4 | Y5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breeding ewes | 12,000 | 14,400 | 17,280 | 19,870 | 22,850 |
| Rams | 450 | 520 | 600 | 680 | 760 |
| Growing stock | 3,600 | 6,900 | 9,400 | 12,100 | 14,300 |
| Total flock | 16,050 | 21,820 | 27,280 | 32,650 | 37,910 |
| Weaned lambing % | 95% | 98% | 102% | 105% | 105% |
| Wool clip (t greasy) | 54 | 72 | 92 | 112 | 130 |
Ewe numbers grow ~20% per annum through retained ewe lambs plus
selective purchases in Years 2–3, reaching the sponsor’s 31,000+
total-flock milestone during Year 5 (the table shows the analyst’s
slightly more granular class split, which passes the milestone between
Years 4 and 5). Mortality is budgeted at 4% adult and 8% pre-weaning,
with predation control (guard animals, exclusion fencing) and
vaccination programmes as standing operating disciplines.
6.3 Breeding programme
- Selection indices weighted across wool micron and fleece weight,
fertility and lamb survival, growth efficiency and veld
adaptability - BLUP breeding values on the full recorded flock; genomic testing
of the stud nucleus; AI over the top 20% of ewes; embryo transfer for
elite lines - Closed-nucleus structure: stud nucleus (±5% of ewes) breeds rams
for the commercial flock, compounding genetic gain internally - Annual classing and culling on performance data; replacement rate
±22% of the ewe flock
6.4 Infrastructure programme
| Asset | Capex (R m) | Specification |
|---|---|---|
| Land (18,000 ha) | 90.0 | Free State–Northern Cape corridor; freehold with water rights |
| Foundation livestock | 42.0 | 12,000 ewes @ ±R3,000; 450 rams @ ±R13,000 average incl. elite genetics |
| Infrastructure | 48.0 | Shearing sheds, handling and feedlot facilities, veterinary unit, boreholes, reticulation, fencing, wool store |
| Machinery | 22.0 | Feed mixers, loaders, transport fleet, generators/solar |
| Export systems | 8.0 | Cold-chain interface, certification, traceability compliance |
| Technology | 10.0 | RFID, weighing, farm management software, reproduction analytics |
6.5 Supply chain and logistics
Wool moves from on-farm classing to broker warehousing and the weekly
national auction; the Company will progressively contract a portion of
the certified clip forward to exporters. Market lambs move from feedlot
to accredited abattoirs within a 250 km radius, with export consignments
consolidated through Halaal-certified, DALRRD-approved export
facilities. Breeding stock sales are handled through on-farm production
auctions and private treaty, with veterinary export protocols managed
in-house for African destinations.
6.6 Annual production and animal health calendar
| Period | Production activity | Health & compliance |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Feb | Ram preparation; ewe condition scoring; veld assessment | Pre-mating vaccinations (enzootic abortion, pulpy kidney booster); ram fertility testing |
| Mar–Apr | Mating (5-week single-sire and AI programmes) | Internal parasite monitoring (FAMACHA); trace-mineral supplementation |
| May–Jun | Scanning; dry-ewe culling; feedlot intake of autumn lambs | Pregnancy scanning audit; scab inspection dip where required |
| Jul | Pre-lambing shearing option; late-gestation nutrition ramp | Pre-lamb boosters; predator-control intensification |
| Aug–Sep | Lambing (camp-based, shepherded); lamb marking | Navel care; docking/castration to welfare code; colostrum monitoring |
| Oct–Nov | Main shearing; wool classing and baling; weaning begins | Shearing-wound protocols; post-shear exposure management |
| Dec | Weaning completed; replacement selection; auction prep | Weaner vaccination programme; year-end flock census for lender verification |
6.7 Staffing plan
| Function | Y1 | Y3 | Y5 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Executive & finance | 6 | 8 | 9 | CEO, CFO, controllers, admin |
| Livestock operations | 58 | 96 | 138 | Shepherds, camp managers, feedlot team |
| Shearing & wool handling | 18 | 34 | 52 | Seasonal peaks contracted in addition |
| Veterinary & technical | 6 | 10 | 14 | Vet, para-vets, AI technicians, data |
| Maintenance & logistics | 20 | 32 | 44 | Fencing, water, fleet, workshops |
| Security & predation control | 12 | 20 | 28 | Patrols, guard-animal handlers |
| Sales, export & certification | 4 | 10 | 15 | Wool marketing, GCC channel, compliance |
| Total direct employment | 124 | 210 | 300+ | 455 by Year 5 incl. seasonal FTE-equivalents |
Wage costs are budgeted within the direct-cost line at sectoral
minimums plus productivity premiums, with housing, training and the
employee share scheme carried in overheads. The 450+ direct-jobs figure
at Year 5 counts permanent posts plus seasonal shearing, lambing and
auction labour converted to full-time equivalents.
Confidential — this business plan is provided to prospective investors and lenders for evaluation purposes only and may not be reproduced or distributed without the written consent of Karoo Meridian Wool & Livestock (Pty) Ltd.