The Trumps Merino stud derives from the Klipplaatsfontein Stud, established in 1907 with the purchase of 30 imported ewes and one ram from Australia.

The stud used its own sires from 1927 to 1945 and after that a stud ram was purchased locally from the Lakensvlei stud no 341. In 1948 the stud ram Nick was bought from the Kleinfontein stud no 216. This ram sired two prominent rams named Trumps and Hoogmoed. The two rams were used for own use and established a foundation for some years to come.

 

In 1975 the original Klipplaatsfontein stud was divided equally into two after which one half was registered as the Trumps Merino Stud no 1600.

In the years 1950 to 1980 the stud was run by Jan Pienaar (pictured above) who was also the President of the Merino Stud Breeders Society of South Africa in 1980.

In search of a new bigger and plainer type of sheep the stud purchased a ram from the Barloo stud of Western Australia in 1982. The ram carried an outstanding fleece and was arguably one of the most influential rams ever in the history of the South African merino. Barloo 74 was widely used with big success throughout studs in South Africa.

In 1986 the stud purchased and imported two rams from the Moorundie Park Poll Merino Stud in South Australia. In the years 1984 – 1989 the stud used sires from its own breeding and in 1989 introduced genetics from a ram of the world famous Collinsville stud, JC&S20 and JC&S53, world record price rams.

From 1990 to 2011 genetics were used from prominent studs across South Africa in search of breeding a plainer type merino. The most influential South African ram used was a ram purchased from the Wellwood stud at the National Sale in 2011. In late 2012 the stud went on to acquire fresh genetics from four studs in Australia, Eastville Park Poll and East Mundalla, Wanganella and the famous Collinsville Merino stud with great success.

To further boost our depth in our poll merino stud, we've invested in semen of another

4 rams from Australia (from 2016-2022). We see ourselves as progressive breeders of a modern merino type with exceptional wool.

 

The Stud

Numbers have been stable in the last years with 500 stud ewes in the merino (horn) stud and the poll stud numbers have been increased up to 500 genetically pure poll merino ewes, which has become a major focus for Trumps of late.

We also run a further 1500 commercial ewes.

The stud is managed by Andries Pienaar and Wouter Vorster on the farm Dieprivier in the Hanover district – Karoo, South Africa.