THE Dohne Merino Breed Society bid farewell to one of their own, James Cameron McMaster, who died on November 25 at the age of 81.
Cameron, as he was known by the small stock industry and in fact almost all farmers in South Africa and abroad, lived a life of passion for the dohne merino.
He grew up on a farm close to Cathcart where he developed his passion for sheep.
This passion becomes clear when reading his autobiography, Sheep in my Blood, which was published in 2010. McMaster also wrote Birth of a Breed – The Dohne Merino Story, published in 2015, to commemorate 75 years of existence of the dohne merino.
His official involvement in the Dohne Merino Breed Society spans three decades from 1970. McMaster first became aware of the dohne merino as a junior wool seller, working at FCU in East London in the 1950s.
He was introduced to Koot Kotze, founder of the breed. He became involved in organising flock competitions of the NWGA in the area around the Dohne Research station, long before he was appointed second manager of the breed society in 1970.
He had no choice but to follow the principles of scientific animal breeding, after his mindset was changed by the likes of Kotze, Barnie Barnard, Cecil Petit and Gert Erasmus.
Incidentally, McMaster was involved in organising the inaugural meeting of the Dohne Merino Breed Society on May 31, 1966.
After his retirement, McMaster continued his work to promote the dohne merino at an international level.
He held workshops on a regular basis in Australia and later in South America.
His enthusiasm at these events led to the founding of many studs in these countries.
He regarded the dohne merino as part and parcel of the merino family and presented papers on various scientifically orientated topics at merino conferences in South Africa and abroad. In the process he befriended many animal scientists and breeders across the world.
McMaster received many awards during his distinguished career.
Some included the agricultural writer’s award as agricultural personality of the year, the Sheep and Wool Expert Society’s sheep and wool advisor of the year, Grootfontein Old Students Award and more recently, honorary life membership of the Australian Dohne Merino Breed Society.
The passing of McMaster will surely leave an empty space, but the legacy of this past manager and honorary life member of the Dohne Merino Breed Society will stay alive for generations to come.
A memorial service took place in his commemoration on Tuesday, December 4, in Cathcart and another will take place in Napier, where he lived, on Saturday, December 8. – Source: www.dohnemerino.com/cameron-mcmaster-passes-away/
