WELL… THIS IS A LITTLE EMBARRASSING.
Australia has been breeding Damara sheep for nearly 30 years.
We’ve imported them. Bred them. Shown them. Sold them. Written about them. Argued about them.
There’s just one tiny issue…
We can’t agree on how to pronounce their bloody name.
Ask three Australian Damara breeders and there’s a fair chance you’ll get four different answers.
Der-ma-ra.
Da-ma-ra.
Dam-mer-ra.
And occasionally something that sounds like a small European principality.
So, while researching the history of the breed, we thought we’d stop guessing and ask someone from the heartland, Namibia.
Enter Johann – Fish River Damara, Namibia.
The question was simple:
“How do you pronounce Damara?”
Johann didn’t call a committee meeting. He didn’t consult the breed standards.
He just said it.
“Dummerrah”
That’s it.
“Dummerrah sheep”
Well… that’s awkward.
Nearly 30 years after the breed arrived in Australia, it appears we may have spent all this time giving the sheep an Australian accent.
Photograph © courtesy of Brae Park Damara
