Sandown SAMMs History
The stud was established in 2000 from top South African and Australian genetics.
Sandown goes to the source to complement locally grown genetics.  Sandown SAMM stud principals Graham Sutherland and Tony Abbey are so committed to the breed that they travel to South Africa annually to access some of the best SAMM genetics that country has to offer.
Graham and Tony made an original purchase of embryos from the Morriston and Rickston studs which are among the top in South Africa.  Since then outstanding ewes from several other leading South African studs have been purchased.  These ewes are from prominent South African studs including Baden Horste, AVM, Greylings, Revack, Stelena, Clinton Collett and breeder Buks De Wet. Top sires have also been purchased and used in the program. 
The Sandown SAMM has been selected for fast growth rates. Sandown SAMMs  are high fertility and good milk producers.  They have good wool quality and very good measuring carcases.  The object of the Sandown SAMMs is to produce a highly productive maternal ewe which in turn will produce top quality lambs.

Current Program
Sandown has been going through an aggressive embryo transfer program to increase the number of animals on the ground and to be able to produce more commercial rams for a growing market.  Sandown SAMMs have also imported embryos with the object of placing superior genetics on the market.

Pure SAMM genetics 
Both Tony and Graham place great emphasis on the combination of visual assessment and measurement figures when selecting stud sheep.
"I think you need to use a combination of both.  Visually sheep need to be right, but you can also learn a lot of their background and breeding using figures," Graham said.
The pair believe the future of the SAMM lies within its maternal attributes.
"An excellent product can be produced using a Prime SAMM over a Merino ewe," Graham said.
"Producers can utilise the F1 to produce a sheep that converts well, has good growth and fertility and produces top first cross lambs.
"Plus there is the added advantage of getting an acceptable fleece of wool that is nearly equal to a Merino's.
"Another important attribute for today's commercial man is that the SAMM is an easy-care, low-maintenance sheep that can regularly register 130 - 150 pc lambing percentages without any problems".