The SAMM is derived from the German Merinofleischschaf animals imported into South Africa from Europe in 1932, to improve the quality of wool and meat from sheep in South Africa.

[1] The Deutsche Fleisch Merino is a common meat sheep in Germany, Austria, and Poland.

The SAMM has been developed as a versatile, hardy, polled dual-purpose breed.

Ewes have a good maternal instinct and high milk production.

In judging SAMMs the emphasis is on conformation (in relation to producing meat), 60%, and not on the animal's wool (40%).