Log in or register to post comments; 6 posts Sat, 01/07/2017 - 16:24 #1. My family owns Nonning Station, north of Kimba SA running around 16,000 ewes and turning off around 20,000 Organic Lambs. The NZ Dorper Sheep Breeders Society was formed in January 2002. Like other sheep breeds, Dorper has its advantages and disadvantages, although the latter are not so significant. Fat in the muscle layer is distributed evenly, and not in thick plates as in other varieties of lamb. Because of this, they are not categorized as having good wool. It is useful to lay out lumps of salt in stalls (or in one specific place), from which your wards can get all the minerals they need in the process of licking. It costs you nothing extra, and all recommended products are ones that I personally vouch for. Didn't find what you need? The Dorper sheep thrive in arid to semi-tropical climate and are suitable for areas with rainfall of only 100 to 760 mm. The lambs grow quickly, reaching a weight of 80 to 90 pounds in four months. While developed for arid environments, they are well adapted to a variety of climatic and grazing conditions, even arid extensive regions. This means that a good manager can have his flock lambing throughout the year. Although the breed does require the same care as others, the Dorper is not known to get ill. The average daily gain of Dorpers under extensive conditions is around 200 g per day. On Leaning Cedar Ranch Dorpers co-graze with the cattle. It is also not as prone to flystrike or parasitic infestation. Dorper sheep, description and photos. 2022 Editions. 9 DIY Reptile Enclosures You Can Build Today (With Pictures), What Smells Deter Cats from Peeing? The Dorset Horn rams crossed with Blackhead Persian ewes produced fast growing and heavily muscled lambs yielding very satisfactory economic returns under a variety of environmental conditions. A unique experiment to create a hardy and unpretentious breed was crowned with success . The parent breeds involved in creating these hardy animals means that they are excellent for meat production, particularly if you are interested in raising organic meat in harsh climatic conditions. . Because of their hardiness, they can adapt to situations that allow them to live virtually anywhere and require little to no shelter, unlike many other breeds of sheep. Dorper is a sheep breed with a short and extremely clear history of origin. A Dorper is a fast-growing meat-producing sheep. Subscribe to our email newsletter for regular tips and tricks on homesteading wherever you are. Two varieties of Dorper Sheep were created: the black headed Dorper and an all white variety, the White Dorper sheep. The Dorper is more tolerant of parasites than other breeds, and is not as prone to flystrike, either. This can be provided in buckets, troughs, stock tanks, or automatic waterers. The Dorper sheep is a breed of domestic sheep from South Africa. The Dorset has white wool and the Persian has a black head. A wonderful breed, wool of the highest quality. The Dorper is a domesticated breed of sheep that is reared for meat. During a phase D2 growth test at Tweedie, the average daily gain was 160 g per day in the test while the average daily gain per day of age was 203 g per day. Dorper sheep farming is a result of the breed being developed in South Africa. The Dorper adapts well to a variety of grazing conditions. While Dorpers have many great qualities, the number of lambs they produce can be a negative aspect. The Dorper was first created in the 1930s. The breeding cycle lasts from 16 to 59 hours. A post shared by Rebanho Matuto (@rebanhomatuto). Dorper sheep pros. It is also believed that the Van Rooy among other sheep breeds were involved with the creation of the Dorper sheep breed. The Rare Breeds Conservation Society of New Zealand lists and describes rare and minority breeds that it aims to preserve and promote. At 21 weeks, it can gain weight more than 70 kg. The African origin of dorpers does not in the least prevent them from breeding them in Europe and Russia, after all, despite the absence of a warm fur covering of the body, animals perfectly adapt even to sub-zero temperaturesthat scientists still cannot explain scientifically. The cost of Dorper sheep varies with purebred Dorpers being less expensive than fullblood Dorpers. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. They make a good breed for beginners as well as advanced handlers. Ages vary. In a flock containing a large number of maiden ewes, the lambing percentage will be in the region of 120% as these ewes usually drop single lambs. Rambouillet sheep are the most common breed and perhaps the first of the U.S western area sheep flocks. I managed Nonning for 20 years, and we also own 'Kilmory' - a commercial cattle and White Dorper stud property - north of Lucindale, SA, that I have managed for the last 5 years. We are currently looking for high resolution pictures of any of the breeds. Grass-fed lamb is also an amazing source of zinc and selenium which protect against oxidative stress. From a well-fed ram, the meat yield is at the level of 59% of the total weight of the animal. Black-headed breeders constitute more percentage than pure white breeders. Better conception rates are achieved at nine to twelve months with later bred ewes growing out better. I often link to Amazon when recommending certain products, and if you choose to purchase, I may earn a small percentage of the sale. If you choose to raise Dorset Horn sheep, you are helping ensure the survival of future generations of this incredible animal. It will not work to get wool from these sheep, since the breed does not have it at all. Dorpers respond well to increased planes of nutrition, giving growers the potential to increase weights rapidly in response to market demands. The reason for the emergence of a new breed of sheep in the Republic of South Africa in the 30s of the last century was the high demand for dietary meat, and given the small amount of greenery for grazing existing animals, farmers needed a new meat and unpretentious breed in growing, which would be enough local meager fodder. Dorper sheep for sale. OJD in Sheep: What Is It, Symptoms, Prevention, and Treatment. The sheep are at their natural breeding peak at this time so this correlates with most lambing occurring in July and August. Breeding these sheep is extremely easy and raising the young is even easier. $3/lb 2021 USDA Market Average. They grow rapidly and can attain a high weaning weight. Each owner is interested in the rapid weight gain of his sheep, so a properly balanced diet is considered one of the most important aspects of animal care. Articles about sheep health and cattle health. In addition, the meat of representatives of this breed does not have a specific mutton taste, and the level of cholesterol in such products is minimized, so it is recommended to use it for children and people suffering from problems with the digestive system or cardiovascular ailments. The Dorper sheep breed is a result of cross-breeding the Dorset Horn sheep with the Blackhead Persian Sheep. Needs to check the rams bi-annually. But even in spite of its high cost, dorper sheep are widespread among farmers. Problems with the amount of milk are more often observed in older individuals, after the age of eight. Long Breeding Season - Dorper sheep are either non-seasonal or have an extended breeding season so both rangeland and ranch/farm operations can be managed to alleviate stress on land and animals. It is now farmed in other areas as well, and is the second most common sheep breed in South Africa. They are a good breed for beginners as well as experienced handlers, but they are a stocky breed and can be challenging to set up. Try to ensure some shade for the sheep during summer months, and protection from the rain during winter. Live weight gains that allow lambs to reach about 36kg (79lb) (17kg (37lb) - 18kg (39lb) carcase) in 100 days has been obtained from first cross animals grown in the Mallee region. Did you know? By the age of two months, the weight of the lamb reaches 40 kg, and at four months, small burly men weigh about 55 kg. D1173 AMHERST. Easy to work with, Dorpers adapt well to people, characters, and conditions. You also need to ensure that they are well-hydrated as they are heavy eaters. The main reason this hybrid was created was for its meat, not its wool. [citation needed] Dorpers can be run as a replacement or with suitable management as a complementary flock to Merinos, particularly as shearing costs continue to rise. Dorpers sheep are highly regarded as a prime lamb producing breed as they are fast maturing with the ability to produce a high-quality carcass with excellent conformation and fat distribution. The name Dorper is an amalgamation of these two breeds. Katum smooth-haired sheep: description, advantages and disadvantages of the breed, Average weight of a sheep: a live adult, how much does a lamb carcass weigh, Who is considered the ancestor of domestic sheep: theories of origin, Fine-wool sheep breeding: the most famous breeds, breeding, Sheep milk cheese: types of cheese, how to make at home, Sheep breeding in the countries of the world, Areas of application of lamb fat, how to choose when buying, benefits and harms. The usual economies of scale apply, so you might be able to enjoy lower prices if buying a full flock or a large number of Dorpers. Originally this breed was developed for the more arid areas of the Republic but today they are widely spread throughout all the provinces. It is generally accepted that sheep require up to 20 square feet of shed per adult sheep. In addition, the Persians have very valuable skins used in the production of fine leather products. Can be safely used to improve other breeds. PetKeen.com does not intend to provide veterinary advice. Overall, this breed is considered a good choice for any breeder or farmer, regardless of experience, that is looking for a hardy and resilient meat stock. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Dorper Sheep are low-maintenance and they require minimal interaction and work, in exchange for a good amount of meat per carcass. Overview: The Dorper is a South African mutton breed developed in the 1930's from the Dorset Horn and Blackheaded Persian. The South African Department of Agriculture bred this sheep because they wanted a meat sheep that was better able to stand up to the areas arid climate. The Dorper is an easy-care animal that produces a short, light coat of wool and hair that is shed in late spring and summer. The Dorper is an easy care breed which requires a minimum of labor. In this case, the basis of the daily diet are hay and straw, grain, bran, silage and root crops, which are usually harvested for feeding animals in the cold season. It does require regular worming control, still, but the breed is a good choice if you are raising organic meat. There is the possibility with some variations of the breed that some light shearing will be necessary. Let us help you get started raising Dorper sheep. Roughly 40% of the fat in Dorper meat is from oleic acid, which is largely associated with a decreased risk for heart disease. In the historical homeland of Dorper sheep, free mating of individuals is practiced, and upon reaching puberty, individual members of the herd find partners for themselves. Dorper sheep are a self-shedding sheep breed, meaning they do not require any manual . To achieve this goal, sheep of several existing breeds were selected: Dorset Horn, Persian blackhead and fat-tailed sheep. Dorper sheep are native to the hot deserts of South Africa. The White Dorper is all white. The difference is really a matter of personal taste for the breeders, although most herds are primarily made up of the black-headed Dorper. Dorper lambs have inherent growth potential (ability to graze at an early age). The coats of wild sheep, like that of most animals, does not grow continuously. It was clear that Dorper sheep are less-selective grazers, compared to other type breeds. They do one thing, and they do it well. The Dorper is a South African breed of domestic sheep developed by crossing Dorset Horn and the Blackhead . Mature rams will weigh around 230 pounds, while mature ewes will usually weigh 200 pounds. After the Dorper breed was established in 1942 in South Africa, various breeders continued to focus on breeding white sheep and crossed Dorset Horn x Blackhead Persian and Dorset Horn x Van Rooy to develop a separate breed known as "Dorsian". Dorset ewes have a good milk production capacity and docile, they can easily produce fast-growing lambs. Dorpers consumed less herbage per metabolic size compared to other sheep. Rare Breeds livestock of New Zealand. If youre selling you can expect to make a decent amount of money off your sheep. It is now farmed in other areas as well, and is the second most common sheep breed in South Africa.[1]. By cons surely include the need to . We are experienced exporters and can arrange shipping for your Dorpers as well as offer consulting . It also contains conjugated linoleic acid which has been shown in some studies to reduce inflammation and body fat. They gain weight rapidly at approximately a quarter of a pound per day. Dorper sheep can fetch a high value at the market. Originally bred in early 1940s, Dorper sheep are a cross from Dorset horned rams and Blackhead Persian ewes. Use: Dorper sheep are a large, hardy meat sheep breed from South Africa. They should be allowed to graze during the spring, summer, and fall months on the green, growing pasture. The Dorper has thick skin, which is highly prized and protects the sheep under harsh climatic conditions. disadvantages. The Dorper is an easy-care animal that produces a fleece of little wool that is shed late spring-summer. Whether you have concerns about your dog, cat, or other pet, trained vets have the answers! It is becoming more and more popular not just in . This is associated with the inherent growth potential of the Dorper lamb and its ability to graze at an early age. Low parasite resistance, high feed needs and intolerance to cold are the three main disadvantages of Dorpers. The breed was created through the efforts of the South African Department of Agriculture to breed a meat sheep suitable to the more arid regions of the country. 399+ garden and backyard landscape design ideas! The stud ewes are mated in single-sire groups from late February to late March. 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