The White Dorper

A Dorper is a fast growing meat producing sheep. The Dorper is an easy care animals that produces a fleece of little wool that is shed late spring to summer. It was developed in South Africa and is now the second most popular breed in that country.
The breed is well adapted to survive in the arid extensive regions of South Africa. It has high fertility and maternal instinct, combined with high growth rates and hardiness. The breed has the characteristic black head (Dorper) as well as white heads (White Dorper).

The Breeding program resulted in the development of the black headed and white headed Dorper. Successive Dorper breeding has shown it to be a fixed breed type, giving a reliable reproduction of features and characteristics. It is now numerically the second to largest sheep breed in South Africa.
The breed was introduced into Australia in 1996 and has the potential to be developed for domestic and export meat markets.

The animal is characteristically barrel shaped with short, dullish black or white hair on the head. A short, loose light covering of hair and wool (wool predominating on the forequarter) with a natural clean kemp underline, is a typical breed standard. An even distribution of a thin layer of fat compliments the breed.
The Dorper sheds its fleece avoiding the need for mustering for shearing, crutching and fly control. There is little difference between blackheaded and whiteheaded Dorpers - the choice is a matter of target market preference.

Conformation:

Strong and long, with large eyes, widely spaced and protectively placed. Strong nose, strong well-shaped mouth with well-fitted deep jaws. The forehead must not be dished. The size of the ears must be in relation to the head. A developed horn base or small horns are the ideal. Heavy horns are undesirable but permissible. The head must be covered with short, dullish black hair in the Dorper and dull, white hair in the White Dorper. The head must be dry i.e. without indications of fat localization.
" Fore-quarter and neck:
The neck should be of medium length, well-fleshed and broad and well-coupled to the forequarters. Shoulders should be firm, broad and strong. A moderate protrusion of the brisket beyond the shoulders, moderate width and good depth are the ideal. Forelegs must be strong, straight and well-placed with strong pasterns and hoofs not too widely split. Weak pasterns and X legs must be discriminated against according to degree. Shoulders which appear loose, a brisket which slants up too sharply with no projection beyond the shoulders, crooked legs and weak walking ability, are faulty.

The ideal is a long, deep wide body, ribs well sprung, loin broad and full. The sheep must have a long straight back and not a "devil's grip". A slight dip behind the shoulders is permissible.

A long and wide rump is the ideal. The inner and outer twist to be well fleshed and deep in adult animals. The hind legs must be strong and well-placed, with sturdy feet and strong pasterns. Faulty pasterns must be discriminated against according to degree. The hocks must be strong without a tendency to turn in or out. Sickle, bandy or perpendicular hocks are culling faults.

A well-developed udder and sex organs are essential in the ewe. The scrotum of the ram should not be too long and the testicles should be of equal size and not too small. A split scrotum is undesirable.

The sheep should be symmetrical and well-proportioned. A calm temperament with a vigorous appearance is the ideal.

The Dorper ewe is a very good mother and protective of her young. Multiple births are common, with some instances of triplets recorded. Lambs are extremely mobile at birth and survival rates are high. The Dorper ewe produces a large quantity of milk, aiding lamb survival and early growth.

They are non-selective grazers. Experience so far suggests that Dorpers can adapt to most grazing conditions. There is evidence that they prefer fibre to grains and they respond well to good quality hay.
Purebred lambs will start to graze in the first few days after birth. F1 lambs after about two weeks.
The Dorper can be advantageously incorporated into under-utilized pastures of lesser quality, thus converting a poor asset into profit.

Dorper lambs have an inherent growth potential (ability to graze at an early age) They grow rapidly and can attain a high weaning weight.
Dorpers respond well to increased planes of nutrition, giving growers the potential to increase weights rapidly in response to market demands.
Weight Gain-
The Dorper lamb grows rapidly and attains a high weaning weight which again is an economically important characteristic in the breeding of mutton sheep. A live weight of about 36 kg can be reached by the Dorper lamb at the age of 3- 4 months. This ensures a high quality carcass of approximately 16 kg.

The Dorper is poly-oestrus (can breed continually, with no defined season). Their breeding intervals can be as short as 8 months or 3 times in 2 years. Running rams with ewes continuously is one option that may stimulate re-production, however it is also likely that ewes will adjust their fertility according to condition.

CONCLUSION

The Dorpers eat anything. As they were initially bred for arid regions, they will eat anything and put on weight. As a strong and non-selective grazer, the Dorper can be advantageously incorporated into under utilized pastures of lesser quality, thus converting a non performing asset into one that is profitable. Dorpers are hardy in every way.

We have selected the White Dorpers in preference to the Dorper (black headed) purely for the way the White Doper lambs present in the sale yards. A White Dorper ram crossed with any white ewe will produce an excellent quality white lamb for sale.

Please follow the link below for all about   Mayfield Dorpers and how to find us.

Thank you for visiting our site. Please feel free to contact us. We are available by e-mail, phone, or regular mail. Contact us anytime, we will reply A.S.A.P.
E-mail:julia@mayfieldstud.com

Mailing Address:
Kerry and Julia Webster
"Mayfield", Lesters Road, Bungaree, Vic.
3352 Australia

Tel: 03 53340599

or 0353340230

Mobile No. 0419 140622