We are currently looking for high resolution pictures of any of the breeds. Easy going temperament. The breed also features an extended breeding period. PetKeen.com does not intend to provide veterinary advice. Lameness and foot lesions in Dorper sheep | Posted June 2011 Written by: Jillian Lawrence, University of Sydney Intern and Libby Read, District Veterinarian . The breed is hornless. It is becoming more and more popular not just in . A wonderful breed, wool of the highest quality. The breed is fertile and the percentage of ewes that become pregnant in one mating season is relatively high. Dorper sheep are a self-shedding sheep breed, meaning they do not require any manual . [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. This can be provided in buckets, troughs, stock tanks, or automatic waterers. The two are considered identical, other than the coloring, so there is no preference when it comes to meat, rearing, breeding, or other factors. The breed was developed for the arid extensive regions of South Africa. Consequently under good forage conditions and with good management the Dorper ewe can lamb three times in two years. Dorper sheep originated from South Africa; they were first developed as a combination of the Blackhead Persian and the Dorset Horn. The rams have a weight range from 230 to 275 pounds while the ewes range from 155 to 210 pounds. 11 Sheep Birth Complications You Need to Know Before Lambing Season Starts, 10 Common Lambing Problems and How to Deal with Them, Raising Sheep: A Complete Guide on How to Raise Sheep at Homestead, Tetanus in Newborn Lambs: The Causes and How to Prevent It. 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. [2] Other breeds such as the Van Rooy are also believed to have contributed to the development of the White Dorper breed. This is because of the natural mothering instincts of the ewes. It does require regular worming control, still, but the breed is a good choice if you are raising organic meat. The difference in color is therefore merely a matter of preference for each breeder. Thanks for visiting our site, lets make this world a better place to live. They produce lean meat. It offers excellent health benefits as well. Hello, I am Siddartha Reddy . The Dorper is an easy-care breed which requires minimal input of labour. The Dorper is a breed of sheep that originated in the south of Africa in the 1940's. It is the product of cross-breeding between the Dorset Horn and Blackhead Persian breeds. Pregnant ewes and breeding and sale rams are also to be vaccinated at appropriate times. A wonderful breed, wool of the highest quality. The Dorper is a South African breed of domestic sheep developed by crossing Dorset Horn and the Blackhead Persian sheep.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. The Rambouillet sheep breed is a noble-looking breed which originally comes from France - the product of breeding local stock with Germany's Spanish Merino. A lambing percentage of 150% can be reached under good conditions while in exceptional cases even 180% can be attained. Dorper sheep keep dying. The general rule is that each adult sheep requires 20 square feet of space in a shed. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Shearing is completely optional but it is important to note that some variations of Dorpers shed better than others. The main reason this hybrid was created was for its meat, not its wool. . It was actually created through the efforts of South African Department of Agriculture for developing a meat sheep breed suitable to the more arid regions of South Africa.. Dorpers were developed in South Africa in the 1950s and come in two varieties - the black-headed (Dorset Horn x Persian) and . The Dorper sheep is a fast-growing meat producing sheep.The breed was developed for the arid extensive regions of South Africa.The Dorper is a South African mutton breed developed in the 1930s from the Dorset Horn and Blackhead Persian. In addition, some farmers attribute short hair and low milk yield to the minuses, but, by and large, sheep can only be used in a narrow direction for meat. The outflow of this was the even colour distribution of today Dorpers. Reproductive Efficiency - Dorpers are very fertile and prolific. OJD in Sheep: What Is It, Symptoms, Prevention, and Treatment. Rams reach sexual maturity at an early age; rams have been observed to start working by five months. Needs to check the rams bi-annually. The fibers of a Dorperskin are delicate, but the skin structure is tighter and denser than that of goatskins or wool skins. 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. Fullblood means that the sheep can trace its heritage directly back to South African stock. The Dorper is a fast-growing meat-producing sheep. Case notes on veterinary investigations in sheep, cattle and other species. In recent years, the Dorper has become popular in the Middle East, China, Canada, Australia, South America, Mexico and the United States, where it is among the fastest growing breeds. Dorper sheep have a combination of wool and hair. D1150 ECHUCA. Please provide a description of this breed as well A live weight of about 36 kg can be reached by the Dorper lamb at the age of 3- 4 months. Although the breed does require the same care as others, the Dorper is not known to get ill. 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. As a strong and non-selective grazer the Dorper can advantageously be incorporated into a well planned range management system. Breeds of Livestock, Department of Animal Science. The life expectancy of Dorper sheep is no more than 15 years., but after 58 years of maintenance, it ceases to be justified: animals no longer gain weight. The breed has the characteristic black head. It reputably does well in various range and feeding conditions and is also suited to intensive feeding. Use: Dorper sheep are a large, hardy meat sheep breed from South Africa. This ensures a high quality carcass of approximately 16 kg. The Dorper was first created in the 1930s. Most lambs can reach a market weight of 80 to 90 pounds at around four months of age. Dorpers are known to adapt well to feed conditions which offer farmers an alternative method to finish lambs in times of drought. These include: They are easy to breed and commonly give birth to multiple lambs. Originally bred in early 1940s, Dorper sheep are a cross from Dorset horned rams and Blackhead Persian ewes. This can either be in the form of trees or a more stable shed. Because they are bred for meat, not wool, they do not produce lanolin, which ensures that they do not have a gamey flavor like many other breeds. 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. Due to the good adaptability of dorpers to a dry and hot climate with a limited amount of vegetation, even young individuals have enough of this food and they do not need grain during fattening. It is much more tolerant of parasites and is not as prone to fly-strike or fleece rot as other breeds. (US & Worldwide Statistics in 2023). 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". Although the Dorper has been bred in semi-arid conditions, they will adapt to life in arid and harsh climates. From a well-fed ram, the meat yield is at the level of 59% of the total weight of the animal. Their bodies are covered in both short hair and coarse wool. ADATAR. In 1964 the two breeds merged into one society to include Dorper and White Dorper sheep. Purebred Dorper sheep are rarely found in Russia, since the high cost of young animals often scares off modern farmers. The Dorper is now well adapted in South Africa to a variety of climatic and conditions. In addition, sheep have many other interesting features that are directly related to their origin. The difference in color is therefor merely a matter of preference for each breeder. Lambing intervals can be eight months. The Dorper is a South African breed of domestic sheep developed by crossing Dorset Horn and the Blackhead . Dorper or White Dorper White Dorpers are being used for the commercial prime lamb and low maintenance commercial ewe flock. 399+ garden and backyard landscape design ideas! Dorper thrive in climates similar to those found on our ranches in central Texas. Once you submit your order, full details for payment will be sent to you by email or sent via text using the phone number you are to provide . There are many reasons to love Dorper sheep, and I share many in this video. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. While its one of the most popular breeds in South Africa, it is now commonly raised in several other countries. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. It is now farmed in other areas as well, and is the second most common sheep breed in South Africa. .The first is Bleu du Maine. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. In 1950, the South African Dorper Breeders Association was formed. This can be beneficial and even offers a means of turning unused fields into profitable pastures. Banding Sheep for Castration: When Is It Necessary and How to Band Sheep Correctly, What to Consider When Raising Sheep and Goats Together, 7 Tips to Consider When Buying Sheep or Lambs, Footrot in Sheep: Causes, Symptoms, Prevention, and Treatment. The modern day Dorper is numerically the second largest breed in South Africa with over 10 million head (over 1/3 of the total number of sheep). Unlike Merinos, Dorpers do not need shearing, crutching, or mulesing, and they are much less prone to flystrike. All rights reserved. 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. A post shared by LIVESTOCK EXPORTERS S.A (@livestock_exporters_sa). Did you know? Lead Time : Varies. Coat color varies from white to light gray or even black., but the color palette, as well as hairiness, can be uneven: the neck, chest and saddle of sheep are overgrown thicker, but there is practically no hair on the stomach. Self-Shedding sheep breed from South Africa ; they were first developed as a combination wool. Is therefore merely a matter of preference for each breeder space in a.! Of 59 % of the breeds from a well-fed ram, the South African Dorper Association... Features that are directly related to their origin to feed conditions which offer farmers an alternative to! Mating season is relatively high offer farmers an alternative method to finish lambs in of... 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