Dorper SheepThe Dorper breed was developed in South Africa around 1942, mainly at Grootfontein College of Agriculture from initial crosses between Blackhead Persian ewes and Dorset Horn rams. The Dorper has a reputation for its adaptability to rather harsh environment. Characteristics of the breed include the ability to walk long distances and forage well in permanently dry areas and in times of drought, good mothering ability in the ewes, high ram fertility and
vigor, excellent carcass conformation for good mutton production in comparison with the indigenous breeds and an unrestricted breeding season. |
 |
After a lot of research and short growing season here in the high desert of Idaho, we found that the Dorper is just what we have been looking for. With their fast weight gain, and ability to forage on less than perfect crops, we have begun our herd.
Description:
The Dorper and White Dorper are maintained as separate breeds, but differ only in color. The Dorper has a white body with a black head and the White Dorper is solid white. The coat is a mixture of hair and short wool which is shed, eliminating the need for shearing. Mature rams weigh between 225 and 275 lb. Mature ewes average 160-220 lb. Dorper Sheep have calm dispositions.
Outstanding Characteristics:
- Dorper Sheep are hardy and Adaptable - Dorpers are highly adaptable and do well in harsh, extensive conditions as well as in more intensive operations.
- Dorper Sheep have excellent Maternal Qualities - Ewes are excellent mothers and heavy milkers. Lambs are vigorous and have high survivability.
- Dorper Sheep have a long Breeding Season - Dorpers are non-seasonal or have an extended breeding season. They can easily be managed to produce three lamb crops in two years.
- Dorper Sheep reach puberty early in life, and many ewe lambs have multiple birthing.
- Dorper Sheep have a good reproductive Efficiency -Dorpers are very fertile and prolific. Lambing rates of 180% can be achieved per lambing. They are early maturing and will produce a lamb crop at one year of age.
- Dorper Rams Pre-potency - Dorpers cross well with commercial ewes of other breeds and as terminal sires produce fast growing, muscular lambs.
- Dorper Sheep are Non-Selective Grazers - Dorpers are excellent converters of a wide range of forage types and they excel in grazing operations.
- Dorper Sheep are Heat and Insect Tolerant - Because of their Blackhead Persian origin, Dorpers have natural tolerance to high temperatures and heavy insect populations. They are productive in areas where other breeds barely survive.
(Author's note: The Dorper have high tolerance for cold as well, since they do extremely well during our Idaho harsh winter months.)
Dorper Carcass Studies:
Years of study in South Africa and recent university studies in the United States have shown the Dorper to have excellent meat qualities. Tenderness of chops was measured at University of Idaho using the Warner-Brazler shear force test. Results were very favorable for the Dorper sired lambs with a 30% improvement in tenderness over Suffolk sired lambs. The percent of shrinkage in chop weight from cooking was also lower for Dorper sired l
Hair sheep don't require the additional feed that many wool sheep do to reach butcher weight. Hair sheep also are a lighter-framed animal and their meat does not have the objectionable "lanolin" taste that the meat of many wool breeds has. Most hair sheep breeds have less subcutaneous fat, and, generally, their meat is quite a bit leaner because there is less feathering in the muscle tissue. They have more kidney fat than the wool breeds of sheep.
~
~
~
~
|
