They typically produce single lambs with each pregnancy. Essentially, this means that they will eat whatever grass, hay, plants, and shrubs are in their field. Black-headed breeders constitute more percentage than pure white breeders. 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. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Fiber from the outer coats of wild sheep, technically known as hair, is not suitable for spinning into wool . All are recently drenched & have been supplemented with lucerne and grain. In the early 1950s, a controversy arose concerning black markings vs. a pure white sheep. It does not, for example, need shearing. Sheep For Sale; Merchandise. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Phone: -27-12-6671129 Fax: -27-12-6671827. Dorper sheep are a self-shedding sheep breed, meaning they do not require any manual . Search our database of over 11517 posts with up-to-date information from our experts and veterinarians. FAMCHA Parasite Monitoring System Expect to pay anywhere between $200 and $500 per Dorper. The Dorper ewes from this cross were excellent mothers that could be bred in any season. The low-maintenance requirements and the hardy nature of the breed . **. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. If we compare them with other lambs, then they are 2-3 times ahead of them in development. The Dorper breed is now numerically the second largest breed in South Africa and has spread to many countries throughout the world. Tried vet, dewormer, feed dewormer, all the vet can say is something is whiping out their liver. It quickly rose to popularity, with an official Dorper Sheep Breeders Society founded in 1950. The Dorper does well in various range and feeding conditions and reacts very favorably under intensive feeding conditions. Subscribe to our email newsletter for regular tips and tricks on homesteading wherever you are. Use: Dorper sheep are a large, hardy meat sheep breed from South Africa. Australian History of Dorpers. During 1957, this aspect received a lot of attention and discussion. Upon reaching one month, young animals already weigh about 12 kg, and especially well-fed 25 kg. 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. Over time this adds to their hardiness. The Dorper was developed in the 1930s by crossing a Dorset ram with a Persian ewe. This can be provided in buckets, troughs, stock tanks, or automatic waterers. Merinos are considered good eaters that will graze on just about anything, and the Dorper is even less picky. The Dorper is a fast-growing meat-producing sheep. Dorper rams are typically ready to breed at five months. The breed was introduced into Australia in 1996 and today the dorper is one of the fastest growing sheep breeds in Australia. The difference in color is therefor merely a matter of preference for each breeder. The gestation period of a sheep lasts for 140150 days, after which two to five lambs are born, weighing 25 kg each. . Long Breeding Season - Dorpers are non-seasonal or have an extended breeding season. The Dorper Sheep Breeders Society of South Africa was founded in 1950. Resistance to disease. The name "Dorper" is an amalgamation of these two breeds. Additionally, you will need to know how many heads you want to buy. Instead, the meat offers a mild, delicate, and delicious flavor. Use the search! 9 DIY Reptile Enclosures You Can Build Today (With Pictures), What Smells Deter Cats from Peeing? Purebred Dorpers are less expensive than full blood, while Dorper and White Dorper cost around the same amount. The breed is well adapted to survive in the arid extensive regions of South Africa. A Dorper is a fast-growing meat-producing sheep. Breeders report that even older culled ewes can be sold for meat. By the way, from the latter, the animal inherited not only the letters of the name, but also a very spectacular color. This ensures a high quality carcass of approximately 16 kg. Pregnant ewes and breeding and sale rams are also to be vaccinated at appropriate times. Inherent characteristics of the breed such as, The average daily gain of Dorpers under extensive conditions is around. Their meat is exquisite without the gamey taste one usually finds with mutton. Check out my guide to sheep maintenance here and pick up some Dorper lambs today! What this translates to is that your Dorper sheep can be raised on less than ideal plots of land that other sheep will refuse to graze on. 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". Continue with Recommended Cookies. Considered one of the most fertile of all sheep breeds, the Dorper can lamb at intervals of just 8 months, which means that you can achieve three litters every two years because the Dorper can breed at any time of year. The breed is fertile and the percentage of ewes that become pregnant in one mating season is relatively high. Its hornless with a relatively long body length and has a short and light wool covering, requiring little shearing. There are a lot of advantages to keeping Dorper sheep in the US. Lead Time : Varies. The sheep are at their natural breeding peak at this time so this correlates with most lambing occurring in July and August. Dorper is a sheep breed with a short and extremely clear history of origin. It was clear that Dorper sheep are less-selective grazers, compared to other type breeds. 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 live weight of about 36 kg can be reached by the Dorper lamb at the age of 3- 4 months. The early Dorpers were white with black spots/patches all over the body. At 21 weeks, it can gain weight more than 70 kg. . The oestrus cycle can last from 15 to 20 days. Breeds of Livestock, Department of Animal Science. The White Dorper is all white. Require high quality pasture for a high quality grass finish. Because of this, they are not categorized as having good wool. Dorpers came to Europe only thirty years later (in 1966), but due to their unpretentiousness they quickly spread to various countries. What sheep can be milked, why not all sheep are milked, sheep milk products . During the early 1930s, South African farmers exported a surplus of mutton and lamb, from the fat tailed indigenous breeds, to Londons prestigious Smithfield Market. They offer many great benefits, including the need for minimal shearing, the ability to mature very quickly, and being very even-tempered. Pet Keen is reader-supported. Additionally, this thick skin protects the Dorper in tough weather conditions. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. A fulltime farmer and blogger who love to share all his farming experiences. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. How many years do domestic rams and sheep live? Grass-fed lamb is also an amazing source of zinc and selenium which protect against oxidative stress. If you are looking for registered Dorper breeding stock, we provide quality registered Dorper bucks and resgistered Dorper ewes. A Dorper ewe should be able to lamb for a minimum of seven years. You also need to ensure that they are well-hydrated as they are heavy eaters. Most lambs can reach a market weight of 80 to 90 pounds at around four months of age. Hello, I am Siddartha Reddy . One acre of land will generally house between three and six sheep. Collagen is the material that forms the leather. Dorper, Damara, Merino and X-Breed Lambs/Sheep 8x Ewes, 11x Wethers & 1x Young Dorper Ram. [2] Other breeds such as the Van Rooy are also believed to have contributed to the development of the White Dorper breed. The primary purpose of this species was for meat. Dorper Sheep Breeders' Society of South Africa, provided by Henry du Plooy, Kiewietskloof, Griekwastad 8365, Northern Cape, South Africa. Due to the multiple pregnancy of females with the reproduction of dorpers, there are no difficulties, Moreover, sheep themselves do an excellent job with labor and rarely require human intervention. Empty the trough if the corn gets rained on to prevent digestive issues from moldy corn. Dorper sheep have been successfully bred and raised in sub-zero temperatures. The Dorper is well adapted to a variety of climatic and grazing conditions. Dorper sheep keep dying. Dorper sheep are also natural shedders and they are attractive to local . It offers excellent health benefits as well. ADATAR. Organisation of Field Days and education programmes. A white sheep with black confined to the head and neck is the ideal. The meat produced from a Dorper flock seems very popular. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Dorper Sheep Breeders' Society of South Africa, provided by Henry du Plooy, Kiewietskloof, Griekwastad 8365, Northern Cape, South Africa, Henry du Plooy, Kiewietskloof, Griekwastad 8365, Northern Cape, South Africa Mr P J Cilliers (Jnr), P.O. 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. They are hardy animals. Dorset Horn Uses. This study was designed to evaluate breed differences in resistance to Haemonchus contortus in lambs. Happy homesteading. Thanks to this feature, the muscular texture stands out against the background of other breeds it is devoid of sharp-smelling layers of yellowish fat. Didn't find what you need? Log in or register to post comments; 6 posts Sat, 01/07/2017 - 16:24 #1. The Dorper sheep was bred in South Africa in the 1930s. Since that time the DSSA has managed and maintained a registry of pedigree and breeding information for both sires and dams, maintaining high genetic integrity. The Dorper is the second largest breed in South Africa and has spread to many other countries throughout the world. Roughly 40% of the fat in Dorper meat is from oleic acid, which is largely associated with a decreased risk for heart disease. Ages vary.