Dorpers are the fastest growing breed in many countries. Muscles are clearly visible on the hips and back of the back, which is largely due to the short and sparse coat (for the most part it consists of outer hair and undercoat). Australian Dorper and White Dorper Association Inc, Dorper Sheep Association of Czech Republic, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dorper&oldid=1130165072, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from March 2013, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2011, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 28 December 2022, at 22:27. They do, however, require the same care and maintenance as other breeds of sheep, to ensure they remain healthy and disease-free. It reputably does well in various range and feeding conditions and is also suited to intensive feeding. 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. Originally this breed was developed for the more arid areas of the Republic but today they are widely spread throughout all the provinces. Did you know? The South African Meat Board took on the challenge of producing a meat sheep breed that would produce a higher quality carcass and yet, thrive under arid to semi-arid conditions. Needs to check the rams bi-annually. 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. Dorper sheep are native to the hot deserts of South Africa. Member Details. It is a hardy animal, does not require shearing or crutching, and is less prone to suffer from flystrike. Dorpers walked less to select food, or a suitable spot to graze, which consequently led to a shorter grazing time and less separate grazing periods. Tried vet, dewormer, feed dewormer, all the vet can say is something is whiping out their liver. Purebreds can trace their lineage all the way back to South Africa. They make a good breed for beginners as well as advanced handlers. Dorset fleece is light in color, dense, and free of dark fibers. NOTE: The form can also be used for Comments, Suggestions, and Corrections. Their bodies are covered in both short hair and coarse wool. 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. The general rule is that each adult sheep requires 20 square feet of space in a shed. Among the shortcomings of the breed, the most noticeable are: the impossibility of keeping on elevated places (because of their love for heights, they often fall from the upper tiers, haylofts, etc. Providing a information network for breeders. The outflow of this was the even colour distribution of today Dorpers. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. This ensures a high quality carcass of approximately 16 kg. As many of you know, I am a fan of the Dorper sheep. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Dorper Sheep are easy . Roughly 40% of the fat in Dorper meat is from oleic acid, which is largely associated with a decreased risk for heart disease. Singleton Births. Despite the common dry conditions, the ewes prove their high fertility by conceiving quickly, as the majority lamb over a four week period. BREEDING DORPER SHEEP. Dorpers were bred to produce a high quality carcass under a wide range of conditions, thus have the reputation of rapid weight gain, excellent carcass conformation and good fat distribution. 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 . A total of 181 ewe lambs representing crossbred Dorsets (DO) and Dorpers (DP; out of 1/2-Dorset, 1/4-Rambouillet, 1/4-Finnsheep ewes) and straight-bred Katahdins (KT) were evaluated over 3 yr. An additional 144 DO, DP, KT, and Barbados . Both rams and ewes have beautiful horns, the horned dorset rams . The weight of a sheep reaches 120 kg, the weight of a ram is 180. In addition, sheep have many other interesting features that are directly related to their origin. Sheep Dorper sheep breed: characteristics, breeding, photos . American Sheep Industry Association By four months of age, most lambs have already attained a weight of 80 to 90 pounds, which is the market standard. Manage Settings Dorper sheep keep dying. Search our database of over 11517 posts with up-to-date information from our experts and veterinarians. Easy going temperament. Dorpers consumed less herbage per metabolic size compared to other sheep. There are two main subspecies of dorpers: the former have a black head, with the same dark upper part, neck, and the latter are pure white and have no dark color at the genetic level. Breeding these sheep is extremely easy and raising the young is even easier. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. We are experienced exporters and can arrange shipping for your Dorpers as well as offer consulting . Its hornless with a relatively long body length and has a short and light wool covering, requiring little shearing. 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. Each of them had a good set of positive qualities that should have been beneficially combined in a new animal, which eventually happened. The average weight for mature rams is 110-135 kgs (240-300 lbs) and 70-90 kgs (155-200 lbs) for mature ewes. As with many cross breeds, the Dorper concentrated the best qualities of each breed. Better conception rates are achieved at nine to twelve months with later bred ewes growing out better. I, with your permission, will name two more breeds. Free mating in its organization is the most simple and low-labor-intensive: sheep are simply allowed into the flock and kept with females for 1.5 months. You can also follow us on Instagram (@jrpiercefamilyfarm) and Pinterest (J&R Pierce Family Farm) for frequent updates. This means that they will usually get along with people and other animals, although it also means that they have sensible respect for some animals. Whether you have concerns about your dog, cat, or other pet, trained vets have the answers! Dorper, Damara, Merino and X-Breed Lambs/Sheep 8x Ewes, 11x Wethers & 1x Young Dorper Ram. To provide the population of the country with meat, a hardy sheep was needed, capable of existing and feeding weight in arid regions of the country. Rooing Sheep: Should You Do It Or Let Nature Run Its Course? Dorper. Dorper sheep have been successfully bred and raised in sub-zero temperatures. They can find food in a variety of climates that other sheep cannot. It . The Dorper has been exported to various countries and is popular in Australia. Adult breeding rams can cost around $6000, while young ones can cost as much as $1500. Like other breeds, the Dorset is an avid grazer and produces a generous amount of milk.
They can easily be managed to produce three lamb crops in two years. 2022 Winter; 2022 Autumn; . The White Dorpers seem to have a slightly better temperament at an early age, however the difference between the two resolves when the sheep are handled quietly. From an American point of view (the point is located precisely in the state of Texas). According to approximate estimates of scientists, the first sheep on Earth appeared about 6-7 thousand years ago, and they began to spread around the globe from the territory of Turkey. Much more important is proper postpartum care for lambs and their further rearing. Some factors will affect the price, like genetics and quantity. 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. All fences that the sheep are housed behind are built to a high standard, and also helps to keep guard dogs along to protect from predators. The carcasses were rejected because the European consumers were accustomed to the high quality New Zealand Canterbury lamb. We are currently looking for high resolution pictures of any of the breeds. The lambs grow quickly, reaching a weight of 80 to 90 pounds in four months. Sheep are herd animals, which means that your Dorper will do better in a flock than on its own, and you will need a flock of at least half a dozen sheep to ensure that they are happy. A live weight of about 36 kg can be reached by the Dorper lamb at the age of 3- 4 months. They grow rapidly and can attain a high weaning weight. Box 246, Upington 8800, South Africa, [Sheep Breeds || Breeds of Livestock || Animal Science Home Page || Comment ]. It is now farmed in other areas as well, and is the second most common sheep breed in South Africa.[1]. 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