. Shearing is completely optional but it is important to note that some variations of Dorpers shed better than others. Home; Editions. The name 'Dorper' is a coupling of the first . It is also believed that the Van Rooy among other sheep breeds were involved with the creation of the Dorper sheep breed. The breed is extremely adaptable with a high ability to flourish, grow, produce and reproduce in irregular and low rainfall environments. Despite the good immunity of dorpers, one should not exclude the possibility of developing one of the common diseases, such as foot and mouth disease, brucellosis, infectious mastitis, and smallpox. Long Breeding Season - Dorper sheep are either non-seasonal or have an extended breeding season so both rangeland and ranch/farm operations can be managed to alleviate stress on land and animals. But with a limited amount of hay, switching to grains is still possible, but this is highly undesirable if you only need quality lamb (meat can change its taste). Member Details. The Dorper skin is the most sought after sheepskin in the world and is marketed under the name of Cape Glovers. While in representatives of other breeds of sheep, body weight depends on the quality of nutrition, Dorper sheep quickly gain weight even on poor feed, often reaching up to 9095 kg. But even in spite of its high cost, dorper sheep are widespread among farmers. (US & Worldwide Statistics in 2023). 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. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 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. When buying your sheep, you will have to decide whether you want a purebred or a fullblood. Dorper sheep can fetch a high value at the market. They are well known for their fertility as well as their mothering instincts. The Dorper was developed in South Africa during the 1930's by crossing Horned Dorsets with Black Headed Persians. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Mid-American Dorper Breeders Association Mid-South Regional Dorper Breeders Association The oestrus cycle can last from 15 to 20 days. A wonderful breed, wool of the highest quality. It was actually created through the efforts of the South African Department of Agriculture for developing a meat sheep breed suitable to the more arid regions of South Africa. The Dorper skin is the most sought after sheepskin in the world and is marketed under the name of Cape Glovers. $3/lb 2021 USDA Market Average. Developed in South Africa, it is the second most popular breed in the country. The grazing behavior and diet selection by Dorper sheep, as well as other related aspects (pasture intake, walking habits and trampling), is reviewed. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. In addition, sheep have many other interesting features that are directly related to their origin. dorper facts: In the 1930s, the South African Department of Agriculture decided to develop a new sheep breed, which had good lambing percentages and produced a high quality carcass. animal-science-mail-form A lambing percentage of 150% can be reached under good conditions while in exceptional cases even 180% can be attained. The breed is hornless. The Dorper sheep breed is the second most commonly bred sheep in South Africa. This capability of sheep is helpful for shepherds looking to avoid shearing for meat production. How many years do domestic rams and sheep live? Empty the trough if the corn gets rained on to prevent digestive issues from moldy corn. You can expect to pay anywhere between $200 and $500 per sheep. It was developed in South Africa and is now the second most popular breed in that country. The New Zealand Dorper Sheep Breeders' Society. In addition, the Persians have very valuable skins used in the production of fine leather products. The ewe is a good mother that is protective of her lambs and multiple births are fairly common in this breed. .The first is Bleu du Maine. The evidence points to mild taste with little mutton flavor at all. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. At 21 weeks, it can gain weight more than 70 kg. 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Dorper, Damara, Merino and X-Breed Lambs/Sheep 8x Ewes, 11x Wethers & 1x Young Dorper Ram. The Dorper Lamb is a fast growing, meat producing sheep breed that thrives in a variety of grazing conditions. 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. Tried vet, dewormer, feed dewormer, all the vet can say is something is whiping out their liver. All are recently drenched & have been supplemented with lucerne and grain. The Dorper is an easy-care animal that produces a fleece of little wool that is shed late spring-summer. SUBSCRIBE https://www.youtube.com/c/HighMountainHomestead?sub_confirmation=1 Storey's Guide to Raising Sheep https://amzn.to/3EhO3gO The Backyard S. The South African Department of Agriculture bred this sheep because they wanted a meat sheep that was better able to stand up to the areas arid climate. Dorset ewes have a good milk production capacity and docile, they can easily produce fast-growing lambs. Katum smooth-haired sheep: description, advantages and disadvantages of the breed . Nicole is the proud mom of 3 rescue fur babies, Baby, a Burmese cat; Rosa, a New Zealand Huntaway; and Mac, a Lab/Mastiff. The Dorper is a South African breed of domestic sheep developed by crossing Dorset Horn and the Blackhead Persian sheep. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. The Dorper is a domesticated breed of sheep that is reared for meat. The breed also features an extended breeding period. Like other sheep breeds, Dorper has its advantages and disadvantages, although the latter are not so significant. The average daily gain of Dorpers under extensive conditions is around 200 g per day. The number of breeders increased steadily over the years to a peak of 910 members during 1984/1985. Require high quality pasture for a high quality grass finish. Fullblood means that the sheep can trace its heritage directly back to South African stock. These sheep can lamb up to three times every two years with the lambing intervals lasting around eight months each. This can be provided in buckets, troughs, stock tanks, or automatic waterers. 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. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Pet Keen is reader-supported. All rights reserved. The difference is really a matter of personal taste for the breeders, although most herds are primarily made up of the black-headed Dorper. They start grazing at an early age and can tolerate just about any kind of grazing conditions, which sheep farmers will not find with most other common sheep breed options out there. Some breeds are characterized by the fiber of their wool, but not the Dorper as it cant be spun. It does not, for example, need shearing. They should be allowed to graze during the spring, summer, and fall months on the green, growing pasture. Some breeders spend around $15 (1000 rupees) ahead to bring a lamb from 35 kg to 45 kg, but get much more when they sell back. So replace with few bits of corn or oats. Can be safely used to improve other breeds. The skin comprises a high percentage of the income (20%) of the total carcass value. The main reason this hybrid was created was for its meat, not its wool. The small head and fragile structure of the skeleton of the newborn allows him to pass through the birth canal without hindrance, and if there are no health problems, a small sheep will show increased activity in 10 minutes, constantly being close to the mother. 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. Whether you have concerns about your dog, cat, or other pet, trained vets have the answers! The Dorper sheds its fleece during the warmer months late Spring/Summer. These sheep can lamb up to three times every two years with the lambing intervals lasting around eight months each. A few years later, farmers in America and Australia appreciated their qualities, and already in the XNUMXst century, the Dorper breed began to be actively bred in Canada, Russia and other similar climatic regions of the globe. Unlike Merinos, Dorpers do not need shearing, crutching, or mulesing, and they are much less prone to flystrike. Dorper rams are typically ready to breed at five months. The Dorper sheep was bred in South Africa in the 1930s. In case of any violation in the behavior of a particular individual, it must be immediately isolated from the rest of the livestock and shown to a veterinarian. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". By four months of age, most lambs have already attained a weight of 80 to 90 pounds, which is the market standard. Try to ensure some shade for the sheep during summer months, and protection from the rain during winter. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This is especially important for pregnant females, as they are always deficient in nutrients and vitamins. In its native South Africa it has spread from the arid areas to all parts of the republic. 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. Category `` Analytics '' of fine leather products better than others are typically ready to breed at months... The creation of the first widespread among farmers years with the website attained! A coupling of the black-headed Dorper the cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent plugin always in... Months on the green, growing pasture capacity and docile, they can easily fast-growing. 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