Dorper sheep

Dorper Sheep


Dorper ewe, shorn	Dorper ram, unshorn, natural summer shed

Both black headed and white dorpers were introduced to New Zealand in 2001 from Australia, which animals are based on South African genetics..

The dorper is a cross between the dorset (a meat breed) and the blackhead Persian ( a small Arabian/North African breed of fat-rumped hair sheep which sheds their coat). The breed has been selected for meatiness, good growth and larger size for the semi-arid South African environment. There are both black and white headed popuations (derived from Dorset Horn crossed with the South African van Rooy breed - derived from a native fat rumped 'Blinkhaar' African sheep crossed with Rambouillet, a large merino derivative) within the breed.

The sheep are usually polled, but can have prominant horn bases or even small horns (scurrs). The rams have a wrinkled 'roman' muzzle, are solid and have a large gut. Ewes have small heads and slightly lighter forequarters. The most outstanding feature is that in summer the animals are covered in short hair on the head, neck, belly, and legs. There is a longer wool and hair coat of greater or lesser extent on the back, flank, and upper hind quarters. The wool/hair coat is more extensive in winter, but is never long. Some animals have a greater preponderance and length of hair (vs. wool) in their coat, which makes them look 'hairier' when shorn. Shedding starts again in late spring/early summer.

The dorper has a significantly shorter but possibly denser winter fleece than wiltshires. Wiltshire fleece, while longer, is lighter.

The dorper has a reputation as an easy lambing sheep with ample milk production: but so does wiltshire. But where wiltshires are seasonal breeders (breeding in autumn), ovulation in dorpers is not linked to diminishing daylight - they can breed any time of year. The dorper lamb is small, meaning easy birth, whereas the wiltshire lambs have somewhat triangular narrow heads and are also easy birth. The dorper lambs grow very quickly indeed, in contrast to wiltshire lambs, which are slower to mature.

The dorper is a solid animal - as is the wiltshire - but has the advantage of shorter legs than the wiltshire. This difference may not last, as there is a trend to select for larger dorpers.

Dorpers have been bred in relatively arid dry conditions, and as a result their hooves are worn down constantly. In New Zealand conditions the hooves grow quickly relative to many other breeds, and so dorpers are subject to foot rot, although this is rapidly being selected against at the moment.

There are claims that dorpers are more resistant to internal parasites, but the sample sizes within the few breeds compared with were too small to draw any universal conclusions. Within breed variation would have to be assessed, and more importantly, the particular parasite resiliance of the subset of individuals imported into New Zealand.