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The White Dorper is a low maintenance sheep
breed that will adapt to Australian conditions
with very little labor costs resulting in
higher returns for the breeder. At present
White Dorper embryos are being imported
from South Africa and Annalara are producing
commercial and stud White Dorpers for the
domestic and International sheep meat industries.
To
view genetics we have available for sale
Click Here.
The White Dorper breed will become one of
the main meat sheep breeds of Australia
because of the following advantages:
- The
characteristic that sets the White Dorper
sheep apart from all traditional Australian
sheep breeds is that of the wool. White
Dorper fleeces are compiled of short
wool and hair, with a clean kemp underline.
The property that is so distinctive
and desirable about this combination
is that the fleece is shed periodically,
removing the need for shearing and crutching.
- White
Dorpers are not susceptible to fly strike,
again resulting in less costs for preventative
insecticide treatments and mulesing.
- The
short, shedding fleece is also credited
with being the main reason that seed
contamination in the carcase is a rare
occurrence with White Dorpers. A stronger
skin and grazing patterns are two other
contributing factors.
- While
White Dorpers are often referred to
as "non selective" grazers,
this term can be misleading. It suggests
that White Dorpers will eat anything,
although research shows that they have
similar diet preferences to that of
the Merino. However, their foraging
behavior in comparison to that of the
Merino is very different. The Merino
will travel large distances in a day,
selecting the choicest of what is available
and moving from one area to another,
always looking for a better bite. The
White Dorper on the other hand, whilst
still eating a similar diet, is content
to eat what is under its nose. This
has multiple benefits in that there
is a large reduction in the amount of
forage wasted through trampling, the
food intake per metabolic body weight
is lower, and we believe the White Dorper
crosses are improving our pasture conditions.
- White
Dorpers consistently reach a finishing
weight faster than other breeds, and
they do this with a lower food intake.
- As
shown in the the show ring, carcase
competitions and in analytical comparison
between sheep breeds, White Dorpers
produce a superior quality and highly
sought after carcase. They have a higher
percentage of muscle and a lower percentage
of fat. Their skins are of superior
quality.
For carcase data Click
Here.
To see what we are achieving commercially
Click Here.
- High
lambing percentages are achievable with
White Dorpers. Not only are they a highly
fertile breed, with twins being common
and a lower ram joining percentage than
other breeds, they are also polyoestrus.
This means they do not have a defined
breeding season, and unlike the more
traditional sheep breeds, can breed
continuously. Three lambings in twenty
four months is achievable, not only
in pure bred White Dorpers, but also
in F2 and even F1 crosses.
- One
of the biggest factors influencing lamb
survival rates is that of losses through
predators. The White Dorper sheep, bred
and developed in a country where there
are many natural predators, has inherited
a number of characteristics which increase
the chance of lamb survival. To begin
with a strong flocking instinct is demonstrated
in young and old alike. White Dorpers
are excellent mothers and are very protective
of their young. But perhaps the most
significant in relation to predators
though, is the extraordinary mobility
of lambs at birth. Within minutes of
being born lambs are active and alert.
This, combined with previously mentioned
factors and the large quantity of milk
produced by the mother, ensures that
the lamb(s) are off to a strong start
and are not an easy target for predators.
- Lambs
grow fast obtaining weights of around
40kgs at 100 days.
“White
Dorper sheep grow on you, their qualities
and attributes are far superior to any other
sheep breed we have ever had previous experience
with in our 40 years of sheep breeding.
They have a unique character that is a pleasure
to work with at all times.”
Steve Cresswell
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