DORPER SHEEP are a hair breed that require no shearing, they grow fast and have a dressing percentage second to none. The Dorper breed was developed out of necessity. During the early 1930's, South African farmers exported a surplus of mutton and lamb, from the fat tailed indigenous breeds, to London's prestigious Smithfield Market. The carcasses were rejected because the European consumers were accustomed to the high quality New Zealand Canterbury lamb. 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. A breeding project was finalized in 1946 and the Dorper earned a prominent place in the history of South African agriculture. In 1950, the South African Dorper Breeders' Association was formed. According to Dr. Q. Campbell in his book "Making Money with Mutton Sheep", "One of the most successful crosses of exotic rams bred to adapted ewes proved to be the Dorset Horn X the Blackhead Persian". The Blackhead Persian sheep, a hardy, fat-tailed desert breed from Arabia, brings to the Dorper its hardiness, thriftiness, adaptability, pigmentation and hair covering. It also brings remarkable fertility, with the ability to breed every eight months and to produce a high number of twins. In addition, the Persians have very valuable skins used in the production of fine leather products. 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. The Dorper ewes from this cross were excellent mothers that could be bred in any season. In the early 1950's, a controversy arose concerning black markings vs. a pure white sheep. Some breeders preferred a white sheep, called the Dorsian, while others chose to select for confirmation rather than color and use the black markings as their trademark. In 1964, the controversy was settled when the blackhead and white Dorper breeders united into one association calling the black head sheep Dorpers and with the unmarked being called White Dorpers. The modern day Dorper is numerically the second largest breed in South Africa with over 10 million head (over 1/3 of the total number of sheep). In recent years, the Dorper has become popular in the Middle East, China, Canada, Australia, South America, Mexico and the United States. What is the difference between the Blackhead and White Dorpers? The coloration is a preference as all other traits are basically equal. A White Dorper ram is used when a breeder does not want spotted lambs produced from a cross-breeding program with solid white ewes.

Are all Dorpers polled? Most Dorpers are without horns but many rams have scurs, and some will have horns and this should not disqualify a Dorper ram from being stud. Experience has shown that horned rams tend to be more masculine and have a stronger libido. How much does a Dorper Weigh? Mature rams typically weigh over 250 lbs., ewes, 220 lbs. However, one should not be obsessed with mature weights. Feed efficiency is more important than mature weight and fast growing lambs are traits where the Dorper excels. What is the productive life of a Dorper? Under good management, a Dorper ewe should produce lambs for 7 years or more. Do they have a lot of twins and triplets? This depends more on available nutrition. In South Africa, under good range conditions, a 150 percent lamb crop is typical and rates more like 180 percent with improved nutrition. Can you breed Dorper ewes any time of year? Yes. Again, available nutrition has a major role in conception rates. Lambing intervals of 8 months, three lamb crops every two years, is a common practice. At what age can you start breeding ewe lambs? As early as 6-8 months but better conception rates will be achieved at 9-12 months and the later bred ewes will grow out better. How many ewes can a Dorper ram cover? Ram lambs can frequently cover 20-25 ewes in a 51-day exposure. Yearling rams can usually cover 50 ewes. Do Dorpers have to be sheared? No. A Dorper will shed its covering each summer. Dorpers will shed more completely as they mature. Are Dorpers parasite resistant? Yes, but not parasite proof. Many other factors determine parasite problems but with proper management techniques, dewormings can be held to 2-3 times per year even in higher rainfall areas. How is the taste of Dorper meat? Superb! Dorper lamb does not have the “lamb taste” that causes so many Americans to avoid eating lamb. It is succulent and fine textured. The purpose of the Dorper breed is to produce prime lamb. What about crossing a Dorper ram with wool-type ewes? Early university trials have shown that the Dorper influence will improve the meat qualities and growth rate of lambs from popular commercial ewe breeds. However, the F1 lambs will have a diminished wool conformation. What about crossing Dorper Rams with hair-type ewes? The Dorper has been very effective in increasing the growth rate, carcass size and quality of all the typical hair-type breeds such a the Barbados, Katahdin, St. Croix, the Mexican Pelibuey and other breeds that are considered exotic types. Typically, the 75 percent Dorper crosses will exhibit the Dorper coloration and confirmation. Can percentage Dorpers be registered? Yes. The Dorper registry regulations allow for a "breeding-up" program. Ewes can be considered purebred at 7/8s ( 87%) and rams at 15/16s ( 93%) Dorper

KYLER RANCH Dorper ewes have been bred and selected for their ability to lamb three times in two years, 90 pound lambs at 100 days old are not uncommon for lambs right off the ewe. KYLER RANCH breeds ewe lambs to lamb at one year old and we have had no problems,having pulled only one lamb in the last ten years and it survived, We also have never keep a single ewe lamb for a replacement ewe always keeping a twin or triplet ewe lamb, therefore for the last five years our lambing percentage has been at least two hundred percent. Dorper sheep have lots of twins,and we have several ewes that raise triplets every year easily, and have done so the last few years. Please come and see what KYLER RANCH has to offer you for your Breeding stock needs, We are sure you will be pleased with what we have. also market lambs available most of the year.