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Introduction and Society formation in the UK
The
Viridian Dorpers were the first Dorper flock in the UK. This breeding
flock was imported from New Zealand by a Berkshire Organic Farmer, Bernadette
Dowling of Cranes Farm, East Garston near Hungerford. The first Dorper
lambs born in the UK arrived in September 2005. |
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The Dorper sheep Society was formed shortly after.
The purpose of the
Dorper is to produce prime lamb.
- Ewes produce lambs
for 5-7 years
- Provide superb
mild-flavoured, fine-textured and succulent meat - even when it is lean.
- Highly fertile
with good conception rates increasing the selection potential and sale
of lambs.
- Lambing percentage
of 150% to 180% can be attained under intensive management.
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Special Dorper traits:
- Rapid response
of lambs to rising plane of nutrition.
- Highly flexible,
handling South African droughts and cold Canadian winters
- Hair breed, not
needing shearing, crutching and reducing risk of fly strike - in wool
breeds as much as 20% of feed goes to making wool of little value
- High resistance
to internal and external parasites, needing less worming and dipping
- Strong terminal
sires and excellent maternal cross-bred ewes
- Good feed efficiency
and fast-growing lambs
- Lambs graze early
- Most Dorpers are
polled but horns will not disqualify a Dorper ram from stud
- Horned rams tend
to be more masculine with a stronger libido
- Mature rams typically
weigh over 250lbs; ewes, 220 lbs
- Dorper skin is
the most sought after sheepskin in the world and is marketed under the
name of Cape Glovers
- In South Africa
the skin comprises a high percentage of the income (20%) of the total
carcass value.
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