Dorper Sheep

6 posts
Sat, 09/28/2013 - 15:32 #1

Member for

10 years 7 months
Damalisunrise
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 09/28/2013 - 14:49

Dorper Sheep

Hi All,

My partner and I are looking at a 10arce, 2 dam, property with good soil we feel in western Victoria and would love to talk to any one about Dorper Sheep and their experiences with this breed.In particular, how many sheep would be suitable for this size property, start up cost, ongoing cost in rearing this breed? Also if after the fleece is dropped, can it be used for spinning like a normal sheeps fleece and what is the staple like?Any other information that would be usefully to us.Regards Dawn

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Tue, 10/01/2013 - 13:13 #2
rmcpb
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 10/22/2012 - 11:13

We have a small mob of dorpers we keep for killers and think they are brilliant. Pretty much a hands off sheep as flystrike is not a problem and costly shearing is not needed. They are really good doers and can handle some pretty harsh conditions when necessary (drought) but do exceptionally well on good pasture. They are good mothers and easy breeders.

Now for your two questions. Your stocking rate is a hard one as we don't know what you re starting with. I would purposely understock and gradually build up your mob to a good stock rate but remember the stocking rate will vary from season to season so be prepared to put some in the freezer or sell them when necessary. Aim for full ground cover so the pasture can recover quickly when you move them to the next paddock. We don't worry about the "wool", if you can call it that, and just leave it where it is shed. Its quite amazing just how quickly it disappears, maybe we have the most comfortable bird nests in Australia.

Overall I would say they are a good breed to start with. Have you looked at the dorper association webpage http://www.dorper.com.au/

Cheers
Rob.

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Tue, 10/01/2013 - 18:41 #3
admin
Last seen: 04/22/2024 - 14:45
Joined: 02/28/2011 - 14:19

Thanks Rob for your great info and web site. Would love to throw some more questions at you. Do you have any problems with foxes/wild dogs? Did you start your flock with ewes/lambs  and get a ram later or did you start with just lambs? Very interested in the size and the area of your property and how you went about starting your flock.

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Tue, 10/08/2013 - 09:22 #4
rmcpb
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 10/22/2012 - 11:13

We don't have problems with wild dogs but foxes can be a pain. Thankfully, the boys are really good shots so the foxes don't last too long, and the pigs meet the same fate.

We started our dorpers with 10 inlamb ewes and a ram. They have taken off from there with a regular change of the ram.

As for size of place, I should not be on this site as it is not a small farm but the problems are the same.

Cheers
Rob

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Tue, 10/22/2013 - 18:36 #5
hardydusterwald
Last seen: 10/23/2013 - 14:59
Joined: 10/21/2013 - 11:25

Hi Dawn

We Started with our Dorpers 20months ago.  We run 50 acres, with a mixture of store cattle and our Dorpers, in South Gippsland, as weekend farmers.

Our experience to this point has been mixed. On the Con side, 2 ailments that they say you should not have with Dorpers:

-      We have had fly strike on our sheep, lost a few last January, got better at managing it this last summer, and had to treat 2 sheep, but all survived.  The weather was also different being a lot dryer this summer, which also helped.

-      This winter they got foot root, and I had to get a vet out, and inject the all 120 sheep, and then regularly bath their feet.... still ongoing

-      Also not all Dorpers shed a well as they should, and hence the fly strike

On the Pro side:

-      Easier to handle than cattle. i.e. you can pick them up and work with them.

-      We also hand raised one of the original lambs, and it has just had it's first lamb...... Incredibly cute

-      They have also become used to us and we can hand feed them now

-      Incredibly good tasting meat, much leaner and tastier

All in all you will need to put in some infrastructure (pens/race/shed) to handle your sheep, and they are definitely more work than cattle, and have a higher mortality rate..... This does not matter what type of sheep you get. You will also need to get some drench and vaccination equipment.  Then when the lambs come you will need some marking equipment.

I have recently been told that South Gippsland may not be the most ideal region, for Dorpers because they prefer dryer hotter climates.  However there are a few farmers around that still have them, and I will persist.  I am in the process selling last years lambs, as I operate on having a flock of about 80 sheep. i.e. Do not want Dad breeding with his daughters.  So if I haven’t scared you off happy have a chat to get you started.

Lastly for how many you can keep, is a bit of a how long is a piece of string.  This largely depends on how you paddocks are organised, can you do rotational grazing, quality of pasture, soil conditions, and rainfall. I would ask other farmers in the area, and start off with a smaller No. (15-20) and see how it goes.

As mentioned by the other respondent the fleece is not reusable, and does disappear quickly. The biggest issue is that they do shed well and are not susceptible to fly strike.

I hope this helps, as a relatively new person to Dorpers as well.

 

Cheers

Hardy

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Tue, 03/18/2014 - 00:02 #6
Amican Park
Last seen: 03/24/2014 - 23:12
Joined: 02/17/2014 - 13:06

Hi , I am new to Damara sheep .  I brought  3 ewes, 1 ram  and 3 lambs .  What I have  found out is that you need  to have a PIC (property Identifcation number) . www.pir.sa.gov.au .

ph 1800654688

The sheep need to added to  this data base  .Also  you will need to join NLIS (National Livestock Identification system )

www.nlis.mla.com.au

LPA(livestockProduction Assurance

www.mla.com.au/lpa

aswell  as MLA (Meat ans Livestock Australia

www.mla.com.au/nlissheepandgoats

I had to tag my flock  as the came with out  any history .A pic number is all that is needed to order tags from any rural store. Also I had  trim their hooves, ring  a young ram and soon to drench .  My flock  came from an undsirable home   but  now after  3 months they have become freindly , they come running to me  for their food and some will come for a pat and a chat  . Most have lost their wool  but they were in a bare paddock  and not fed . I hand feed twice aday and ive only the ram that needs to drop his wool .  If on poor feed they tend to keep their wool and may need to be shorn.  feeding grass hay , pellets oats and grain  will  aid in  wool sheeding . I had to hit the ground running  as the sheep  had been flying under the radar and needed a good feed .  

hope this helps   

 

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