The Latest at Grants' Dorpers

Shepherd's Pen

MORE SHEEP MONEY IN THE BANK AT THE END OF THE YEAR IN TEXAS

During the 2004 Texas Dorper Sale I had opportunity to talk to several longtime West Texas finewool breeders who have used Dorper or percentage Dorper rams in their flocks. Change after generations of finewool breeding is rather radical. Termination of the wool incentive program, increasing difficulty in finding shearers and lower wool prices has necessitated changes in ranch operations to decrease expenses. Some operators have simply replaced sheep with cattle. For others that was not an option due to the environmental limitations on range more suitable to sheep than cattle. Income from meat production has been greater than that of wool production. Some have found that Dorper rams on the finewool ewes increases the net weight of lamb shipped annually. The percentage Dorper ewes appear to have a foraging advantage over the fine wools and maintain better body condition. Others have observed an advantage in percent lamb crop weaned for the crossbred ewes. One or two top crosses with Dorpers will not provide a total shedding sheep in all cases. It appears that three or four crosses may be necessary. Annual shearing may not be necessary for the percentage sheep that do not totally shed as the crutch, flanks and bellies are the first areas to exhibit shedding with suppressed wool growth on the rest of the sheep.

Several commented on the improvement in hardiness of the Dorper influenced ewes. Some of this could be due to a hybrid vigor advantage.

Another observation in two commercial flocks is that Dorper rams get more ewes settled per ram than the other breed bucks. One rancher observed fine wool ewes congregated around the Dorper rams while the other breed rams grazed solitarily. More ewes per ram saves investment in ram power.

Currently, pelt value is not equal between high percentage Dorper lambs and the traditional wooled lambs. However, significant advances are being made in identifying and developing markets for the high quality skins from the Dorpers. At this point it looks very promising to receive at least equal value for the high percentage Dorper skins in the near future. Quality and quantity appear to be two keys to the solution.

Contact us to discuss the use of White Dorper rams in your commercial or purebred flock to improve your bottom line. Email –sheep@grantsdorpers.com or 503/749/1863.

South African judges and inspectors,
Ernest Connan and Raymond Read

WHY WE SHOW WHITE DORPER SHEEP

The first Dorper/White Dorper sheep were born in the US in 1995. Our first were born in 1996. Except for a handful of cases the first lambs born were the first Dorpers /White Dorpers seen by the owners. We quickly realized that to make the sheep rearing public aware of these sheep something other than writing about them with a few pictures would be necessary. If the old saying that “a picture is worth a thousand words” is true then to see the item in the flesh must be worth a thousand pictures. How does one introduce live Dorper/White Dorpers to the public? One possibility is to display animals at events which potentially interested individuals may attend. Livestock shows are the logical choice. As more owners desire to present their animals to the public, it follows that some type of event be organized to rank animals according to breed standards to determine which is the most desired of those present. What better way to expose a new breed to the sheep oriented community than to attend and participate in a major show and sale?

The American Dorper Sheep Breeders Society has invited a South African Judge from their rigorously trained group of 30-35 individuals to the US to place the sheep for each of the five ADSBS National Shows and Sales. An interested US judge has also been included to introduce them to the breed standard. This helps to insure that Dorper/White Dorper sheep identified as the best in the US conform to the South African standards and aids in educating US judges. Certainly, some traits are extremely difficult to measure in the show ring as some can only be done from farm records late in the animal’s life or after harvest. When comparing breeds exhibited at the same time as the ADSBS National Show it is very clear that Dorpers/White Dorpers do not fit the pattern deemed best by the other breeds. The ADSBS desires to continue to focus on heritable traits that produce profitable sheep which produce a tender tasty final product.

Participation in four National Shows and Sales has broadened the number of contacts for us. It has allowed us to get our sheep sold across the US and into other countries and develop repeat business. We have been able to compare our sheep on the hoof to those of other breeders. As a result of expanded sales we get feedback of how our sheep perform against those from other breeders but within the same flock.

Showing can result in some negatives. Excessive conditioning has been shown to decrease the reproductive ability of some individuals in other breeds of sheep. We do not see this as a problem as long as reason is used in fitting and judging.

Showing sheep representative of one’s flock may not be for everyone. However, for Grant’s Dorpers limited showing of White Dorper sheep has been a positive and well worth the time and effort.

WHAT WHITE DORPERS HAVE DONE FOR US

We embarked upon our White Dorper program in 1995 by the importation of embryos from South Africa through Canada. Never did we realize the positive impact the White Dorper genetics would have on our commercial flock. We had been running a flock of East Friesian/Corriedale sheep for a number of years. In earlier years we had used a Romanov ram. Each of the mentioned breeds had their strong points but none have compared to the lamb survivability/hardiness, meat palatability and increased dressing percentage of the White Dorper.

Many have asked why we chose the White Dorper over the Dorper. For several years we had a small flock of Dorpers (those with the black heads). We liquidated the Dorpers due to the migrating black color. We also encountered color problems in the grading up program and thus received a pelt discount from the packing plant. We decided at that time that in our current market the White Dorper would be our focus. We are also asked do we have the hair type sheep? We are selecting for a covering that is short and has a light mixture of hair and wool which is shed. We have found the colder the climate the heavier the covering which is shed to various degrees depending upon the climatic conditions. With our western Oregon winter rains, sheep with light open fleeces that stay out in the wet don’t do as well as those more heavily coated.

White Dorper lamb has proven to us that the meat palatability and heavier muscling becomes a real plus for the vendor who currently buys from us. In the last three years our lamb has mainly been sold at farmers markets and restaurants. Unfortunately we can’t meet the current demand for lamb. We were recently in an upscale restaurant having dinner with friends. In speaking with the owner he exclaimed, “that by far he prefers our lamb over the commodity lambs.” The owner became really excited when he learned that the meat in the future will be of higher percentage White Dorper. White Dorper influenced carcasses have made a significant name for themselves in Australia where there are more available both from meat yield and eating satisfaction.

We are pleased to say that the White Dorper in just a few years has made steady progress in becoming a serious competitor in the sheep market. It along with other breeds has its important place and will make money for you.

COMMERCIAL DORPER SHEEP INFORMATION FROM AUSTRALIA

White Dorper and Dorper sheep embryos were imported into Australia and the US at about the same time. However, a much greater number of embryos went to OZ and were in the hands of experienced stud breeders. Many of the Australians actually picked out their embryo donors in South Africa. Dorpers have made a faster impact on the commercial Aussie sheep industry. Therefore, more information is available from down under than in the US.

The goal of one intensive sheep operation was to produce 600 lambs from 400 ewes on 700 acres with Merino x White Suffolk ewes. Mating the ewes to Dorper rams increased drop rate from 112% to 137.5%. An additional Dorper cross on the halfblood ewes produced a drop of 153%. The goal of 600 lambs from 400 ewes was reached. Additionally, because of the nonselective grazing habits stocking rates were increased by 10%. Dressing percentage was 51.7% for the Dorper crosses compared to 48% for their traditional crosses. Their lambs are in high demand with their lamb buyer.

The recent drought in Western Australia pointed out some interesting foraging differences between Merino and White Dorper influenced ewes. On one station Merino ewes were set stocked at 1 dry ewe per 9 acres and first and second cross White Dorper ewes at 1 per 7 acres in adjoining pastures for the winter. By spring the Merinos were in poor condition with minimal grass. However, the White Dorpers in the adjoining pasture were in good to fat condition with grass still remaining due to the fact that they not only grazed, but also browsed less desirable plants. While the Merinos struggled to survive, the White Dorpers lambed three times in two years. Ten percent of the Merino lambs dropped were weaned while 80 percent of the White Dorper lambs dropped were weaned. Losses during dry years were expected to be 5-10% for the Merinos, but less than 1% of the White Dorpers were lost. Dorper cross wethers sold for $70/ head for 100-pound lambs at 4-5 months of age while the Merinos took until 12 months to reach the same weight and sold for $28. Based upon their short term experience the owners expect the White Dorper influenced sheep would exceed gross margins of $30/dry sheep equivalent compared to $20 for the Merinos (meat & wool).

First cross Dorper x Merinos need to be shorn. With a second cross, shedding may need some assistance with the shears for a tidy appearing sheep. Generally, third cross sheep will shed quite well.

Currently in July of ’04, fullblood White Dorper rams are being booked for the next breeding season before they are born, with one stud breeder receiving an order for 100 rams from a new client. Normally they run 1 ram per 100 ewes plus 1—11 rams per 1,000 ewes.

Can White Dorper rams increase your bottom line? Contact us for availability.

NINE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WITH WHITE DORPER SHEEP

The following are either personal experiences or observations over the past nine years and may differ with those of other breeders.

Nine years ago we embarked on an adventure with the White Dorper sheep developed in South Africa. We chose White Dorpers as we suspected that with the color variation in the Dorper, spotted lambs might occur when crossed with other breeds in the US. That has since been proven true. Embryos were collected and frozen in South Africa, shipped to Canada, implanted into recipient ewes and after quarantine delivered to the US. Arrival of the first lamb elicited a response of “I paid how much for that?” Dorper lambs at birth do not exhibit the muscularity that they will in later life and so the lamb did not appear to be anything special. Superior vigor at birth was evident. With the arrival of the rest of the lambs the flock was on its way. After a few months it was clear that there was one decidedly inferior lamb that was culled. The first lamb, a ram, was used successfully on commercial ewes at 4-5 months of age. The resulting lambs were more similar to their sire than dams.

Several concerns arose. The purported shedding was not like that of hair-coated animals in that it was incomplete. Necks, bellies and backsides shed well, but not always the tops. After discussion with several South African inspectors, incomplete shedding is not unusual. The advertised disease resistance must be to some African diseases not present in the US as most all animals are vaccinated for the regular sheep diseases in the US. Parasite resistance appears to vary with the genetic background of the White Dorpers. Why would a sheep developed in a desert area from Horned Dorsets and Persian Blackheads have significant parasite resistance without selection?

Further embryo importations were made to broaden the genetic base.

What have we learned about White Dorpers?

Lambs are not always totally white when born, but usually the off color disappears by ten months of age. Shedding may become more complete with age. The ewes are good mothers and milk well. Lambs are vigorous at birth. Lambs grow rapidly and will maintain their condition if feed becomes less abundant. Growth accelerates again with abundant feed. White Dorpers are less selective grazers than many other breeds and appear to be more interested in eating their fill quickly. High temperatures do little to suppress appetite. Grass, clover. Canadian thistles and blackberries are consumed indiscriminately. They commonly use each other as footstools to reach overhead branches for browsing.

Shedding appears to improve with age. Apparently some heat stress is necessary to trigger shedding. Warm nights also aid the process. Stationary objects to rub upon assist covering removal. Covering growth is stimulated by consistently cool weather, but during the warm summer is minimal.