American Dorper Sheep Breeders’
Society
The official registry for Dorper Sheep in the USA
Dorper Sheep – Meat Sheep for the
Modern Producer
Hardy and Adaptable
- Dorper Sheep are highly adaptable and do well in harsh, extensive
conditions as well as in more intensive operations.
Excellent Maternal Qualities
- Ewes are excellent mothers and heavy milkers. Lambs are vigorous and
have high survivability.
Long Breeding Season
- Dorpers are non-seasonal or have an extended breeding season. They can
easily be managed to produce three lamb crops in two years.
Reproductive Efficiency-Dorpers are very fertile and prolific. Lambing
rates of 180% can be achieved per lambing. They are early maturing and
will produce a lamb crop at one year of age.
Pre-potency -
Dorper sheep cross well with commercial ewes of other breeds and as
terminal sires produce fast growing, muscular lambs.
Non-Selective Grazers
- Dorpers are excellent converters of a wide range of forage types and
they excel in grazing or weed control operations.
Heat and Insect Tolerant
- Because of their Blackhead Persian origin, Dorpers have natural
tolerance to high temperatures and heavy insect populations. They are
productive in areas where other breeds barely survive.
Parasite Tolerant
- Studies indicate Dorper Sheep are better able to deal with a parasite
burden than many other breeds. While management of parasites may still
be necessary, targeted drenching practices will yield good results.
