The Dorper sheep was bred in South Africa in the 1930s. Meat of excellent quality. Mature rams will weigh around 230 pounds, while mature ewes will usually weigh 200 pounds. The breeding cycle lasts from 16 to 59 hours. Since that time the DSSA has managed and maintained a registry of pedigree and breeding information for both sires and dams, maintaining high genetic integrity. Their skin is of such high quality that it is sought after in the leather-making industry. You can make sure that the young are in good health through regular observation: if up to the age of five days the cubs sleep more, and wake up only to eat, then everything is in order with them and they are quite full. There are two main subspecies of dorpers: the former have a black head, with the same dark upper part, neck, and the latter are pure white and have no dark color at the genetic level. Because they are bred for meat, not wool, they do not produce lanolin, which ensures that they do not have a gamey flavor like many other breeds. Copyright 1995-2015 Oklahoma State University Board of Regents. Dorper sheep are a self-shedding sheep breed, meaning they do not require any manual . Let us help you get started raising Dorper sheep. The name 'Dorper' is a coupling of the first syllables of the parent breeds Dorset and Blackhead Persian. Some breeders spend around $15 (1000 rupees) ahead to bring a lamb from 35 kg to 45 kg, but get much more when they sell back. Drawbacks of the Dorper Sheep Breed. This is because of the natural mothering instincts of the ewes. All lambs are vaccinated twice to protect against significant diseases. A good manager can organize his program so that lambs can be dropped at any time of the year. The Dorset Horn was successfully crossed with the Blackheaded Persian to create the breed. The primary purpose of this species was for meat. The Dorper Sheep Society of Australia inc (DSSA) was established soon after the introduction of Dorpers to Australia in 1996. While Dorpers have many great qualities, the number of lambs they produce can be a negative aspect. The Dorper is now well adapted in South Africa to a variety of climatic and conditions. Well, the second is Border Leicester, a serious breed. My Dorper sheep cost $10 per head to overwinter. Purebred Dorpers are less expensive than full blood, while Dorper and White Dorper cost around the same amount.