Mission Statement 

The purpose of the Texas Hill Country Dorper Group is to work together to promote the positive attributes of Dorper and White Dorper sheep in the Texas Hill Country Region while educating ourselves, providing information for new potential growers and working toward profitability for producers and the American Dorper Sheep Breeders’ Society.

Officers and Committees

• President - Tina Wilson - 325-378-2789

• Vice President - Sandra Kirchner - 830-997-9133

• Treasurer - James Hurst - 830-755-2435

• Secretary - Doylene Bode - 830-864-4524

• Sales Chairman - Brad Roeder - 830-889-4512

• Webmaster - Mike Sudderth - 830-990-8486

• Lloyd Wendel & Brad Roeder - Explore show opportunities - 830-889-4512 (R)  830-864-4917 (W)

• Refreshment Chairman - Jeanie Voight - 830-995-3345

• Promotional Chairman - Tina Wilson - 325-378-2789

Dorper History and Background

The Dorper breed was developed in South Africa during the 1930s by crossing the Dorset ram to the Black Headed Persian ewe, which was indigenous to Africa. This new breed was born out of a necessity to have sheep that would have good meat qualities, yet be able to thrive in the arid conditions of South Africa. Selection was pursued to produce top carcass characteristics as well as having high fertility and lambs that would grow out quickly. Dorpers were imported into North America in the mid 1990s. The Dorper and White Dorper are maintained as separate breeds, but they only differ in color. Bred for its lean, tender meat, its broad frame and ideal muscling, the Dorper is a very good forager, tolerant to a broad range of conditions, capable of breeding year-round with increased lambing percentages as compared to wool-type sheep in studies at the Texas A&M University. The breed is particularly well suited for small growers since there is not a need to shear the sheep. Some growers are using these sheep to help maintain their properties rather than mowing grass and spraying weeds.

Dorper & White Dorper Breed Characteristics

Intelligence:

The Dorper is a smart, intelligent sheep that is easy to work. It is generally easy to handle, free moving and usually not aggressive. Dorpers definitely have their own unique personalities.

Hardiness:

Able to adapt to the environment, either hot or cold climate. Does well under harsh, extensive conditions, as in more intensive operations.

Grazing Habits:

Dorpers are non-selective grazers. They browse in a similar manner to a goat and have the ability to graze at a higher level than traditional sheep. They are productive in areas where other breeds could not survive.

Non-Seasonal Breeding:

Will breed at any time of year with the ability to produce lambs three times in two years.

Fertility and Mothering:

Excellent mothers who produce good quantities of milk. They are very fertile, generally a primipara (first ‘lamber’) will have one lamb, but twins and triplets are common in older, experienced ewes. Ewe lambs can be bred at 8-10 months of age.

Growth Rates:

The growth rate in this breed is exceptional. Lambs are vigorous and have high survivability. Under good conditions lambs are able to reach 80 lb live weight in 3.5 to 4 months. The lambs are excellent feed converters; they put all their energy into meat production. Mature rams average 240-275 lbs. Mature ewes reach 155-200 lbs.

Conformation:

Well put-together carcasses with good fat distribution.

Early Maturity:

Dorpers mature early sexually, some ram lambs can begin to work at four to five months, and ewes can begin cycling at 5 months of age. Normal breeding age for ewes is eight to 10 months.

Parasite Tolerance:

The Dorper is not resistant to parasites, but appears to have a higher tolerance to internal parasites than most other breeds. This allows for less drenching and also makes the Dorper a good proposition for organic farming.

Cross breeding:

This breed crosses well with commercial sheep of other breeds. In Texas, Dorpers are often crossed with Rambouillet or Katahdin.

Breed Standards

A well-balanced sheep with strong, deep, wide body and correct legs and feet. Rams must be well muscled and strong from the front to the back. Ewes must be lighter in front and getting bigger and heavier to the back (a wedge shape). A ewe needs to look feminine with a feminine head, and a long graceful neck.

Head:

Strong and long with triangle shape. Eyes widely spaced, strong nose and strong mouth with well-fitted jaw. Long ears are preferable and are usually indicative of calmer sheep. A developed horn base or small horns are the ideal on a ram. Heavy horns are undesirable. The head must be covered with short, dullish black hair in the Dorper and white hair in the White Dorper.

Neck:

Medium length, well fleshed, broad and well coupled in the ram...long and graceful in the ewe.

Shoulders and Chest:

Shoulders firm, broad and strong with good muscling on the forearm for rams. A moderate protrusion of the brisket with correct foreleg placement and moderate width between the legs. Shoulders, which appear loose, a brisket that protrude too much or too little, are faulty.

Barrel:

Long, deep and wide body. The sheep must have a long straight back and not a 'devil's grip'. A slight dip behind the shoulders is permissible. Ribs must be well sprung.
                   

Hindquarter:

Long and wide rump. The inner and outer twist is to be well-fleshed and deep in rams.

Legs:

Strong, well placed with strong pasterns and hooves not too widely split. The hocks must be strong without a tendency to turn in or out. X-legs, sickle, cow, or strait hocks are culling faults.

Reproductive Organs:

Scrotum of the ram should not be too long and the testicles of equal size and not too small…reaching about half way to the ground. Well-shaped udder and reproductive organs in ewe.

Cover:

The ideal is a short, loose, light mixture of hair and wool and with a natural clean kemp (hair) underline in adult sheep.

Color and Pigmentation:

Good color and pigmentation.

• Dorpers: A white sheep with black confined to the head and neck is the ideal. Black spots, to a limited extent on the underline of the body and on the legs are permissible. Brown hair around the eyes, unpigmented teats, white under the tail or white hoofs are undesirable.

• White Dorpers: A white sheep, fully pigmented around the eyes, under the tail, on the udder and the teats is the ideal. A limited number of other colored spots are permissible on the ears and underline.

General Appearance:

The sheep should be symmetrical and well proportioned. A calm temperament with a vigorous appearance is the ideal.

Current Members

Click Here To View Current Members

News and Upcoming Events

Midwest Stud Ram Sale  June, 2009 Sedalia, Missouri

National Dorper Junior Show June 2009

Gillespie County Fair  August 23-24, 2008, Fredericksburg, Texas

A Dorper Sheep show will take place during the Gillespie County Fair on August 21, 2009 , at the Gillespie County Fair Grounds in Fredericksburg. Both Dorpers and White Dorpers will be exhibited and the show is open to the State of Texas. Check in by 3:00 pm, show at 6:00 pm. There is a fee of $5.00 per entry, non refundable. For a Gillespie County Fair catalog please call the Fair Grounds at 830-997-2359. A wether class for 4-H and FFA members may be added to help exhibitors get ready for the State Fair of Texas. This show will not be in the catalog this year but a $5 entry fee will apply and will be collected at the show. For other information please call Brad Roeder. 830-889-4512

Texas Hill Country Dorper Association Show and Sale September 11-12, 2009, Fredericksburg, Texas

CLICK ON THE DOCUMENT TO VIEW AND PRINT

• RULES

• ENTRY FORM

  Send entrees to:
  Mike Sudderth
  1008 Buckeye Rd
  Fredericksburg, Texas 78624
   
  Be sure to include a check for your entrees.
   
  Entry deadline for the Catalog is 1 August 2009
  Overall deadline for entrees is 15 August 2009
  

• SUMMARY

• YOUTH FUTURITY PROGRAM

North American International Livestock Exposition November 7-20, 2009, Louisville, Kentucky

 

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Links

www.dorperamerica.org/              American Dorper Sheep Breeders’ Society

http://www.sheepusa.org/             American Sheep Industry Association

http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/sheep/dorper/index.htm       OSU Breeds of livestock, sheep and Dorpers

http://www.dorper.com.au/             Dorper Sheep Breeders’ Society of Australia, Inc.

http://www.dorper.com/index.html         Dolf Lategans’ Dorper Sheep Page

http://www.americanlambboard.org/      American Lamb Board

http://www.attra.org/       National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service

http://www.tahc.state.tx.us/      Texas Animal Health Commission

http://ag.ansc.purdue.edu/sheep/articles/index.html      Purdue University Sheep Extension

http://stephenville.tamu.edu/taes.html       Texas Agricultural Experiment Station

http://www.genecheck.com/       Gene Check, Inc.

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Contact Us

 

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E-mail a Friend

http://www.thcdorperassociation.com

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Join Us

The annual membership to the Texas Hill Country Dorper Association is $25.00. Please contact James Hurst (830)755-2435 or Tina Wilson (325)378-2789 for additional information. The year begins in April. To join, make checks payable to: THC Dorper Assn.

Mail to:
James Hurst
30601 A IH 10 West
Boerne, TX 78006