Stud Selection

We strongly believe in the philosophy that the ram is half the flock, and the ewe is half the lamb. Because of this we have adopted the strict selection process that utilise's the International Dorper Classing System.

Strict Selection Process

Before we employ trained breed inspectors to class our sheep we have our own selection process which is briefly outlined below.

Ewe Lamb Selection

First Selection is done at weaning (4 months Ewes). We weigh the lambs at this time and it gives us a chance to see how each lamb has performed under the same conditions, and how the milk production and mothering qualities have affected the results. We then separate the ewe lambs from the ram lambs.

We pick the the best lambs by grouping them into three groups: possible stud, commercial, & culls.

All animals with cull faults are for slaughter purposes only, they are not fit for breeding.

We take notes of each ewe within the other two groups (Possible Stud & Commercial) to use as a reference at the next selection stage (6 months).

Second Selection at 6 months is when we select our ewes which we will be retaining and which ones we will sell. This is a very good time to see if your Ram/ Ewe combination works well.

Femininity is very important for production & reproduction. The different characteristics of the ewe, such as the head, neck, shape, & size of bone will determine femininity.

Ram Lamb Selection

We have to be more strict on ram selection, and it is not easy to breed good rams. It is important to only keep the best and look after them well.

First Selection (3 months) is the same for ram lambs as is for ewe lambs but with a more critical eye. We must select for good meat qualities and minimum faults.

All animals with cull faults are for slaughter purposes only, they are not fit for breeding.

We look for masculinity in our rams, good shape, good size, good muscle, good type and good walking ability.

Second Selection (6 months) the rams have now been on their own so we can assess adaptability, hardiness and growth. So we weigh them again, and class them as we did at 3 months. Comparing the notes from both selection stages is critical as it allows for a clearer understanding of what's been going on. We then cull those not up to standard.
Third Selection (9 months) at this stage we select what to keep and what to sell.

Breed Standard of Excellence

"The ideal Dorper sheep is an animal, which can maintain itself, produce meat and reproduce under sub- optimal conditions."

All animals we have selected as possible stud get inspected by a qualified Dorper Inspector (at 10 months old), who then class the animal against the International Breed Standard. Which enables us to distinguish the degree of excellence with a description and score by points on visual appearance and performance. These values must be a true reflection of the animal.

As outlined below:

Pointing System

EXCELLENT

5 GOOD

4 AVERAGE

3 BELOW AVERAGE

2 POOR WITH CULL FAULTS

1

The animal is sub- divided into the following sections:

Conformation (B)

Size & Growth (G)

Distribution of Fat (D)

Colour Pattern (P)

Covering (H)

Type (T)

Type 5= Stud (Outstanding)

Type 4= Stud

Type 3= Commercial (1st Selection)

Type 2= 2nd Selection Commercial

Type 1= CULL

We have found the classing system to be another tool which enables us to produce quality Dorpers. We have certainly seen that our Type 4 & 5 animals produce a better quality lamb for us.