Dorper sheep
The Dorper is a South African meat sheep built for hard, dry country: a white body with a black head (or all white in the White Dorper), a short covering of hair and wool that drops off on its own, and no need for shearing. Mature ewes average about 156–209 lb and rams about 205–233 lb. It suits a keeper who wants fast-growing lambs with little labour; lambs can reach about 80 lb at 3½–4 months, and ewes can lamb three times in two years under good management.
- Temperament
- Calm
- Cold tolerance
- Heat tolerance
Is the Dorper right for you?
Good fit if
- You want meat lambs without shearing
- You farm hot, dry country or rough grazing with shrubs and brush
- You want ewes that lamb easily and look after their lambs with little help
Poor fit if
- You want wool. The coat is a short mix of hair and wool that sheds
- You want a small sheep. Mature rams average about 205–233 lb
Appearance and varieties
A Dorper has a long, deep, wide body, a long straight back and a long, wide rump. The ideal is a white sheep with black confined to the head and neck. The White Dorper is all white but must be fully pigmented around the eyes, under the tail and on the udder and teats.
The coat is a short, loose, light covering of hair and wool, with wool mainly on the forequarters. If it isn't shorn it drops off by itself. The skin is thick and is sold as high-quality leather.
Oklahoma State describes the breed as hornless. The South African standard is more specific: a developed horn base or small horns is the ideal, and heavy horns are undesirable but allowed.321
Temperament and handling
The South African breed standard names a calm temperament with a vigorous appearance as the ideal. The society also says the Dorper does not easily lose its lambs, even if they are handled soon after lambing.32
Animals vary within a breed. Treat this as what to expect, not a promise, and meet the animal before you buy if you can.
Production numbers
What our sources report for the breed. If two sources disagree, you see the full range.
| Measure | Typical | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lamb growth | About 36 kg (80 lb) at 3½–4 months1 | Giving a carcass of about 16 kg (35 lb). |
| Lambing rate | 100% extensive; 150% in good conditions; up to 180%1 | |
| Lambing interval | As short as 8 months; three lambings in two years under good management12 | The breeding season is long and not tied to one time of year. |
| Skin | About 20% of total carcass value1 | Marketed as Cape Glovers. |
| Gestation | About 147 days7 | Sheep in general; varies by breed. |
Housing, feed and health
Housing
Dorpers were bred for the arid parts of South Africa and Oklahoma State calls them hardy enough to thrive on range where other breeds barely survive. The breed society says they are now also farmed in very cold, snowy and wet conditions.
For sheep in general, UMass Extension says they can cope with harsh weather without a building if they have forage, water and protection from the wind, but recommends housing for winter lambing. Its recommended pen space is 10–14 sq ft per ewe, 16–20 sq ft per pair of ewe and lambs and 20–30 sq ft per ram.
Wisconsin Extension recommends a high-tensile electric fence of at least five strands, spaced about 6, 5, 5, 8 and 10 in from the ground.1267
Feed
Dorpers are non-selective grazers. The breed society says they make use of almost any grazing or roughage and eat more shrubs and bushes, and less grass, than Merino-type sheep. It is still up to the keeper to set the stocking rate.
For sheep in general, Wisconsin Extension says the key is good forage and clean, fresh water, with more and better feed in the last 4–6 weeks of pregnancy and the 6 weeks after lambing. The Dorper society adds that a ewe should keep reasonable condition while raising her lamb, so she is ready for the next mating.27
Health
For sheep in general, Wisconsin Extension names internal parasites as one health concern, worse on pastures that get a lot of rain. Hooves may need trimming two or more times a year. New animals are the most common way disease gets into a flock, so work out a biosecurity plan with your vet before you buy.
This is a starting point, not veterinary advice. If a sheep stops eating or seems unwell, call a vet who treats sheep, or your county extension office.7
Where to buy
Start with a breeder you can visit. Nobody pays to be on this list.
| Seller or directory | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| National Sheep Improvement Program Dorper/White Dorper breeder map | Directory | US breeders recording performance data with NSIP |
Similar breeds
| Breed | Ewe weight | Ram weight | Beginner | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dorper (this breed) | 156–209 lb | 205–233 lb | ||
| Katahdin | 120–160 lb | 180–250 lb | $225–$600 |
History
The Dorper was developed in the 1930s by South Africa's Department of Agriculture, crossing Dorset Horn rams with Blackhead Persian ewes. The aim was a hardy, easy-care mutton sheep for the dry Karoo and northern regions that could finish a lamb on the veld at 4–5 months. The name joins Dorset and Persian.
The first crosses produced some white lambs, and one breeder concentrated on them; that line became the White Dorper. The breed society was formed in 1950, and in 1964 the black-headed and white societies merged under the Dorper name. Today there are more than 5 million Dorpers in South Africa, and the breed has spread to many other countries. In the US it is registered by the American Dorper Sheep Breeders' Society.51
Common questions
How big do Dorper sheep get?
In South African society figures, mature ewes in good condition average 70.9–95.0 kg (about 156–209 lb) and rams 92.8–105.5 kg (about 205–233 lb), depending on age.3
Do Dorper sheep need shearing?
No. The coat is a short mix of hair and wool that drops off on its own if the sheep is not shorn to keep it tidy.21
What is the difference between a Dorper and a White Dorper?
Only colour. A Dorper has a white body and a black head and neck; a White Dorper is all white. Both are judged to the same standard apart from colour and pigmentation.53
Are Dorper sheep good for meat?
Yes; they are primarily a mutton breed. Lambs can reach about 36 kg (80 lb) at 3½–4 months, for a carcass of about 16 kg.1
How many lambs do Dorper ewes have?
Oklahoma State gives a lambing rate of about 100% under extensive conditions and 150% under good conditions, up to 180% in exceptional cases. With lambing intervals as short as 8 months, a ewe can lamb three times in two years.1
More sheep breeds and guides
- Other breeds: Katahdin, Valais Blacknose
- Compare all 3 sheep breeds
Sources
The small numbers beside each fact point to one of these.
- Oklahoma State University, Breeds of Livestock: Dorper Sheep (archived copy).
- Dorper Sheep Breeders' Society of South Africa, Breed Characteristics.
- Dorper Sheep Breeders' Society of South Africa, Breed Standards.
- BreedBarn, Editorial rating, method on the editorial policy page.
- Dorper Sheep Breeders' Society of South Africa, Breed History.
- UMass Extension, Housing and Working Facilities for Sheep.
- University of Wisconsin-Extension, Guide to Raising Healthy Sheep (A3858-02).
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