The breed was developed over 60 yrs with specific objectives in mind; economics are at the base of the breed standard. The primary objective is to breed sheep that can turn off a fat lamb as soon as possible. “Height does not mean weight.” This is something that I learned very quickly. Tall animals take a lot longer to finish in the normal grazing conditions predominantly found in the central west of NSW. I do not want to carry anything but animals-in-production on the property, so finishing off the last drop and making way for my ewes to breed again, is key to the economic success of the meat production enterprise.

I continue to be bemused when I go to sheep shows and see other meat sheep rams that I could throw a saddle on. I think it must take forever to grow these things out. Why do people want such big sheep walking around their properties eating all that feed? That’s why we got rid of the cattle. A more efficient production system is surely based on running well muscled mature ewes 65 to 85 kg ewes that produce fast growing lambs rather than running 85 to 110 kg ewes that produce lambs which take longer to finish? Maiden Dorper Ewes can be joined quite early but best at upwards of 40 kg.

We’ve built up a ewe base in our commercial enterprise which consists primarily of 3rd and 4th and 5th cross ewes. Our objective is to reach 5000 breeding ewes that are 4th cross or better within the next two years. These ewes came from a merino base because that was what was readily available and cheapest to buy at the time. But, the further down the cross you go, the better the overall economic proposition. We now see these 3rd cross ewes really taking on the key Dorper traits of productivity. They demonstrate good mothering instinct and good milk production. They’re easy to join 3 times in two years, are well muscled, and produce easy birthing small lambs that grow like smoke when they hit the ground.

“It’s not what you run on the property it is what you sell off it that counts”

Keep the ewes pregnant if feed is reasonable

At Burrawang we join the commercial and Full blood ewes at 9mths of Age and recently we started joining our ewes for only 36 days, we scan the ewes 7 weeks after the rams are pulled out. And any full bloods that are pregnant get to stay in the stud. Those that are not get a second go in the commercial flock, after scanning on the second joining for the maidens any empty ewes go. Rejoining is done when the last lambs in the drop are 8weeks old, we take the lambs off for two days and put them back in with rams. This helps kick start the ewes cycling all at once so in the stud we have individual joining groups of about 45 ewes and in the commercial we put the Rams in at 2 % in smaller paddocks. ( there is no problem joining at 1% but this is best done for 54 days to maximize production) This is all conditional on the ewes being in reasonable condition obviously, in the middle of summer which is our big feed deficit period at Burrawang we might wean first and let the ewes recover for a month before Joining again.

Commercial News Update

Graham Pickles and Judge Anthony Clarke from Country Fresh Meats Tamworth.

The Dorper Prime Lamb Show and Sale competition was held at Dubbo on the 10th of August 2009. Pens of Dorper cross meat sheep where entered and Judged before being sold at the usual prime Lamb sale. Mr Clarke judged the pens on commercial reality, he described the champion Pen as an even pen of lambs with even conformation and fat cover. 3 weight categories where judged.

1st place 40-45kg Graham Pickles Burrawang White Dorpers ,Ootha $98
2nd place Wongalee Partnership, Merrygoen $83
1st place 45-50kg Graham Pickles Burrawang White Dorpers, Ootha, also judged champion Pen $105
2nd place David Stewart, Minalty Park, Wellington
1st place over 50kg Viginia Barlow, Belangbar Pty Ltd Dubbo $110
2nd place Yench Family Cobar $88