Rearing Dorper sheep for meat require a certin management of the growth rates of the sheep. Dorper sheep are a breed that puts on weight quick, that can tolerate heat well, and whose lean carcasses is preferred by many meat processors. Weight charts can help to monitor the growth of the sheep, and knowing at what stage of growth the sheep are allow for decisions to be made about how to manage the sheep.
One of the factor to consider is the birth weight of the lambs; this will have an impact on there growth after birth. Lambs that have high birth weights tend to grow faster after birth, as these lambs tend to nurse more aggressively from there mother. Lambs that are twins, however, may not receive as much milk as a singleton lamb will receive from there mother.
How to Manage Dorper Sheep Weight and Growth
In these cases, creep feeding of the twin lambs can provide them with the nutrient that they need. From birth until weaning, a lamb’s weight gain is dependent upon the milk intake from its ewe. A weight chart can help to determine how quickly the lambs is gaining weight during this period.
If the lambs are not gaining the weights that is expected, the manager should check the condition of the ewes. Thin ewes may not be able to provide enough milk to their lambs, even if the pasture is of high quality. At this same period, the rumen of the lamb must develop, which can take time after weaning.
After the time of weaning, lambs can either be on the pasture, or can be receiving supplemental feed. The weight gain of the lambs will be dependent upon the amount of feed that is provided to the lambs. During pasture periods, high quality forage must be provided, or supplemental grain may be required during dry season or winter months.
Furthermore, the manager will base the decision of whether to sell the lambs at six month of age, or to hold them for longer periods, upon the cost of the feed compared than the market price per kilogram of the lambs. Rams typically reach their mature weight at a different rate than the ewes. Rams will continue to gain weight after the ewes have gained their mature weight.
It is important, therefore, to understand at what point the ram reaches its mature frame; overfeeding the ram will result in the wasting of feed. Furthermore, flushing ewes prior to breeding will increase the chance of twin birth. However, ewes should not be overconditioned, as overconditioned ewes will experience difficult births when they gives birth.
A body condition scoring system can also help to manage the weight of the sheep. A five score system is used to rate the body condition of the ewes, and their body condition should be in the middle score when they are at the breeding stage for the year. If ewes are too thin, their rates of ovulation will drop; if they are too fat, they may experience difficult births.
Furthermore, the manager must check the body condition of the sheep by feel (not sight) to determine their weight. Checking the body condition of the ewes by feel can be easily learned with experience in the practice, especially if the practice is routinely performed. A feeding guide for the flock can help to determine the requirements of the flock based off their weight.
Lambs have different requirements than market lambs, for instance. Market lambs can be managed to gain weight rapidly during the last portion of their life. Additionally, pregnant ewes will have different requirements than lactating ewes, and the manager should manage there feed according to their weights to avoid wasting feed.
Dorper sheep tend to exhibit different behaviors than other breeds of hair sheep. Data regarding sheep shows that Dorper sheep will reach higher weights at weaning, as well as exhibit higher daily gain during the feedlot period. Furthermore, due to these difference in expected gains, the dressing percentage of Dorper sheep will differ from other breeds of sheep.
In order to effectively manage the weight of the sheep, certain habits must be established within the management of the farm. The animals must be weigh periodically. Additionally, the manager can draft the lambs to be of even sizes to reduce competition among the lambs when they are fed.
Furthermore, the water for the lambs must be kept clean and always available; if the lambs are restricted in their water intake, their feed intake will drop, and their gains in weight will slow. Finally, the weights of each individual animal must be recorded, as well as the breeding outcome of each ram and ewe; tracking these variables will allow for the identification of which rams and ewes exhibit the best growth of the flock. In addition to the weight charts for the sheep, the graph can also be used to manage the flock.
Based upon the data that is obtained from the flock, the manager can adjust feed prior to the body condition score of the sheep slipping. Finally, the data can be used to determine at what point the sheep should be sold for the most profit for the management of the farm.