Dorper Typing

Typing of Dorper sheep to select breeding stock  

STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE

The purpose of a Standard of Excellence is to indicate the degree of excellence of the animal by means of a description and a score by points according to visual appearance and performance. These values must be recorded in such a way as to give a true reflection of the excellence or deficiencies of the sheep. For descriptive and comparative purposes sheep may be compared with each other according to a score card, and the following points are allotted, corresponding to the respective terms of the main sections of the standard of excellence.

Very good                  		   5   points Stud Herd Sire
Above average		             4 points  Stud & terminal sire
Average			                     3 points  terminal sire & commercial
Poor or below average	     2 points
Very poor with cull points	1 point

The following comprises the Standard of Excellence.

1.  Conformation: represented by the symbol B

• Head:
  Strong and long, with large eyes, widely spaced and protectively placed. Strong nose, strong well-shaped mouth with well-fitted deep jaws. The forehead must not be dished. The size of the ears must be in relation to the head. A developed horn base or small horns are the ideal. Heavy horns are undesirable but permissible. The head must be covered with short, dullish black hair in the Dorper and dull, white hair in the White Dorper. The head must be dry i.e. without indications of fat localization.
• Fore-quarter and neck:
  The neck should be of medium length, well-fleshed and broad and well-coupled to the forequarters. Shoulders should be firm, broad and strong. A moderate protrusion of the brisket beyond the shoulders, moderate width and good depth are the ideal. Forelegs must be strong, straight and well-placed with strong pasterns and hoofs not too widely split. Weak pasterns and X legs must be discriminated against according to degree. Shoulders which appear loose, a brisket which slants up too sharply with no projection beyond the shoulders, crooked legs and weak walking ability, are faulty.
• Barrel:
  The ideal is a long, deep wide body, ribs well sprung, loin broad and full. The sheep must have a long straight back and not a "devil's grip". A slight dip behind the shoulders is permissible.
• Hind-quarter:
  A long and wide rump is the ideal. The inner and outer twist to be well fleshed and deep in adult animals. The hind legs must be strong and well-placed, with sturdy feet and strong pasterns. Faulty pasterns must be discriminated against according to degree. The hocks must be strong without a tendency to turn in or out. Sickle, bandy or perpendicular hocks are culling faults.
• Udder and sex organs:
  A well-developed udder and sex organs are essential in the ewe. The scrotum of the ram should not be too long and the testicles should be of equal size and not too small. A split scrotum is undesirable.
• General appearance:
  The sheep should be symmetrical and well-proportioned. A calm temperament with a vigorous appearance is the ideal.
   

2.  Size or growth rate: represented by the symbol G.      A sheep with a good weight for its age is the ideal.        Discrimination against extremely small or extremely big animals      must be exercised.

3.  Distribution of fat: represented by the symbol D.
     Too much localization of fat on any part of the body is undesirable. An even distribution of a thin
     layer of fat over the carcass and between the muscle-fibers is the ideal. The sheep must be firm
     and muscular when handled.

4.  Colour pattern: represented by the symbol P
     Dorpers: A white sheep with black confined to the head and neck is the ideal. Black spots, to a
     limited extent on the body and legs are permissible, but an entirely white sheep or a sheep
     predominantly black is undesirable. Brown hair around the eyes, white teats, white under the tail
     and 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 coloured
     spots is permissible on the ears and underline.

6.  Type: represented by the symbol T.
     Type is judged according to the degree to which the sheep conforms to the general
      requirements of the breed. Emphasis is placed on conformation. Size and fat distribution when
      determining type, while colour and covering are of secondary importance.
     

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