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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.
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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-fibres 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.
5. Cover or Fleece:
represented by the symbol H.
The ideal is a short, loose, light covering of hair and
wool with wool
predominating on fore quarter and with a natural clean
kemp underline.
Too much wool or hair is undesirable. Exclusively wool
or hair is a fault.
Manes are a disqualifier. |
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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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