White Dorpers to $3400 for Millmerran’s Bellevue

High-indexing rams were in demand at the Bellevue Dorper online sale February 9, Millmerran, with a White Dorper achieving the top price of $3400. Bellevue 220497 was purchased by interstate buyer KWD Jenkins and Sons Pty Ltd, Nowa Nowa, Victoria. The March-2022 drop had a post-weaning fat (PFAT) figure of...

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Young sheep stud owner shares his plans

He may only be 11, but Pat York is already running his own sheep stud on his family’s property in Bowenville near Dalby. Pat said the reason he called his stud Wellspring, was because it means a source of continual and abundant supply. “My long term goal is to be...

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Amarula Dorpers crack half century with $50,000 ram

Amarula Dorpers of Gravesend have reached new heights at their 21st annual on-property sale by setting an impressive new top price of $50,000. The family-operated stud cracked the half century with Amarula 221391 selling to return buyers Phil and Trish Palmer, Ivanhoe. The stud defined the current slump in the prime...

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BreedELITE – Stop Buying Things In Pieces

If you always buy ‘bits’ of systems, you’ll end up with a pile of jigsaw pieces that don’t form any complete picture. You don’t go out on a Friday night to buy a steak and chips with a pint of beer, each from a different pub! So why do most...

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Northern Biosecurity Group helps pastoralists battle declared bests

  The Northern Biosecurity Group (NBG) is one of 14 Recognised Biosecurity Groups (RBGs) established in Western Australia that help landholders manage declared pests on their properties. The group operates in the mid-west of WA, within the shires of Northampton, Chapman Valley and the City of Greater Geraldton, and covers...

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Winrae Dorpers

Winrae Dorpers has been breeding structurally correct, fertile Dorpers since 1999. Stud breeders Nick and Mel Pagett focus on breeding and raising Dorpers naturally, with their approach founded on 24 years’ experience in breeding Dorpers in arid western and high rainfall eastern areas of NSW. Winrae Dorpers is now based...

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Using Selection Indexes to Improve Genetic Gain

Dorper breeders can use several selection indexes, provided by Sheep Genetics, when selecting animals to improve their flock’s genetic gain. Of the available selection indexes, the Maternal Carcase Production (MCP) and the Maternal Carcase Production Plus (MCP+) are well suited to maternal based operations including Dorper flocks, as they focus...

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Nomuula

Nomuula Dorpers and White Dorpers Stud produces sound, highly fertile robust Dorpers where “size and length does matter”. Established in 2012, the stud has been built on the best foundation ewes – Type 5 and Type 4 – initially sourced for achieving excellence and following the breed standard, with a...

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Guardian Animals – Practical Insights from Dorper Producers

  Dorper mothers are renowned for being fiercely protective of their young. However, the threat of predators – foxes, feral pigs and others – pose enormous risks to the animals at their most vulnerable times – mothering. We asked our members to share their insights into how they use guardian...

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