Dorper Sheep
The Dorper is a fast-growing meat-producing sheep. Dorpers are an easy-care animal that produces a short, light coat of wool and hair that is shed in late spring and summer. The breed was developed in South Africa and is now the second most popular breed in that country. Dorper sheep are very adaptable with a high ability to flourish, grow, produce and reproduce in irregular and low rainfall environments. The breed is regarded as having the ability to graze and browse which suggests it will consume plants seldom eaten by other sheep. On Leaning Cedar Ranch Dorpers co-graze with the cattle.
We raise Dorpers because they are easy to care for, are highly resilient to parasites, grow rapidly on the forage available, are great pasture-mates for the cattle, and produce meat that is tender, juicy and highly desirable.
Dorpers have a gestation period of 5 months; our management practices strive for 1 lamb crop per year - giving the ewes time to rest and recover from lambing and lactating. We "quiet-wean" our lambs; less stress on lamb and on the ewe, and less chance of ewes developing mastitis. Leaning Cedar Ranch participates in the USDA/Texas Scrapie Eradication Program; all sheep are ear-tagged. Our closed flock has been screened (serological) and found free of CL and CAE.
For additional information on the Dorper Sheep breed, see the articles on Wikipedia, Breeds of Livestock – Dorper Sheep, or any of the several ranch sites raising and selling Dorper Sheep. Leaning Cedar Ranch is a registered breeder with The American Dorper Sheep Breeder's Society.
Our Sire
Our current sire is a full-blood Dorper ram named 0048 (Batram). Batram has great conformation, a sturdy middle, and an excellent disposition. He sires healthy, fast-growing lambs.
Flock
Our flock consists of full-blood ewes; we lamb year-round. We announce all new births on this site the day they arrive… please check often for new arrivals.
