Dorper Breed Standard
>> Jumaat, 20 November 2009
The purpose of the breed standard is to indicate the animal’s. Degree of excellence by description and score by points. These are the adjudged according to visual appearance and performance, to aid stud-breeding selection, and to assist new breeders. These values are recorded to give a true reflection of the positive or negative traits of the sheep, and are used for comparative analysis within a flock. Approved inspectors class the sheep and enter the classing detail on the registration record of the inspected animals. At the time of inspection the animals will be tagged and the number forwarded to the society. The inspection is quality assessment on a voluntary basis. The breed standard is adapted from South African Standard of Excellence.
The following comprises the Breed Standard
1. Conformation: represented by the symbol B.
(a) Head:
(b) Fore-quarter and Neck:
(c) Barrel:
(d) Hind-quarter:
(e) Udder and Sex Organs:
(f) General Appearance:
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 localisation 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 tai I, 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 and exclusively wool or hair is a fault. Manes are a disqualification.
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.