White Dorpers and Dorpers are rapidly becoming one of the fastest growing sheep breeds in the nation due to their potential to adapt to Australia’s many varying climates and grazing conditions.
At the eighth annual Southern Region Supreme Dorper sale at Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show on Sunday July 17, a total 167 Dorper rams and ewes will go under the hammer.
With 90 catalogued in 2015, that is an increase of 77 head, or 54 per cent. President of the Southern Region Dorper Sheep Society of Australia and president of the events committee, Bruno Trazerra, said the Dorper industry is gaining momentum.
“You can see the industry gaining numbers through the increase of studs selling through the sale,” Mr Trazzera said. “We certainly didn’t expect such a jump in numbers - we expected maybe 20 or 30 more animals this year, but it has almost doubled.”
Mr Trazerra said selling agents, Landmark Echuca, feel confident they can sell the numbers catalogued. “The momentum in Victoria and the Southern area of Australia is certainly moving forward. We are seeing Dorpers go to areas you wouldn’t normally expect to see them go - in areas that are a lot colder.”
He said normally the Dorper breed are more suited to the dry areas of eastern Australia and Queensland. But they are adapting well in the mountainous areas of Victoria and southern Australia.
“We are seeing them move out to Warnable and through to the Gippsland area and NSW Victorian border.” The auction will begin at 1pm with inspections from 10am. The 167 lots are made up of one merchandise lot, 40 White Dorper rams, 60 Dorper rams, 21 White Dorper ewes and 47 Dorper ewes.
For more information contact Landmark agents Lachie Collins 0477 325 948 or John Settree 0408 297 368. The combined entry numbers for the show and sale are 530 - the biggest event the Dorper industry in Australia has ever seen, according to Mr Trazerra.
The Dorper show will be held over two days from July 15-16. South African Dorper breeder Rikus van der Merwe, West Front Dorpers, Namibia, South Africa, will run a critical eye over the stud’s entries.
