We diversified our broad acre cropping and livestock operation in 2005 with the establishment of Kaylor Dorper Stud. Kaylor Dorper Stud is situated east of Wongan Hills in Western Australia’s Central Wheatbelt region. We are developing the Dorper Stud flock and produce sires for sale.
Within our sheep enterprise Dorper sires are put over a selection of merino ewes for the prime lamb market. We have been very pleased with weights gained and the lambing results when using maiden ewes.
Flock History
We had taken a keen interest in the progress of the Dorper sheep breed and were impressed by the breeds early weight gain, mothering ability, excellent conversion of feed and hardy constitution.
As the mulesing debate was in full swing the Dorper sheep’s clean breech and shedding coat were also very appealing, from both a cost and flock management perspective. Previous to establishing Kaylor Dorper we purchased some 3rd and 4th cross Dorper ewes with lambs at foot and a registered Dorper Ram from RoseGlen Stud and proceeded to breed prime lamb.
By late 2005 we were so impressed with results from lambing percentage’s, feed conversion and no fly strike problems we decided to source some pure registered ewes. The cross bred ewes were sold and development of Kaylor Dorper Stud began.
In an effort to get the stud flock numbers up the ewes were mated twice a year for 2006 and 2007. During this time we added two new sires, one a solid well muscled sire, and another well muscled with good body length, good shedding and strong feet. .
In 2007 we purchased 2 type 5 sires and 3 type 5 ewes from Kaya Stud. Using these purchased sires and dams plus the addition of 4 ewes from our own stud we embarked on an Embryo transfer programme with lambs dropping in 2008.
In 2009 we purchased semen from a type 5 champion sire ID 070056 at Kaya Stud, these lambs will drop in May 2009.
In March 2009 Ron van der Merwe South African Breeder since the 1970’s and Examiner spent two days with us classing and instructing us through all our Dorper sheep.
October 2009 We purchased Kaya 080440 a good solid type 4 sire.
In January 2010 We again put ewes through A I Programme, lambs due to drop in June.
In March 2010 Wicus Cronge, South African Breeder and Examiner classed all our 2008 and 2009 drop ewes. We have added 36 type 4 and 5 ewes to our stud flock. The 2009 drop rams were also classed and we are looking forward to presenting those selected for sale later in the year.
Despite the strong mothering ability of the Dorper ewes, we had considerable trouble with foxes taking one of twins. I believe this was more so when the neighbouring properties had no lambs dropping. These busy ewes were no match for the cunning of a hungry fox so we invested in two Alpaca wethers from Katydid Alpaca Stud. The Alpacas have proven to be diligent protectors of their flock and the lambing percentage at marking has risen considerably. Within our enterprise we now have eight Alpacas and also run a pair in each of our merino ewe flocks.
For more information please visit Katydid website.
