A Dorper sheep is a sheep breed mainly raised for mutton production. It is a fast-growing sheep breed that survives in semi-arid areas since it is a good grazer. The breed matures faster and produces high quality mutton. Due to their high yield in meat production, many farmers have shown interest in raising Dorper sheep in Kenya. But how can you practice Dorper sheep farming in Kenya? This article shows guidelines for farming Dorper sheep, especially for beginners.
The following is a comprehensive Dorper sheep farming for beginners guide in Kenya:
1. Dorper Sheep Feeding Plan
Feeding Dorper sheep is essential as it makes them grow faster and gain weight. Dorper sheep are good grazers, so they feed on pasture. You can practice zero grazing or a free-range system for feeding the sheep.
Pasture is the best feed for Dorper sheep as it has nutrients good for growth. You can supplement Dorper sheep with grass hay, especially during drought seasons since they have required nutrients for sheep.
Provide a trough with a layer of cracked corn, which will make the sheep add weight. Ensure you provide clean and fresh water to Dorper sheep daily.
2. Dorper Sheep Growing Phase
Dorper sheep grow and mature faster compared to other ordinary sheep breeds like the Red Maasai. At the age of three to four months, a Dorper lamb can reach a live weight of 36 kg. At this age, it is usually ready for the market and the ram can be sold at not less than Ksh. 10,000.
5 Ways to Make Sheep Grow Fast
Dorper sheep need a lot of tension for them to grow healthy and faster. To make them grow faster, the following are five things that one should do:
1. Feed the sheep with a balanced diet that contains all the required nutrients like energy, protein, minerals, and vitamins, and also water.
2. Deworm, vaccinate, and treat your sheep against internal and external parasites.
3. Provide Dorper sheep with adequate shelter. This means sheep should have enough pen space, good ventilation, be free from exposure to the elements and be cool.
4️. Feed Dorper sheep with high-quality forages.
5. Supplement sheep with grass hay because it has the necessary nutrients.
You can slaughter a Dorper sheep as early as six months since they are excellent and grow faster. But the appropriate age to slaughter Dorper sheep is 12 months old.
With good care and proper feeding, a Dorper sheep has a life span of seven years.
3. Dorper Sheep Breeding
Dorper sheep, especially the males, are ready to breed at five months. A Dorper ewe can be bred any time of year. Therefore, depending on the time of year, we may begin a breeding cycle as early as six to eight months. The breeding cycle for a Dorper sheep lasts between 16 and 59 hours.
A Dorper ewe takes approximately five months before she begins to give birth to lambs. Dorper sheep typically give birth to a single lamb for each pregnancy. This breed does not have twin lambs. The gestation period of a Dorper ewe is estimated at 147 days.
The lambing interval for the sheep is about eight months and thus an ewe can produce over two lambs annually. Dorper ewe registers a 78% lambing rate (fertility rate) and a 10% twining rate.
Most breeders prefer raising rams and selling them to other farmers for breeding.
4. Housing Dorper Sheep
Building the right house is an important aspect. Dorper sheep should be provided with a shelter to protect them against adverse weather conditions.
Housing should be comfortable with free air movement and circulation. The shed for sheep should be a square of 20 cm of space.
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