Transition to Dorpers John Anstee, Lauren Deane, Breony Moloney, Rebecca Ryan Images Merino: Dorper:

Outline Merinos compared to Dorpers Options for enterprises Gross margin comparisons Recommendations References

Merino vs Dorpers Dorpers shed their fleece and thus do not require shearing, crutching or fly control. This can be achieved when the dorper flock reach at least F4. Dorpers are known to have a higher fecundity than merinos with an average weaning percentage of 118% where merinos are 86%. 3 ◦ Decreased need for large breeding flock Dorpers are not seasonal breeders like merinos and have been known to reach mature breeding age at one year. ◦ Reach oestrus at 52 days after parturition therefore possible to lamb twice per year Cloete, S. W. P., M. A. Snyman, et al. (2000). "Productive performance of Dorper sheep." Small Ruminant Research 36(2): Snyman, M. A. and M. J. Herselman (2005). "Comparison of productive and reproductive efficiency of Afrino, Dorper and Merino sheep in the False Upper Karoo." South African Journal of Animal Science 35(2):

Merino vs Dorper (continued) Studies have shown the growth rates of dorpers to remain relatively constant in large variety of climates and environments, where merinos vary greatly. Dorpers have a higher growth rate (44% higher than merino) 2 and mature size than merinos, therefore are more efficient as a meat production breed however also have a greater DSE value (2.72/ewe where merinos are 2.23/ewe) 1 ◦ (therefore change from merino to dorper flock must accommodate this when calculating stocking rate) 1. DPI website

Transition from wool to sheep meat – What options do you have? Sell existing stock - purchase Dorper rams and F2 Dorper ewes Upgrade - purchase Dorper rams and upgrade the existing Merino ewe base F1 Dorper rams - appears to be a less costly option but is not viable

Consider the genetics….impacts on management F1 50/50 F2 75/25 F3 87.5/12.5 F /6.25 No shearing from F4 % of Flock Requiring Shearing YearDorper/MerinoDorper/F (100)* (63)* (12)* ^

Source: Shearing vs Shedding When can you stop shearing? - Doper sire – 8 th year - F2/Dorper sire – 6 th year Heritability of shedding - moderate heritability (h ) - selection shedding vs economically important traits Also consider… Dark Medulated fibre (DMF) - DMFRS - Bale descriptions Y K R

Risks and Benefits sensitivity - drought, price fluctuations infrastructure performance data - anecdotal evidence - ASBV Dorper $ Index organic production - price premiums - product quality, supply chain, markets

Gross Margin Comparisons Over 10 years, the Merino enterprise provides the best return Between the Dorper enterprises, using a Dorper sire over Merino ewes provides the better return The Dorper enterprises’ viability are more heavily influenced by changes in price Present value and net present value of investment options per DSE* over 10 years Year Total Present value factor Merino $159.83$152.58$145.67$139.06$132.76$126.75$121.00$115.52$110.29$105.29$1, F2 and Dorper sire $30.72$44.50$38.36$28.91$26.03$22.64$21.62$20.64$19.70$18.81$ Dorper sire $156.19$114.74$74.49$55.88$62.03$53.23$45.32$40.47$40.74$40.87$ *interest rate 4.75% *optimum enterprise DSE rating: 5750 DSE

Recommendations Brief overview of the information so far Merino flock gives the best financial return according to the gross margin Dorper option too attractive? ◦ Which flock structure you should go ◦ If you change to dorpers: what to do next If you are unsure of what to do from this presentation…

References Cloete, S. W. P., M. A. Snyman, et al. (2000). Productive performance of Dorper sheep. Small Ruminant Research 36(2): DPI (2011) Pollott, G.E. (2011). A suggested mode of inheritance for wool shedding in sheep. Journal of Animal Science: (89) 8. Rose, M. and Bright, R.L. and Quigley, S.P. and Kleemann, D.O. (2000) Fibre Transfer in Merino Ewes Mated with Damara, Merino or Dorper Rams in Central Western Queensland. In: Animal Production for a Consuming World. AAAP-ASAP Conference, 2nd - 7th July, Sydney, Australia. Sheep Genetics (2011) Snyman, M. A. and M. J. Herselman (2005). Comparison of productive and reproductive efficiency of Afrino, Dorper and Merino sheep in the False Upper Karoo. South African Journal of Animal Science 35(2):