Farming Practices...
A very uniform flock of type 4 and 5 ewes
This Stud has been in existence since 1958 and meticulous records have been kept for each of the 9300 type 4 and 5 Ewes since the inception of the Stud.
My Stud is one of the largest and oldest in the world and proudly takes an active part in all Dorper activities. John Dell Dorpers are known for their excellent size and good bone formation. Our Dorpers are extensively bred, hardy and adapt well to all conditions.
Magic, a fantastic young breeding ram with stong legs and excellent muscling
As there are no pastures on Hounslow, all our sheep are reared and grazed extensively. I mate all my ewes at 10 months and thereafter try to lamb all ewes 3 times in 2 years. The ewes will be re-mated when their lambs are about 2 months old. My lambing percentage is 150 and all lambs are raised extensively. Ram lambs are weaned at 3 months, and in an average year weigh approximately 38kg's. Ewe lambs are weaned at 4 months.
At weaning all ram lambs are feed-lotted until they weigh approximately 40 kg's. At this stage they are screened. The culls are then sold and the remaining rams are raised extensively until they are 12 months old.
This is the expensive end!
Three mating practices are used on Hounslow, natural mating being the most popular. I have a portion of the ewes artificially inseminated yearly and similarly make use of frozen semen. To keep a thorough record for each ewe, each one is mated individually. The Dorper is a very fertile sheep and can be mated at any time of the year. They have a long breeding season and have excellent mothering qualities.
A group of sale rams at Upington sale 2007
My best 5 rams at the Beaufort West sale 2007 showing excellent hindquarters