|
News page last updated - 9th July 2010
::: South African Judges exam
In April 2010, I went to South Africa to visit the South African National Show and to attempt to complete my 2nd South African Society Judges exam which is the final step in being accredited as a South African Judge. David Curtis from Belluvue in QLD also went to the same exam.
Much to my delight David and I both passed this exam and we are now eligible to be appointed as inspectors under the South African Society rules. This appointment can only be made by the SA Dorper Society board and we would need to do a number of farm inspections with an experienced inspector.
It has always been my vision to have fully qualified Australian inspectors to enable breeders who want to use the SA Dorper Society more access to inspectors. We are now on the way.
::: Fertility
In any sheep breeding enterprise fertility is the major profit driver. At Kaya we are working hard on increasing the fertility of our sheep and their ability to concieve, and rear lambs. Our aim is to reach 150% plus lambs weaned per mating period.
We are doing this in a number of ways.
-
Ewes are mated at 9-12 months of age and must fall pregnant on their first mating period of 10 weeks to be retained in the stud
-
We have started a nucleus in the stud which involves only animals that were born and reared as twins or better.
-
We have started using the newly released Lambplan EBVs for "lambing ease" and "gestation length"
-
All ewes that do not rear a lamb or have to be assisted at birth will be culled from the stud over the next 5 years.
The first part of our program commenced in 2009 and continued in 2010. We have just finished scanning our 2009 ewe lambs that range in age from 12 to 14 months at scanning (mated at 9-11 months) and the following results were obtained.
| 2009 Ewe lambs |
|
Pregnant
|
Pregnant
|
Dry
|
Actual
|
Potential
|
|
| |
Ewes
|
Single
|
Twins
|
|
Conception
|
Lambing
|
|
| Dorper Ewes |
37
|
18
|
19
|
0
|
100%
|
151%
|
|
| White Dorper Ewes |
53
|
47
|
5
|
1
|
98%
|
108%
|
|
| Total |
90
|
65
|
24
|
1
|
99%
|
126%
|
|
::: Inspections and financial implications of Sires
In March I was fortunate to have 2 experienced South African inspectors to do my inspection for my April sale. It is very interesting to evaluate the performance of Sires and the financial implication that has for our business. Below is a table showing the results. I have not named 2 Sires where semen was purchased from studs outside Kaya.
| Rams |
Stud
|
Flock
|
Cull
|
Total
|
% Stud
|
% T5
|
% Kept
|
| Kaya 060036 |
18
|
5
|
1
|
24
|
75%
|
42%
|
50%
|
| Kasteel 070065 |
15
|
5
|
0
|
20
|
75%
|
35%
|
40%
|
| Kaya 071345 |
24
|
8
|
2
|
34
|
71%
|
46%
|
38%
|
| Kaya 061579 |
5
|
4
|
0
|
9
|
56%
|
22%
|
33%
|
| Kaya 070260 |
4
|
8
|
0
|
9
|
44%
|
22%
|
33%
|
| Kaya 06MS16 |
10
|
4
|
1
|
15
|
67%
|
20%
|
27%
|
| Kaya 070001 |
3
|
1
|
1
|
5
|
60%
|
0%
|
20%
|
|
Kaya 070329
|
10
|
13
|
1
|
24
|
42%
|
8%
|
17%
|
|
Kaya 070077
|
2
|
6
|
0
|
8
|
25%
|
25%
|
12%
|
|
Kaya 070108
|
1
|
7
|
0
|
8
|
12%
|
0%
|
12%
|
|
Ram A
|
3
|
17
|
1
|
20
|
15%
|
5%
|
5%
|
|
Ram B
|
5
|
24
|
2
|
31
|
16%
|
6%
|
0%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
100
|
98
|
9
|
207
|
49%
|
20%
|
25%
|
::: 2nd Autumn Dorper & White Dorper Ewe Sale - 22 April 2010.
We are again very pleased to report a 100% clearance at our Autumn ewe sale. The results are tabled below.
The top prices were paid by Alpine Dorpers (Vict) - $1850 Dorper ewe, Bilgamma Dorpers (NSW) - $2600 Dorper ram, Lake View White Dorpers (Vict) - $1350 White Dorper Ewe, and Colebrooke Estate (WA) - $4250 White Dorper ram.
We would like to thank our clients for their support and hope their purchases achieve their aims.
| |
Offered |
Sold |
Top |
Gross |
Average |
| Ewes |
|
|
|
|
|
| Dorper (Stud) |
41
|
41
|
$1850
|
$43 000
|
$1049
|
| Dorper (Commercial) |
59
|
59
|
|
$27 100
|
$459
|
| Total |
100
|
100
|
-
|
$70 100
|
$701
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| White Dorper (Stud) |
40
|
40
|
$1350
|
$33 000
|
$825
|
| White Dorper (Commercial) |
60
|
60
|
-
|
$31 500
|
$525
|
| Total |
100
|
100
|
|
$64 500
|
$645
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Rams |
|
|
|
|
|
| Dorper Rams |
10
|
10
|
$2600
|
$14 550
|
$1455
|
| White Dorper Rams |
10
|
10
|
$4250
|
$15 450
|
$1545
|
| Total (All animals offered) |
220
|
220
|
|
$164600
|
$748
|
::: Kaya Dorper & White Dorper 5th Annual Production Sale.
It was again very pleasing to report a 100% clearance at our 5th Annual production sale. We would like to thank all our clients, both old and new that supported the sale.
This year we created a new record price for Kaya Dorpers when we sold the Dorper team leader to Dr Paul Thibault for $9600.
The top priced animals were: Dorper ewe - $2050 (Synandra Dorper Stud, WA), White Dorper ewe - $1400 (Wrendale White Dorper Stud, Vict), Dorper ram - $9600 (El Prado Dorper Stud, NSW), White Dorper ram - $6200 (Haseley White Dorper Stud, WA and Delta White Dorper Stud, Vict).
Kaya 5th Production Sale (under the hammer results)
| |
Offered
|
Sold
|
Top
|
Gross
|
Average
|
| Ewes |
|
|
|
|
|
| Dorper (Stud) |
62
|
62
|
$2050
|
$40 800
|
$658
|
| Dorper (Commercial) |
41
|
41
|
$410
|
$15 500
|
$378
|
| Total |
103
|
103
|
-
|
$56 300
|
$547
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| White Dorper (Stud) |
55
|
55
|
$1400
|
$41 900
|
$762
|
| White Dorper (Commercial) |
43
|
43
|
$640
|
$23 160
|
$539
|
| Total |
98
|
98
|
|
$65 060
|
$664
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Rams |
|
|
|
|
|
| Dorper Rams |
50
|
50
|
$9600
|
$66 700
|
$1334
|
| White Dorper Rams |
50
|
50
|
$6200
|
$66 500
|
$1330
|
| Total |
100
|
100
|
|
$133 200
|
$1332
|
::: South African Dorper Course - Aug 2009
In August I decided to continue my Dorper education with a visit to South Africa to complete a senior Dorper course and a Dorper judges exam. This proved very interesting and I would recommend a South African conducted course in South Africa as a very worthwhile exercise for all present and future breeders. Having completed the senior course I was also fortunate to pass the first of the two judges exams required by the South African Society to become a fully qualified "Dorper Judge" and a potential "Dorper Inspector".
::: National Dorper & White Dorper Show 2009 - Dubbo
This year we decided that Kaya needed to do a direct comparison of our stock against the breeders on the Eastern States. We selected 11 rams to take to the National Dorper and White Dorper show in Dubbo, NSW.
To get our sheep there, we employed Steven & Sharon Smith of Dick Smith Transport, Dubbo, who transported the rams to Dubbo in 41 hours (3600kms), housed and fed the animals from the Saturday of arrival until delivery to the show on the following Thursday. We would like to thank Steven & Sharon for the excellent job they did and their support. We would happily recommend their transport business to any breeder. They can be contacted at dst@bigpond.com.au - 0428636236.
At the show we entered 11 rams in 8 classes. We finished in the 1st four in all these classes and achieved the Senior Champion & Senior Reserve Champion ram in the Dorper & White Dorper section. (photos in the 2009 Dorper & White Dorper Sires section of this website)
Kaya White 060036 went on to be Grand Champion White Dorper ram and Supreme White Dorper exhibit.
His progeny finished 2nd, 3rd, and 4th in the White Dorper ram lamb class showing that he will breed the way he looks, plus another son, Kaya 070329, won Grand Champion ram at the Western Australian, Wagin Woolarama in 2009. Kaya 060036 has now won Grand Champion ram at the Wagin Woolarama in 2007 and 2008 and has now added the 2009 National Supreme Champion White Dorper exhibit to his unbeaten record.
We are extremely proud of our rams that we exhibited and we were also very pleased with the quality of the ewes and rams that were presented by all breeders at the National Show indicating that the Dorper and White Dorper breed is alive and well in Australia. Total entries were > 300 animals.
A list of our results are below. The 2nd White Dorper ram in the junior weight 3 was taken to Dubbo and sold to Danny Teskera - Roslynmead White Dorpers, Victoria who then exhibited the ram lamb and finished 2nd, in front of our 2 rams.
| |
Dorper
|
White Dorper
|
| Junior weight 2 ram lamb 50-65kgs |
3rd (080440) |
No entry |
| Junior weight 3 ram lamb 66kgs + |
2nd (080435), 4th (080436)
|
2nd (080633), 3rd (080078), 4th (080580)
|
| Senior 2 tooth ram |
No entry |
3rd (071089) |
| Senior 4 tooth ram |
1st (071209) |
1st (071345) |
| Senior 6+ tooth ram |
1st (070056) |
1st (060036) |
| |
|
|
| Senior Champion ram |
Kaya 071209 |
Kaya White 060036 |
| Senior Reserve Champion ram |
Kaya 070056 |
Kaya White 071345 |
| Grand Champion ram |
|
Kaya White 060036 |
| |
|
|
| Supreme Exhibit |
|
Kaya White 060036 |
::: Feinco Show - Brazil
Kaya has just received notification that the Grand Champion Ewe at the Feinco sheep show in Brazil was a direct embryo import from Kaya White Dorpers, bred by our main sire, Kaya 060036 and out of the ewe Kaya 060862. This ewe was champion out of 100 + contestants. We congratulate Mr Edio on this performance.
A full brother to this ewe - Kaya 070938 (Type 5) was sold at our Autumn Ewe sale on the 23rd April 2009 to Jilakin Downs White Dorper Stud for $2800.
::: 1st Autumn Dorper & White Dorper Ewe Sale - 23rd April 2009.
It is very pleasing to report a 100% clearance at our 1st Autumn ewe sale and even more pleasing that 50% of the animals were sold to the Eastern States. We would like to thank all our clients, both old and new that supported the sale. Ewes sold at a consistent level for the entire sale with very little price difference between the 1st ewe offered and the last.
The top priced animals were: Dorper ewe - $520 (Clunes Crossing Dorper Stud, QLD), White Dorper ewe - $1740 (Bunnerungie White Dorper Stud, NSW), Dorper ram - $1500 (Jilakin Downs Dorper Stud, WA), White Dorper ram - $2800 (Jilakin Downs White Dorper Stud, WA).
|
Sale Results
|
Dorper
|
|
White Dorper
|
|
|
|
|
Type 4 Ewes
|
55 animals
|
$383.64
|
49 animals
|
$569.39
|
|
|
|
Type 3 Ewes
|
45 animals
|
$353.33
|
50 animals
|
$410.00
|
|
|
|
Total
|
100 animals
|
$370.00
|
99 animals
|
$488.89
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rams
|
5 animals
|
$1080.00
|
5 animals
|
$1500.00
|
|
|
|
Sale Total
|
209 animals
|
$470.33
|
Gross $98 300
|
|
|
|
::: Wagin Woolarama - March 2009
Kaya again had a very successful showing at the Wagin Woolarama. In the Dorper section Kaya 070056 was Champion Ram and Supreme Champion Dorper exibit. The Reserve Champion Ram was also a Kaya ram, Kaya 071209. Kaya took out 6 of the 9 Dorper classes including 3 of the 4 ram classes.
In the White Dorper section Kaya White 070329 was Champion ram and Supreme champion White Dorper. Kaya 070329 is a son of Kaya 060036 who was the Champion Ram in 2007 & 2008 and his sons were also the winners of the junior ram and the winning ram pairs. Kaya 071345 was sashed Reserve Champion Ram. Kaya took out 6 of the 9 White Dorper classes.
Pictures of the winning rams are in the 2009 section
::: Abattoir results - 13th January 2009.
This year we classed our 2008 "full-blood" Dorper & White Dorper ram lambs and the bottom 30% of that group were sent to slaughter at WAMMCo abattoir, Western Australia.
WAMMCo utilises the Viascan technology and has now commenced a bonus scheme (WAMMCo select) for animals that meet a high "loin and leg yield". To qualify for the bonus a lamb must be in the top 15% of lambs processed based on their pedicted lean meat yield (LMY) for the combined leg & loin readings.
For 18.1-22kg carcase - LMY > 33.5%
For 22.1+ carcases - LMY >32.6%
47% of Dorper lambs, in the correct weight range, made the selection criteria and recieved the bonus whereas only 22% of the White Dorper lambs made the selection criteria.
The lambs were run on oaten stubble and were introduced to a feedlot for 9 days utilising Milne Feeds "Easy1" pellets.
We compared Dorpers and White Dorpers in the table below.
| |
Dorper |
White Dorper |
Diff |
Total |
| Number |
101 |
49 |
|
150 |
| Net hot weight |
22.84kgs |
21.38kgs |
1.46kgs |
22.36kgs |
| Fat score |
2.16 |
2.22 |
0.06 |
2.18
|
| via leg yield |
22.51% |
22.28% |
0.23% |
22.44% |
| via loin yield |
10.27% |
10.03% |
0.14% |
10.19% |
| via shoulder yield |
17.55% |
17.36% |
0.19% |
17.49% |
| via carcase yield |
50.33% |
49.68% |
0.65% |
50.12% |
|
live weight
|
48.85kgs |
47.05kgs |
1.8kgs |
48.26 |
| Dressing % |
46.80% |
45.49% |
1.31% |
46.37% |
| Average age |
270 days |
265 days |
5 days |
|
| Bonus lambs 18.1-22kgs |
18/35 (51%) |
6/28 (21%) |
|
|
| Bonus lambs 22.1+kgs |
28/62 (45%) |
4/18 (22%) |
|
|
| Lambs less than 18.1kgs |
4 |
3 |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
When analysing the carcase yields, a difference of 0.65% on a 22.36 kg carcase results in 0.1453kgs of meat @ $17/kg or $2.47 per carcase for the processor.
We also compared the weights vs. the fat score to show that we are able to take a purebred Dorper & White Dorper ram lamb to a heavyweight carcase under grazing conditions and with limited feedlotting
| Weight range |
Score 4 |
Score 3 |
Score 2 |
Score 1 |
Total |
| 16.1-18 kgs |
|
|
7 (4.7%) |
|
7 (4.7%) |
| 18.1-20kgs |
|
|
23 (15.3%) |
|
23 (15.3%) |
| 20.1-22kgs |
|
3 (2.0%) |
36 (24.0%) |
1 (0.7%) |
40 (26.7%) |
| 22.1-24kgs |
|
7 (4.7%) |
31 (20.7%) |
|
38 (25.3%) |
| 24.1-26kgs |
|
10 (6.7%) |
19 (12.7%) |
|
19 (12.7%) |
| 26.1-28kgs |
|
4 (2.7%) |
5 (3.3%) |
|
9 (6.0%) |
| 28kgs |
1 (0.7%) |
2 (1.3%) |
1 (0.7%) |
|
4 (2.7%) |
| Total |
1 (0.7%) |
26 (17.3%) |
122 (81.3%) |
1 (0.7%) |
150 (100%) |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
::: Kaya Annual Production Sale - Results
We would like to thank our clients for once again making our annual sale a great success. I wish all buyers the best of success with their new purchases.
The top priced White Dorper ram, Kaya 061579 was sold for $7100 to the Westdale White Dorper Stud.
The top priced Dorper ram, Kaya 070056 was sold for $6000 to the Dorper stud of Luis Roberto Alanis Alanis, Mexico.
The top priced White Dorper ewe, Kaya 070106 (Lot 70), was sold for $1100 to Dean Powrie at Narromine NSW.
The top Dorper ewe, Kaya 070840 (Lot 30), was sold for $1600 to Jaap Pienaar, Mabaru Dorper Stud, Narrogin WA.
| White Dorper Rams |
$79,500.00
|
52
|
1,528.85
|
|
|
White Dorper Ewes - Studs
|
$46,550.00
|
74
|
629.05
|
|
| White Dorper Ewes - Commercial |
$20,000.00
|
45
|
444.44
|
|
| Dorper Rams |
|
$46,500.00
|
49
|
948.98
|
|
| Dorper Ewes - Studs |
$33,100.00
|
55
|
601.82
|
|
| Dorper Ewes - Commercial |
$3,810.00
|
19
|
200.53
|
|
|
|
|
$229,460.00
|
294
|
$780.48
|
|
::: Selection Criteria:
The "performance testing" of our animals is based on the following "Estimated Breeding Values" principles.
We want an animal that is "less than 0 for "birthweight", a minimum of +3 for "weaning weight", a minimum of +6 for "post weaning weight", a maximum of +1 for "post weaning fat", a minimum of +1.5 for "post weaning eye muscle depth" and finally a maximum of +10 for "yearling weight" then for the maternal side we would like an animal of +5 for "number of lambs weaned" and >0 for "maternal weaning weight".
This gives us a well muscled early growth animal with a low adult weight which we consider is the aim for a maternal mother that has the ability to wean good weights and good number of lambs.
With performance breeding it is very easy to change your sheep for "better or worse" and selection solely for growth will result in high birthweight, high growth but a very large adult weight. Kaya does not want to breed that type of animal.
The "visual selection" of our animals is based on the "South African Breed Standards" with particular emphasis on "shedding ability" and "shoulder and feet conformation".
::: Mating age and results - a common question asked is the age of mating for Fullblood Dorper and White Dorper Maiden ewes and the expected results. After checking on most of the available websites, there were many claims but no facts so I have correlated the following results.
2007 drop Dorper and White Dorper ewes. Ewes were split into 2 groups and artificially inseminated on the 17th or 28th March (Group1) and the 18th March (Group 2). One week after the AI program each group was run with 4 "backup" rams up until the 1st May 2008 (6 week period). All ewes were scanned 4th June 2008.
|
Age at Mating
|
11 months
|
%
|
10 months
|
%
|
9 Months
|
%
|
Total
|
%
|
|
Mated (Group 1)
|
30
|
|
|
|
166
|
|
196
|
|
|
Pregnant
|
25
|
|
|
|
144
|
|
169
|
86%
|
|
Dry
|
5
|
|
|
|
22
|
|
27
|
14%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mated (Group 2)
|
50
|
|
18
|
|
43
|
|
111
|
|
|
Pregnant
|
39
|
|
15
|
|
30
|
|
84
|
76%
|
|
Dry
|
11
|
|
3
|
|
13
|
|
27
|
24%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mated (Total)
|
80
|
|
18
|
|
209
|
|
307
|
|
|
Pregnant
|
64
|
80%
|
15
|
83%
|
174
|
83%
|
253
|
82%
|
|
Dry
|
16
|
20%
|
3
|
17%
|
35
|
17%
|
54
|
18% |
::: Wagin Woolarama 2008 - We have just completed another successful year of showing our sheep. Our aim is to evaluate where we stand in the industry on visual assessment. Kaya Dorper and White Dorper entered all eighteen classes in both Dorper and White Dorper and we were placed 1st in all classes except for one, where we finished 2nd to a Kaya daughter stud.
Kaya 060036 was Champion White Dorper Ram (was also champion in 2007) and Kaya 071593 was Champion White Dorper Ewe and Supreme White Dorper Exhibit. She is a daughter of Kaya 060036. The ram lamb that finished 1st in the "milk teeth" class was also a son of Kaya 060036.
Kaya 070617 was Champion Dorper Ram and Supreme Dorper Exhibit.He is a son of Kaya 051614 who was Champion ram and Supreme Dorper at the 2007 Woolarama. Kaya 060845 (Jordaan embryo) was Champion Dorper Ewe.
We are very proud of our sheep and now feel that we have a very even, very good shedding sheep with excellent conformation and fat distribution.
::: Abattoir results for pure bred animals - On the 12th Dec 07, we consigned 104 purebred ram lambs for slaughter. These animals were all "culled" from our 2007 lamb drop. The average liveweight was 53.8kgs with the average dressed weight 22.38kgs. The average of the lambs was 219 days of age and were only run on pasture with no supplementary feeding.
Table A below represents the results and illustrates that Dorper/White Dorper Ram lambs can be taken through to a heavyweight carcase and also the remarkable "lean meat yields".
48% of the ram lambs dressed at > 22kgs with only 2 heavyweights (> 32kgs) being more than Score 3.
Table A
|
Weight range
|
Score 2
|
Score 3
|
Score 4
|
|
|
15.1 to 16kgs
|
2 (1.9%)
|
0
|
0
|
|
|
16.1 to 18kgs
|
4 (3.8%)
|
0
|
0
|
|
|
18.1 to 20kgs
|
18 (17.3%)
|
1 (1.9%)
|
0
|
|
|
20.1 to 22kgs
|
26 (25%)
|
3 (2.9%)
|
0
|
|
|
22.1 to 24kgs
|
12 (11.5%)
|
7 (6.7%)
|
0
|
|
|
24.1 to 26kgs
|
9 (8.6%)
|
14 (13.5%)
|
0
|
|
|
26.1 to 28kgs
|
1 (1.9%)
|
2 (1.9%)
|
0
|
|
|
28.1 to 30kgs
|
0
|
3 (2.9%)
|
0
|
|
|
30.1 to 32kgs
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
|
32kgs plus
|
0
|
0
|
2 (1.9%)
|
|
|
Total (22.37kgs)
|
72 (69.2%)
|
30 (28.8%)
|
2 (1.9%)
|
|
Lean meat Yields as assessed by the Viascan machine installed at WAMMCO - A higher percentage indicates more recoverable meat. The 93 animals scanned had an average carcase meat yield of 57.6%
|
Category
|
Number
|
%
|
|
High (Above 54%)
|
80
|
86%
|
|
Average (49 - 54%)
|
13
|
14%
|
|
Low (below 49%)
|
0
|
0%
|
|
Not scanned
|
11
|
|
|
Average for the 93 animals scanned
|
|
57.6%
|
::: Growth Rates - This year we have done a large recording of the potential of Dorper and White Dorpers under excellent pasture conditions to document the growth rates from birth to weaning and then to 150 days of age. Results are presented below:
All lambs were conceived by embryo transfer, and implanted in Merino ewes. 96% of the lambs were single births. No allowance was made for twin lambs. All merino ewes were run under normal pasture conditions and lambs were weaned onto good ryegrass, clover pastures. To make calculations easier, all lambs were assumed to have a 0 kg birthweight although the normal birthweight is 4 - 5 kgs. All lambs were run together from weaning to post weaning weighing.
Table 1 - illustrates the growth rates at Weaning (Wwt) and then at Post Weaning (Pwwt).
Table 2 - illustrates the % of animals that would be available for marketing at 144 days assuming a target of > 45 kgs liveweight. At this point 89.69% of ram lambs were ready and 21.26% of ewe lambs. A total of 50.89% including both sexes.
| Rams |
No |
WWT |
Age |
g/d |
PWT |
Age |
g/d |
| White Dorper |
196 |
38.22 kgs |
105 days |
362.86 |
49.80 kgs |
146 days |
341.68 |
| Dorper |
47 |
38.63 kgs |
97 days |
398.25 |
51.13 kgs |
137 days |
373.21 |
| Total Rams |
243 |
38.30 kgs |
104 days |
369.26
|
50.09 kgs |
144 days |
348.18 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Ewes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| White Dorper |
203 |
33.80 kgs |
105 days |
320.42 |
41.82 kgs |
146 days |
286.75 |
| Dorper |
56 |
34.88 kgs |
97 days |
359.59 |
41.50 kgs |
137 days |
302.92 |
| Total Ewes |
259 |
34.03 kgs |
104 days |
328.34 |
41.74 kgs |
144 days |
290.14 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Total Drop |
502 |
36.10 kgs |
104 days |
348.15 |
45.36 kgs |
144 days |
315.27 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Ram - Wwt to Pwwt |
|
11.79 kgs |
40 days |
293.50 |
|
|
|
| Ewe - Wwt to Pwwt |
|
7.71 kgs |
40 days |
191.79 |
|
|
|
|
Weight @ Pwwt
|
Rams
|
Ewes
|
Total
|
|
30 to 34.9 kgs
|
0%
|
1.97%
|
1.12%
|
|
35 to 39.9 kgs
|
0.52%
|
26.38%
|
15.15%
|
|
40 to 44.9 kgs
|
9.79%
|
50.39%
|
32.91%
|
|
45 to 49.9 kgs
|
38.14%
|
19.69%
|
27.68%
|
|
50 to 54.9 kgs
|
37.63%
|
1.57%
|
17.19%
|
|
55 to 59.9 kgs
|
12.37%
|
0%
|
5.36%
|
|
60 kgs +
|
1.55%
|
0%
|
0.67%
|
|
|
|
|
|
::: Kaya White Dorper Policy on Dermatosparaxis (skin fragility).
In my opinion Dermatosparaxis is a problem in White Dorper sheep in Australia, and I feel that it has the potential to cause major concerns in the White Dorper industry. To this point, I have not seen the disease in Dorpers (Black head) in Australia.
The problem has occurred because a couple of rams used in embryo collection in South Africa carried the disease. These rams bred exceptionally well and therefore have propagated the problem in Australia.
Our Solution - Kaya has DNA tested all its White Dorper breeding stock. We have identified carriers of the disease from embryos from 4 different South African studs, (2 rams and 2 ewes ). We have culled all breeding stock that has tested positive from our stud, and we will continue to test all breeding stock retained in the stud.
We recommend that stud breeders use only negative tested rams. We also guarantee that any semen or embryos sold will only come from tested rams and ewes.
It is our view that any progeny born in 2007 (at Kaya) will only come from confirmed negative tested animals. All 2006 progeny that are sold as stud breeding animals will be tested before sale.
Our Kaya Dorper and White Dorper Production sale (October 16th 2007) will only contain animals that are either 1) tested negative (DNA skin test) or 2) are progeny from tested negative parents (DNA parentage confirmation).
I strongly disagree with Society subsidising the testing as it appears to be very limited in Dorpers and many flocks will not carry the disease BUT they are being forced to test. I would prefer to make it an individuals right to test or not to test. The commercial world will dictate who is correct.
I have tested all my breeding stock, but I have done so at full cost as I do not see why other breeders should pay for me to test my sheep.
Scrapie Resistance : In April/May 2006, we collected 280 embryos, in South Africa, from Type 5 ewes that were screened by DNA profile for scrapie resistance. All ewes were RR and the rams were either RR or single R. We have now received these Dorper and White Dorper embryos in Australia and will implant them in September 2006 with the progeny to be sold in our 2007 October sale. These sheep should be of significant interest to North American, South America and UK breeders.
We are also testing our Type 5 ewes in Australia and should have results early 2007.
Johnes Disease - Abbatoir 700 - 6 ABC points On the 14th December 2005, Kaya Dorper (AS Veitch - PIC/Brand AV91) completed an Abattoir 700 (2 ABC points) status. This gives our properties the entitlement of 6 points on the Ovine Johne's Disease risk evaluation system.
Footrot Gene Marker Test. - With the increase in export of Dorper and White Dorper genetics to New Zealand and South America, Kaya has commenced a comprehensive DNA testing procedure to isolate rams and ewes that show genes for footrot resistance. Each animal tested will have a rating of 1 to 5, with 1 being LEAST SUSCEPTIBLE to footrot and 5 being MOST SUSCEPTIBLE.
A animal will have a "Footrot Rating", eg 1,1 would be excellent, 5,5 would be poor. Most of our animals are 3,3 and better which is our base point in our breeding program.
DNA Parentage - Kaya has now collected DNA samples from all our breeding animals and we will have a comprehensive database on all our stud animals to enable "accurate" parentage and to increase the accurracy of our performance breeding.
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