munbilla dorpers are better for:
Breeding quality dorpers in the moist, warm conditions of the NSW north coast for nearly 20 years has delivered:
- Worm resistance - constant selection pressure for worm resistance. Sheep that do not have strong worm resistance simply do not thrive in the warm, moist conditions regardless of worm management strategies.
- Quality feet - hooves are softened by wet conditions. Any weakness in structure or conformation results in exaggerated hoof distortion and reduced mobility. Trimming feet to maintain mobility is not an option and is at odds with our commitment to breeding low maintenance sheep. Sheep requiring foot trimming even in very challenging conditions are removed from the flock.
- Shedding - is equally critical, shearers are generally not available locally. Low care sheep must shed well. We have focused on sheep that shed back to a clean, short hair cover. This gives greater resistance to biting flies and midges, as well as sunburn, than woollier cover that fully sheds.
- Fertility - we have limited land area but can produce feed during most parts of the year. Production of lambs per ewe per year is the fundamental driver of economics and genetic improvement. Many of our ewes lamb at intervals as little as 6 months. Ewes that produce more lambs under this regime produces more progeny and allows heavier selection pressure on all important dorper traits. (For example Munbilla 161327 recently produced her 20 th lamb, 9 sets of twins and 2 singles, in less than 6 years from Oct 2017 to July 2023 - one of those lambs was sold for $5000 at the Eastern Region Sale at Dubbo and has been used as a stud sire.)
- Type - we have introduced only the very best dorper genetics available and regularly utilized accredited dorper inspectors to maintain focus on the breed standard.
- Objective Performance on the breed standard.