UK DORSET HORN AND POLL DORSET SHEEP BREEDERS' ASSOCIATION

WHY DORSETS? They are renowned for their unique ability to lamb naturally at any time of year. This characteristic means you can supply the trade just when there is a shortage of home produced lamb, thus commanding premium prices. This unique natural ability also permits a frequent lambing system whereby up to three crops of lambs can be produced naturally in two years. Mixed farms can benefit from this too, earning money from seasonally under-utilised resources. However, Dorset Horns and Poll Dorsets have many other attributes that make them the number one choice of successful flockmasters. Here are just eleven:- 1. Early maturing leads to higher lifetime productivity. 2. High lambing percentages of around 170% are possible. Coupled with frequent lambing this can result in annual averages of around 250%. 3. Natural fast weight gain results from ewes being excellent milkers. Prime lambs can be fit for the butcher at around 10 weeks. 4. Top prices are obtained by lambs sired by Dorsets, both pure and crossbred. The Dorset carcass is much in demand as it has the high percentage of lean meat required by the butcher and consumer. 5. Rams have the unique ability to sire quality prime lambs from any breed of ewe, but with the important asset of imparting their out of season breeding characteristics to their female progeny. 6. Adjusts to wide range of conditions including altitude, temperature and rainfall. 7. Low cost results from sale at an early age. Less time and money is required for management, drenches, inoculations, etc. 8. Higher stocking rates are possible. As lambs are carried for a shorter time, more ewes can be run to the hectare. 9. Fewer rams are required in large flocks because they can mate all the year round in frequent lambing systems. 10. Longevity of the ewes reduces the need for frequent flock replacements. 11. Well suited to organic farming; providing year-round lamb supply and a self-perpetuating flock that avoids the need for introducing expensive and unknown health status reps.