The Dorper / White Dorper sire test is a joint effort between Texas A&M AgriLife and the American Dorper Sheep Breeders Society to genetically evaluate rams in a commercial scenario. More specifically, registered rams consigned to the test are mated to the Texas A&M flock and sire groups of progeny are performance recorded for multiple economically important traits, including growth, parasite resistance, carcass quality, reproduction and fitness of environment. Importantly, these records are captured while the flock is under extensive management- lambs are born, reared and managed after weaning in a scenario indicative of commercial sheep production in semi-arid West Texas (large, native grass pastures). Next generation technologies, such as molecular DNA testing, quantitative genetics and electronic identification tags are all used to capture data and evaluate rams/lambs throughout this annual trial. Progeny group results from this test indicate the genetic potential of the sires for these traits. Additionally, recorded data is entered into the National Sheep Improvement Program to generate estimated breeding values (EBVs) and to enhance the genetic connectivity of the participating flocks who consigned rams.
Primary Goals:
- Provide an annual resource for registered breeders to evaluate Dorper and White Dorper sheep for growth, parasite resistance, carcass and reproductive genetic merit when placed in a setting indicative of commercial sheep production in west-central Texas.
- Increase the adoption of the latest genetic technology by Dorper and White Dorper producers to help improve breeding, selection and management decisions within their flocks.
- Create and strengthen genetic linkages between Dorper and White Dorper flocks to improve the accuracy of estimated breeding values.
- Utilize an extensive databank of phenotype and genotype records to conduct research that positively impacts the Dorper breed and the American sheep industry.
The application to nominate a sire to the 2024-2025 test is available at https://dorpersheep.org.
2023 – 2024 Sire Test
Results – Current Progress Report
23-24 Breeder Contact Information