Dorsets are best known for their ability to produce a lamb crop any time during the year. History tells us that centuries ago when Spain wished to conquer England, Merino sheep were brought into southwest England and crossed with the Horned Sheep of Wales. The result was a desirable, all-purpose sheep that spread over Dorset, Somerset, Devon and most of Wales.
The first Horned Dorsets were brought to the United States in 1885. In 1948, a dominant gene for polledness occurred resu
lting in Polled Dorsets which are now popular in the farm flock states. Dorset ewes are prolific, heavy milkers that produce lambs with moderate growth and maturity that yield heavy muscled carcasses.
Breed categories: medium wool, meat
Distribution: Worldwide
The Dorset Horn sheep is one of the earliest recorded breeds of British Sheep with the first Flock Book being established in 1892, and its adaptability was soon recognised world wide.
The Australians, noted for their shepherding skills, soon realised the potential of the sheep to improve their existing stock and imported the Dorset Horn. With their vast acreage and minimal management techniques the viability of producing a hornless Dorset was of prime interest. This they achieved and the Poll Dorset emerged to provide the sheep now so much in demand throughout the world.
In the mid 1950s a far sighted Dorset breeder, “Bunny” Lenthall, decided to investigate the potential of the Poll Dorset and, after a visit to Australia, returned with two stud rams. In the UK the Poll Dorset now out numbers its illustrious ancestor but all the attributes of the Dorset Horn still apply to both.
Today the breed has moved on retaining all the same characteristics but it is assisted by up-to-date techniques of record keeping such as that provided by Signet. Now with a recently introduced Sire Reference Scheme the breed is developing further to provide even better breeding stock and conformation to fulfill market needs.
The Association’s first Patroness in 1892 was Her Majesty, Queen Victoria, and with this strong foundation it has grown world wide to promote the breed internationally via shows and the media to maintain the breed’s profile.
General Characteristics
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HEAD: |
Broad, full and open at the nostril, well covered with wool from brow to poll, face white with pink nose and lips free from pigmentation. |
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EARS: |
Medium size, white and firm, well covered with hair. |
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MOUTH: |
Even, well set jaw with flat chisel shaped teeth, meeting a wide pad with a firm bite. |
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NECK: |
Short to medium length and round, well sprung from the shoulders, with no depression at collar, strong and muscular, especially in the Ram. |
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CHEST: |
Well forward, full and deep. |
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FORE FLANK: |
Full, with no depression behind the shoulders. |
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SHOULDERS: |
Well laid and compact. |
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BACK & LOINS: |
Broad, long and straight, with well sprung ribs. |
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QUARTERS: |
Full, broad and deep with flesh extending to the hocks and well muscled thighs. |
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TAIL: |
Well set up in a line with the back, wide, firm and fleshy. |
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RIBS: |
Well sprung from the back and deep at the sides. |
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LEGS & PASTERNS: |
Medium length, well placed at the four quarters and free moving, straight between the joints, with strong bone, well woolled to the knees and hocks with pasterns well set up and straight. |
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WOOL: |
Fine “down” type wool, dense and firm handling, free from kemp and colour. |
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Description:
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RAMS: |
Bold, masculine appearance, and may weigh up to 113.5 kg (250lbs) when mature. |
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EWES: |
Medium size and naturally prolific, so that depending on management, lamb crops may attain any figure from 130% – 170% or more. Growth rates of up to 0.45 kg (1lb) per day are frequently recorded producing carcasses from 16 kg (34 – 36lb) dressed carcass weight at 10 – 16 weeks of age. Ewes have a bright appearance, skin colour is pink, whilst the face, legs and ears are white. |
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WOOL: |
Fleece of good staple and quality, compact and firm to the touch. |
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