Rainbow Meadow Farms - Dorper Sheep


*Rainbow Meadow Farms* *3181 Grays Mill Rd* *Snow Hill, NC 28580* *(252)523-0298 or 747-5000*	*A rich heritage and modern farming methods meet at Rainbow Meadow Farms.* *Quality Dorpers for progressive shepherds - we offer unbeatable performance!*
*rainbow@eastlink.net*

White Dorper Studs

In response to increasing inquiries both domestically and internationally for White Dorper and White Dorper/Katahdin breeding stock, selected specifically to produce all white lambs, we purchased our first White Dorpers. As some of our customer base have expressed that they don't prefer the spotted or black lambs that can come from Dorper/Katahdin crosses, we decided to start a pure white flock. The White Dorper was our answer.

In July, 1999 we started a new flock of White Dorper and White Dorper/Katahdins. Our flock has grown tremendously. We cross White Dorpers with Katahdin ewes as the Katahdins are more muscular and larger than other breeds of hair sheep and more highly desired by our domestic and international customers. We have selected and retained the best ewe lambs from our best producing dams. Our dams consistently produce twins and triplets. Our F1 (50%) White Dorper/Katahdin ewes are some of the largest framed anywhere. The majority weigh in at 170-190 lbs not bred. They shed extremely well as do their lambs.

Atlas, at 2 years of age. Our premier foundation White Dorper stud ram. He is of Hennie Jacobs breeding.
Rainbow Meadow Farms is the breeder of several National Champions, all of whom were sired by Atlas, our foundation White Dorper stud ram. Atlas is nationally renowned for the quality of lambs that he produces. I have yet to see a ram with such a high degree of muscling in the front shoulders. As one breeder from South Africa told me, the level of muscling in the shoulder directly relates to the width of the loin. Atlas has an extremely wide loin and muscular hindquarter. He is very fertile with large testicles and is a type 5, the highest rating possible in coat (shedding) and a type 4 in pigmentation.

Arapahoe, shown here at 22 months of age.
He is also of Hennie Jacobs bloodline.

Arapahoe is a good solid ram and carries a lot of meat through to the hindquarter. He sheds well and has good legs and a nice topline. He has been used for two seasons in our flock with much success. His shedding is Type 5 and his pigmentation type 4. He is a very correct ram.

Climax is destined to be one of our top studs. He is only a yearling, but exhibiting fine promise as a quality stud. "Boude" is his sire as well as his maternal grand-sire. (Boude is the highest selling White Dorper ram ever sold in South Africa.).

Climax has a very straight topline with well developed hind quarters at such a young age. He is a very good shedder and has a nice disposition. He is a correct ram and carries a lot of meat throughout. I think that he will prove to carry much of the muscling of his sire, Boude. He will be the ram to watch on Rainbow Meadow Farms.

Featured Rainbow Meadow Farms White Dorper

Yearling Fullblood White Dorper Ewes, May 2002. Feminine and good Body Capacity. A Nice addition to the Rainbow Meadow Farms White Dorper Stud.

Percentage White Dorper ewes and their lambs, winter 2002. Note the large frame and body capacity of these ewes. Their body capacity makes them efficient utilizers of grazing. They carry these traits through to their lambs. These are the traits that net a good profit!

13-14 month old 3/4 White Dorper rams. Note how well they have shed. These rams were weighing in at 225 lbs and up at this age. These rams will make a fine addition to a commercial flock.

3/4 White Dorper/Katahdin ewe lambs, at150 days.

History of White Dorpers

A few of the lambs developed in South Africa in the 1930's from the Dorset Horn and the Blackhead Persian came out as all white. They formed the basis of the White Dorper breed. From that group of white lambs there was then an infusion of Van Rooy genetics, which is a fat-tailed breed, very similar to the Black Head Persian except for the lack of a black head. The difference in color is just a matter of choice. In South Africa, about 85% of all Dorpers are black-headed.