Dolf Lategan is busy expanding his notes made over a couple of decades of involvement with the Dorper Breed, and more specifically, lecturing, judging and inspecting the finest animals in South Africa. This outline should give an indication of the headings he will discuss in more detail:

General Dorper Breeding

• You must have a plan

• Manager of a factory

• Love of the breed

• Participate

• The formula that I propose is contained in three letters...

K - O - S ! (The Afrikaans word for "FOOD")

• K for Knowledge

• O for Organisation

• S for Selection

Knowledge

• History of breed

• Participate – Courses, Clubs, Dorperdays, Shows, Auctions

• Needs of the breed – Not natural

• Breed standards – Buying of animals

• Benchmarking - Measure from industry

• Inspectors

• Inoculation & Dosing: Area dictates

• Disease Symptoms: Prevention!

• Environmental factors – Cold, heat, feeding

• Analysis of soil – Mineral deficiencies

• Breeders' Society

Organisation

• Lambtime – Size of area; Crawlfeed; tails

• Camps & grazing

• Work ameneties

• Plan your farming: Quantity & Quality

• Pairing – Timing; Group, hand, mass – AI, stimulation feeding

• Water purity

• Mark,weigh,dose,dip – Records, selection, performance testing, parasites, ameneties

• Weaning of lambs – Age, planning, dry feed and water shock

• Marketing: Weight, grade

• Care and grooming

Selection

• Knowledge, Organisation – Can't do without it

• Records available: Kraal notes

• 3/6/12 months selection

• Genes: Chances for success

• Goal – Select according to plan: Great rewards

• Practise makes perfect

"Success is not a destination, but a journey"