THE operators of a fledgling Dorper enterprise adjoining South Australia's Coorong National Park have a vision to grow excellent meat-quality sheep for the domestic and export market.
Husband-and-wife team Steve and Kathy Bannam began managing 800-hectare property The Needles for the Australian Dorper Company in early 2015. There, on land that boasts six kilometres of Coorong waterfront, they have 900 purebred Dorper sheep.
The Bannams hope to build that number up to capacity of 1500. "Before we came about 14 months ago, the land had a few sheep on it but compared with now was fairly inactive," Mrs Bannam said.
"Essentially we started with a blank canvas and have slowly been building up a good-quality flock of predominantly Red Rock bloodline stock."
The Bannams selectively graze the animals, moving them from paddock to paddock.
"We are presently planting lucerne for grazing - we planted 126 hectares last year and we are doing 120 hectares this year," Mrs Bannam said. "We have dryland salinity so we are doing everything we can to stop that."
While the season had been quite dry, recent rains had "boosted the paddocks”. Lambs were sold when they were big enough to go to market, usually at about six months of age, she said.
"At the moment the rams are in with the ewes - we've been putting them straight in with the ewes as we buy them." The Bannams found they have been getting three lamb drops per 18 months, which they were happy with.
"One thing that's of particular interest with the rams we've bought from the Red Rock stud is we are getting lots of twins and had a couple of sets of quads - that's very good, the more lambs the better."
Mrs Bannam said Dorpers were a hardy breed and easy to care for, although their tendency to want to explore meant secure fencing needed to be in place.
Mrs Bannam said at present the enterprise sold to the meatworks and saleyards and aimed to break into the niche restaurant and export markets. "Dorpers put the meat on quicker and in the right places - it's really sweet meat," she said.
