Dorper Sheep Management Guide

1. Getting Started

Setting Up Your Farm

After signing in, you'll be guided to create your first farm. Here's what to do:

1. Go to Dashboard and click "Add Farm"
2. Enter your farm name (e.g., "Green Valley Ranch")
3. Add your location details - this helps with weather-based recommendations
4. Set your preferred units (acres/hectares, kg/pounds)
5. Save your farm profile

Creating a Herd

Organize your sheep by creating herds. You might have separate herds for breeding stock, market lambs, or different pasture groups.

1. Navigate to your farm dashboard
2. Click "Manage Herds" or "Add Herd"
3. Enter herd name (e.g., "Breeding Ewes", "2025 Lamb Crop")
4. Select species: Sheep
5. Add purpose (e.g., "Breeding", "Market Production")
6. Save your herd

Adding Animals

Once you have a herd, start adding your individual animals:

1. Go to "Animals" section
2. Click "Add Animal"
3. Enter the animal's tag ID (ear tag number)
4. Select the herd they belong to
5. Choose sex (male/female)
6. Add date of birth if known (or approximate age)
7. Enter breed: Dorper (or White Dorper)
8. Set status: Active
9. Add optional notes (sire/dam info, bloodlines, etc.)
10. Upload a photo if desired
11. Save the animal

2. Parasite Management (FAMACHA Scoring)

What is FAMACHA?

FAMACHA is a method to detect anemia caused by barber pole worms (Haemonchus contortus) - the most damaging parasite for sheep. By checking the color of the inner eyelid, you can identify which animals need deworming instead of treating the entire flock.

The Score Scale

• Score 1 (Red): Healthy, no treatment needed
• Score 2 (Red-Pink): Healthy, no treatment needed
• Score 3 (Pink): Borderline - monitor closely, may need treatment in warm/wet weather
• Score 4 (Pink-White): Anemic - treatment recommended
• Score 5 (White): Severely anemic - immediate treatment required

How to Record FAMACHA Scores

1. Navigate to the Activities page from your dashboard
2. Click the "Animal Activities" button
3. Select "Dorper" from the species selector
4. Click the "FAMACHA Score" tool button
5. Select the assessment date
6. Choose which animals to assess (click their tag IDs)
7. For each animal, enter:
   • Score (1-5 based on eyelid color)
   • Requires Treatment? (Yes for scores 4-5, possibly 3)
8. Record weather conditions (dry/warm-wet/cool) - this affects your next check date
9. If you treated animals, enter:
   • Dewormer name (e.g., "Prohibit", "Cydectin")
   • Dosage given
10. Add fecal egg count if you did lab testing (optional)
11. Add any notes about individual animals
12. Save the assessment

When to Check

• Warm, wet weather: Every 3 weeks
• Dry or cool weather: Every 6 weeks
• High-risk periods: Spring and fall when conditions are moist

3. Body Condition Scoring (BCS)

What is Body Condition Scoring?

Body condition scoring measures the amount of fat and muscle on a sheep's back. It helps you know if your animals are too thin, too fat, or just right for their stage of production.

How to Check Body Condition

Feel the sheep's backbone (loin) just behind the last rib. Press your fingers along the spine and short bones (transverse processes):

• BCS 1 (Very Thin): Backbone very prominent, no fat cover
• BCS 2 (Thin): Backbone easily felt, minimal fat
• BCS 3 (Good): Backbone smooth, moderate fat cover (ideal for most stages)
• BCS 4 (Fat): Backbone hard to feel, thick fat cover
• BCS 5 (Obese): Cannot feel backbone, very thick fat

Target Body Condition Scores

• Breeding season: BCS 2.5-3.0
• Pregnant ewes: BCS 3.0-3.5
• Lambing time: BCS 3.0-3.5
• Growing lambs: BCS 2.5-3.5
• Market lambs: BCS 3.0-4.0

How to Record Body Condition

1. Navigate to the Activities page from your dashboard
2. Click the "Animal Activities" button
3. Select "Dorper" from the species selector
4. Click the "Body Condition Score" tool button
5. Select the assessment date
6. Choose animals to assess
7. For each animal, enter:
   • Current score (1.0-5.0, can use half points like 2.5, 3.5)
   • Life stage (breeding/pregnant/lambing/growing/market)
   • Target score for their stage
   • Adjustment needed? (Yes if they need more/less feed)
8. Record assessment method (loin palpation is most accurate)
9. Add notes about feeding changes needed
10. Save the assessment

4. Weight Tracking & Performance

Why Track Weight?

Weight tracking helps you identify your best-performing animals and make culling decisions. The system automatically calculates Average Daily Gain (ADG) to show you which genetics are performing well.

Target Weight Benchmarks for Dorpers

• Birth weight: 3.5 kg (singles), 3.0 kg (twins)
• Weaning weight: 24 kg at 109 days (15.5 weeks)
• Market weight: 36 kg at 120 days (17 weeks)
• Target ADG: 200-300 grams per day (excellent performers over 300g/day)

How to Record Weights

1. Navigate to the Activities page from your dashboard
2. Click the "Animal Activities" button
3. Select "Dorper" from the species selector
4. Click the "Weight Check" tool button
5. Select the weighing date
6. Choose animals to weigh
7. For each animal, enter:
   • Weight in kg (system will convert if you use pounds)
   • Weight stage (birth/weaning/post-weaning/market/routine)
   • Age in days (optional but helps calculate ADG)
8. The system automatically calculates:
   • Average Daily Gain (if you have previous weights)
   • Performance flag (excellent/good/average/below average/poor)
9. Record gut fill status (empty/normal/full) - weigh before feeding for consistency
10. Note weather conditions if extreme temperatures affected the animal
11. Save the weights

Performance Flags

• Excellent: 300+ g/day ADG - keep these genetics
• Good: 250-299 g/day ADG - solid performers
• Average: 200-249 g/day ADG - acceptable
• Below Average: 150-199 g/day ADG - check health and nutrition
• Poor: Under 150 g/day ADG - investigate or cull

5. Shedding Ability Assessment

Why Shedding Ability Matters

Dorper sheep are bred to naturally shed their hair coat - no shearing required! However, some Dorpers carry wool genetics. Tracking shedding ability helps you maintain true hair-type animals in your breeding program.

Shedding Score Scale

• Score 1 (Excellent): Pure hair coat, sheds completely by summer
• Score 2 (Very Good): Mostly hair, minimal woolly patches
• Score 3 (Good): Mixed hair and short wool, partial shedding
• Score 4 (Poor): Heavy wool coat, minimal shedding
• Score 5 (Unacceptable): Full wool coat, requires shearing

When to Assess Shedding

• Late spring/early summer: After natural shedding should be complete
• Before breeding season: To make culling decisions
• When evaluating rams: Essential for breeding stock selection

How to Record Shedding Ability

1. Navigate to the Activities page from your dashboard
2. Click the "Animal Activities" button
3. Select "Dorper" from the species selector
4. Click the "Shedding Ability" tool button
5. Select the assessment date (ideally mid-summer)
6. Choose animals to assess
7. For each animal, record:
   • Shedding score (1-5)
   • Coat type (hair/mixed/wool)
   • Shearing required? (Yes for scores 4-5)
   • Breeding recommendation (excellent/suitable/cull)
8. Select the season when assessed
9. Take photos of animals with poor shedding
10. Add notes about specific wool patches or patterns
11. Save the assessment

6. Ram Breeding Soundness Exams

Why Test Your Rams?

A breeding soundness exam (BSE) ensures your rams are physically capable of breeding. One infertile ram can result in many open ewes and lost income. Testing rams before breeding season is essential.

The 4 T's of Ram Testing

• Teeth: Check for broken, missing, or misaligned teeth that prevent eating
• Toes: Examine feet and legs for soundness - lame rams can't breed
• Testicles: Measure scrotal circumference and check for abnormalities
• Tossle (Penis): Check for injuries, infections, or abnormalities

Scrotal Circumference Requirements

• Ram lambs (8-14 months): Minimum 30 cm
• Yearlings (14-24 months): Minimum 32 cm
• Mature rams (24+ months): Minimum 32 cm

Ram to Ewe Ratios

• Ram lambs: 1 ram to 20 ewes
• Yearlings: 1 ram to 30 ewes
• Mature rams: 1 ram to 30-50 ewes (depends on pasture size)

How to Record Ram BSE Results

1. Navigate to the Activities page from your dashboard
2. Click the "Animal Activities" button
3. Select "Dorper" from the species selector
4. Click the "Ram BSE" tool button
5. Select the exam date
6. Choose the ram being examined
7. Select exam type (pre-breeding/annual/problem investigation)
8. Record the 4 T's assessment:
   • Teeth condition: Pass or Fail (add notes if issues found)
   • Toes condition: Pass or Fail (note any hoof problems)
   • Scrotal circumference: Measure in centimeters with tape
   • Testes condition: Pass or Fail (check for firmness, symmetry)
   • Penis condition: Pass or Fail (check for pizzle rot, injuries)
9. If semen was collected, enter:
   • Motility percentage (minimum 50% for pass)
   • Abnormal sperm percentage (maximum 20% for pass)
   • Concentration (if measured)
10. Set overall pass/fail status
11. Indicate if breeding season ready
12. Set recommended ram to ewe ratio based on age and results
13. Schedule next exam date (annually or pre-breeding)
14. Save the exam

7. Lambing Records

Why Record Lambing Details?

Detailed lambing records help you identify your most productive ewes and make genetic selection decisions. Tracking birth weights, litter size, and mothering ability reveals which ewes to keep in your breeding program.

What to Record at Lambing

When a ewe lambs, record these details as soon as possible:

How to Record Lambing Details

1. Navigate to the Activities page from your dashboard
2. Click the "Animal Activities" button
3. Select "Dorper" from the species selector
4. Click the "Lambing Detail" tool button
5. Select the lambing date
6. Choose the ewe that lambed
7. Select the sire (ram) if known
8. Enter breeding date if recorded (system calculates gestation days)
9. For each lamb born, record:
   • Sex (male/female)
   • Birth weight in kg
   • Vigor score (strong/moderate/weak)
   • Colostrum received? (Yes/No - critical first 4 hours)
   • Survival status (alive/stillborn/died within 24h)
   • Tag ID (ear tag you applied)
   • Death cause (if applicable - helps identify problems)
10. Record birth type (single/twin/triplet/quad)
11. Assess lambing ease:
    • Unassisted: Ewe lambed on her own
    • Easy assist: Minor help needed
    • Hard pull: Difficult extraction
    • Veterinary: Required vet intervention
12. Rate mothering ability:
    • Excellent: Immediate bonding, good milk, attentive
    • Good: Normal maternal behavior
    • Fair: Some hesitation but accepted lambs
    • Poor: Weak maternal instinct
    • Rejected: Refused to mother lambs
13. Note any complications (prolapse, retained placenta, etc.)
14. Assess ewe condition post-lambing
15. Add photos if desired
16. Save the lambing record

Expected Lambing Performance

• Singles: 95% survival rate
• Twins: 92% survival rate
• Triplets: 85% survival rate (with fostering or supplemental feeding)
• Gestation period: 145 days average (normal range 140-152 days)

8. Best Practices & Tips

Record Activities Consistently

• Record activities on the same day you perform them - don't wait
• Keep your phone or tablet with you during farm work
• Set reminders for routine tasks (monthly FAMACHA, quarterly weights)
• Take photos as you work - they're helpful for reviewing trends
• Use consistent tag IDs across your physical tags and digital records

Using Data for Decisions

• Culling decisions: Review performance data annually - remove poor performers
• Breeding stock selection: Keep ewes with high weaning rates and good mothering scores
• Ram selection: Choose rams with excellent shedding scores and passing BSE results
• Parasite management: Treat only animals with high FAMACHA scores (selective deworming)
• Feed adjustments: Use body condition scores to adjust nutrition before critical periods

Seasonal Management Calendar

Getting Help

If you need assistance or have questions about using FarmSentry:

• Check the Help Center for additional guides on other species and activities
• Review the Animal Activities Guide for feeding, health treatment, vaccination, and breeding records
• Explore species-specific guides for cattle, goats, pigs, and poultry
• Use the search function in your dashboard to quickly find animals, herds, or activities