History of Nooitgedacht Dorper Stud
The Saunderson family has been farming the Nooitgedacht land for four generations and the fifth generation has already started to make its presence felt in the successful running of this business.
We first started our Dorper stud in 1984 when the first breeding ewes were bought from Albert van Niekerk, who is very well known in the ‘Dorper’ world. The stud rams used for the first flock were those from Albert van Niekerk and Ernest Connan. By 1995 we were able to acquire a large portion of a Dorper stud from Niel Latsky’s, also renowned in Dorper circles, which brought in another very strong blood line.
During 2005 Charl Saunderson Jnr joined Jasperkop Boerdery Pty Ltd, a commercial company specializing in the breeding of high quality Dorpers. This company was managed by Messrs. Koenie Kotze, Charl Saunderson and Niel Latsky. When the company was dissolved in 2006, Charl Saunderson received the largest portion of the breeding stock as his share from the company.
The stud had largely originated in 1982 when two leaders in the Dorper field, Koenie Kotze and Lubbe Cilliers, joined forces. This flock had its origins mainly in the Albie van Niekerk stud. There have been many champions from this stud, among them South African and South African Reserve Champions. The rams used for this flock for the past few years have been those belonging to another pioneer in the Dorper business, Jannie Visagie.
The high quality of the stud has been established and re-established over time. We can justly and proudly say that, to us, the genotype is just as important as the phenotype and this proven belief has resulted in the hardy, fertile and adaptable animals we see today, animals that reproduce their own high quality time after time. These are the Dorper sheep of the Nooitgedacht Dorper Stud.
To us what the animal looks like is important but, what is even more important is that it is profitable even when grazing conditions are harsh or extreme. We do not breed our sheep in feed lots simply because our clients do not farm in feed lots.
The replacement ewes that we use are selected with a rigorous set of criteria in mind, among which are build, growth and index. The selection process is simplified by comparing the lambs constantly. This ensures that only ewes with above average build and index are used as replacements which thus guarantees the ever increasing quality of our animals.
Snowball, was purchased in partnership from Jannie Visagie for R200, 000 at the National Auction in 2008. In future Snowball, will be used for our ewes.
Tarzan, Oscar a Wickets Wekker son, are used as follow-up rams.
We believe that this rams, in particular, will have a positive impact on the quality of our lambs and on the Dorper breed in general. Time, and offspring, will tell if this unique animals will live up to the potential we believe they possesses.
The ewes are artificially inseminated and the lambs already born are of excellent quality and we are eager to compare them.
Principles of Nooitgedacht Farms Dorperstud
- We will not sell any animal we would not buy ourselves. This includes sick or ailing animals and/or animals with defects, either obvious or concealed.
- We will constantly use the best genetic material available by way of the best techniques to constantly increase quality, profitability and sustainability for both our clients and ourselves.
- To forge life-long friendships with our clients by conducting our business with honesty and integrity.
- We submit ourselves to the rules of the Dorper Breeders’ Association of South Africa and undertake to conduct our business accordingly.
- We will continue to protect, preserve and improve our farm and veld for the generations still to come
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