History of the breed
Horned Dorsets originated in Dorset County, on the South-Central coast of England. The breed was traditionally used in sheep dairies to produce milk, and remains one of the best milk producing breeds today. Due to their excellent milk production, Dorset lambs grow fast for the meat market. Old style Horned Dorsets display a deep and long body for optimal meat production and capacity for digesting grass. In England, they are referred to as the Dorset Horn.
Horned Dorsets were first shipped to the United States in the 1800's. They got their first foothold in the Northwest, in Oregon, and spread across the country from there.
Some time later, the Polled Dorset was developed. This was a naturally non-horned version of the Dorset breed. Polled Dorsets are much more common today.
In the last 30 years, Old Style Horned Dorsets have seen a sharp decline in numbers nationwide. Many farms have moved to Polled Dorsets and other breeds. It is the mission of Janicki Dorsets to promote the Horned Dorset breed, and increase their numbers and improve their genetics.
Horned Dorsets were first shipped to the United States in the 1800's. They got their first foothold in the Northwest, in Oregon, and spread across the country from there.
Some time later, the Polled Dorset was developed. This was a naturally non-horned version of the Dorset breed. Polled Dorsets are much more common today.
In the last 30 years, Old Style Horned Dorsets have seen a sharp decline in numbers nationwide. Many farms have moved to Polled Dorsets and other breeds. It is the mission of Janicki Dorsets to promote the Horned Dorset breed, and increase their numbers and improve their genetics.
Breed traits
Horned Dorsets are famous for their incredible horns on both the males and females. Rams have thick, heavy horns that curl forward parallel to the face, and ewes have more feminine horns.
Horned Dorsets have historically been a meat breed, and that remains their primary market purpose today. While Dorsets produce large amounts of wool as well, meat is more profitable in the current market climate. For this reason, Old Style Horned Dorsets have a thick and strong body conformation, much like a giant cube of butter. In fact, a good Dorset should have at least half of it's height in the body. Long-legged Dorsets appear bigger because they can be taller, but their meat production does not match the Old Style animals.
Horned Dorset ewes are excellent mothers, and frequently have twins and triplets. Dorsets are one of the few breeds that can lamb out of season, and have been known to produce lambs at any time of year. This makes them very flexible as a meat production breed.
Dorsets range well, and grow fast on grass alone. Graining is not required for good Dorset meat production. This is yet another trait that makes them an attractive meat breed to raise.
Horned Dorsets have historically been a meat breed, and that remains their primary market purpose today. While Dorsets produce large amounts of wool as well, meat is more profitable in the current market climate. For this reason, Old Style Horned Dorsets have a thick and strong body conformation, much like a giant cube of butter. In fact, a good Dorset should have at least half of it's height in the body. Long-legged Dorsets appear bigger because they can be taller, but their meat production does not match the Old Style animals.
Horned Dorset ewes are excellent mothers, and frequently have twins and triplets. Dorsets are one of the few breeds that can lamb out of season, and have been known to produce lambs at any time of year. This makes them very flexible as a meat production breed.
Dorsets range well, and grow fast on grass alone. Graining is not required for good Dorset meat production. This is yet another trait that makes them an attractive meat breed to raise.
1963 BBC Video Featuring Horned Dorsets in England
A BBC video from 1963 recently was posted on the Facebook page of the BBC Archive. This video features a sheep farmer who raises Horned Dorsets, or, as they call them back in England, the Dorset Horn.
In the video, the BBC reporter sets up a "sheep recognition" experiment to see if the shepherd can identify three other Dorset Horns hidden in his flock. It is a fascinating video from both a historical and sheep farming perspective. We encourage you to take a look and enjoy.
Here is the link to the video: https://www.facebook.com/BBCArchive/videos/817107128631979/UzpfSTU1MDc1NzU2NTQzMjM1Mzo1NTExOTA3NTg3MjIzNjc/?modal=admin_todo_tour
In the video, the BBC reporter sets up a "sheep recognition" experiment to see if the shepherd can identify three other Dorset Horns hidden in his flock. It is a fascinating video from both a historical and sheep farming perspective. We encourage you to take a look and enjoy.
Here is the link to the video: https://www.facebook.com/BBCArchive/videos/817107128631979/UzpfSTU1MDc1NzU2NTQzMjM1Mzo1NTExOTA3NTg3MjIzNjc/?modal=admin_todo_tour