Online Reporter
Judith Phiri, Zimpapers Business Hub
AMID the scorching summers and mild winters of Umguza in Matabeleland North Province, one farmer — Mr Dale Saudan of Woodcroff Farm, is undertaking an ambitious Dorper sheep farming project, growing his flock from 46 to the current 1 200.
The initiative aligns with the National Development Strategy (NDS2) and Vision 2030 of enhancing small-stock value chains, strengthening rural resilience and supporting income generation.
A Dorper is a fast-growing, meat-producing sheep breed developed in South Africa from the Dorset Horn and Blackhead Persian breeds in the 1930s. It is known for being hardy, adaptable to various climates and having high fertility, excellent growth rates and good maternal instincts.
With its characteristic black head, the Dorper is more than just visually distinctive — it brings a unique combination of hardiness, growth efficiency and premium meat quality that makes it an invaluable asset on farms of all sizes.
Besides the sheep project, Mr Saudan, who also has interests in beef production, told this news crew that he now had a flock of over 1 000.
“When we started, we had a flock of 46 and they were just mixed breeds. We now mainly boast high numbers of the Dorper breed, which make 90 percent of the flock. We have now grown the flock to over 1 200, which is quite a milestone,” he said.
He said that as a company, they started with seven employees and the number has now grown to 153. He recruits labour from the Umguza community.
Mr Saudan said they also assisted local Dorper farmers with training and advice and also sell stock to the farmers, as they grow their flocks.
“It’s very good to produce pure breeds, especially for sheep. Sheep are easier to breed and more profitable than cattle farming. There is a myth that sheep die easily. This is not true. They are actually more enduring than goats, to be honest,” he added.
His passion for Dorper production comes at a time the Zimbabwe Dorper Sheep Breeders Association last year in November hosted the first Dorper sale in Matabeleland after a 13-year hiatus.
Mr Saudan, who is also a member of the association, said the revival of the Dorper annual sale came at the right time.
“From the annual Dorper sale that we had at the ZITF Showgrounds in Bulawayo, ewes (female sheep) were selling for as much as US$450 each, with the cheapest going for about US$300.
“The rams were priced at between US$1 000 and US$1 500. Even on our annual production sale, our ewes range between US$350 and US$450 per unit while our rams cost between US$900 and US$1 500,” he added.
Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development Deputy Minister Davis Marapira has since commended Saudan for the Dorper production initiative, saying commercial Dorper breeders were playing a key role in the sheep industry.
“We have about 800 000 sheep in Zimbabwe, and the majority of them are produced in areas with average rainfall amounts of between 400 and 800 millimetres. Sheep do not do very well in highveld areas where there is a lot of rain, requiring farmers to dose them very often.
“This farmer is keeping 800 breeders, which is a very big plus, considering that our numbers are yet to breach a million. I’m encouraging our farmers to get involved in sheep production. The average price of a lamb is US$10 per kilogramme,” he said.
“It takes between five and seven months to raise a lamb to the point of slaughter, and the farmer gets something around US$240 per carcass at the average weight of 24 kilogrammes per beast. This is a big plus for the farmer and it is better than keeping large stocks of livestock like cattle, where you have to sell after about three years. Sheep farmers can get an income within 12 months.”
He said farmers would never go wrong by focusing on sheep breeding for commercial purposes instead of producing for home consumption.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe Dorper Sheep Breeders Association chairman, Mr William Hundermark also commented on the revival of the annual Dorper sale in Matabeleland saying it was truly inspiring to see so many breeders, buyers and supporters at the 2025 Bulawayo Dorper Sale.
“We commend our sellers for the effort they put into breeding, preparing, and presenting their animals, which are the backbone of the sale. Their commitment to quality genetics is what drives this industry forward,” he said.
“We also appreciate the buyers, some of whom would have travelled from faraway places. Their presence and interest help shape the direction of the Dorper breed farming in Zimbabwe, while their support gives meaning to all the work that goes into events like the sale.”
He said the vision behind the sale was to ignite the Dorper industry in Matabeleland, adding that the region had the land, the people and the potential to become a powerhouse in Dorper production.
Mr Hundermark underscored the need to strengthen the genetics, raise standards and work together as breeders, farmers and industry partners.
“Zimbabwe can position itself for live export markets into the Middle East and northern Africa. The opportunities are real and they are big. Our goal is for this Bulawayo sale to become an annual event, driven by Matabeleland breeders, for the benefit of farmers across the province and across the country. November’s sale was not just a sale — it was the laying of a foundation for a stronger, more competitive national flock.”
He said Zimbabwe was so uniquely positioned in Africa to provide genetics to northern neighbours, while there was a big opportunity, which was not being utilised except by a few breeders.
Mr Hundermark encouraged sheep breeders in the country to seize the opportunity and drive production of the Dorper breed in Zimbabwe to new heights.
