Dorpers were created in South Africa in 1942 by crossing imported Dorset Horn Rams onto Persian Black Headed Ewes thus creating a hardy, prolific, milky breed with excellent vigour and maternal traits. A breed standard and society were set up in 1950 and it is from these standards that the modern Dorper sheep has derived from. Along the way White sheep were produced which in turn became, understandably, White Dorpers. A breed Society for White Dorpers was recognised in 1959, but eventually both came under a single Society.
Dorpers can now be found all over the world and are very popular in North and South America, Australia, New Zealand and Canada as well as many European countries. The first Dorpers into the UK were imported in 2004 by Mrs Bernadette Dowling, followed by various imports of Embryos mainly from New Zealand along with recent Canadian Embryos and Semen imports so as can be seen The Dorper in the UK is a very young breed and no doubt will differ slightly in the future compared to its South African descendants.
It is however quite ironic to think that genetics exported from the UK 70 years ago might have found their way back in a new breed.