Polled Dorset

Polled Dorset is the hornless form of the Dorset sheep, a white-faced meat and maternal breed descended from the older Dorset Horn. In North America the name became established after breeders selected a naturally polled mutation during the twentieth century, while in other countries similar sheep may be called Poll Dorsets. Polled Dorsets keep the traits that made Dorsets widely used: strong muscling, early maturity, good milk production, and a useful ability to lamb in seasons when many breeds are less active.

Small farms use Polled Dorset ewes for manageable meat flocks, and commercial producers often use rams to sire market lambs from crossbred or wool-type ewes. They are not a no-maintenance sheep; dense stocking or rich feed can create foot, parasite, or lambing problems if flock work is neglected. Selection usually emphasizes structural soundness, balanced growth, lamb vigor, and udders that hold up over repeated lamb crops. Because hornless Dorset names and registries vary, breeding stock is best compared by performance records and local breed standards rather than by the wording of the label alone.