Namibian judges in Brazil for Dorper Expo
Namibian judges continue their legacy on the international Dorper stage, showcasing expertise at Brazil's record-breaking exhibition.
Two Namibian Dorper experts, Le Roux van Wyk and Pieter van Schalkwyk, were in Brazil, where they formed part of the international judging panel at the 2025 National Dorper & White Dorper Breeds Expo - the largest event of its kind ever held in the country.The show, hosted at the Serra Talhada Exhibition Park in Pernambuco from 8 to 19 October, was part of the 2nd Serra Expo Berro and drew record participation from breeders across Brazil.
According to the ABC Dorper association, this year’s event surpassed all previous records with 1 083 sheep entered, including 836 Dorper and 247 White Dorpers from over 100 exhibitors nationwide. Judging began on 13 October and ran through the week, culminating in the Grand Championships on 19 October.
The judging team, which also included South African judge Mickey Phillips, oversaw the classification and championship rounds in what the organisers describe as the “greatest edition of them all.”
Both Van Wyk and Van Schalkwyk are respected figures in the Dorper world and bring decades of breeding and judging experience to the competition.
Speaking from Brazil via Facebook, Pieter van Schalkwyk, who also chairs the Aroab Farmers Association, said he was proud to represent Namibia at such a prestigious international event. “Honoured to be part of one of the world’s biggest Dorper events!” he said on 8 October.
Van Schalkwyk, a traditional Dorper breeder since the 1970s, has previously judged at Feinco (2009) in São Paulo and Caprishow (2022) in Dormentes. His colleague Le Roux van Wyk has officiated at both the South African National Dorper Show and the Brazilian National Show in São José do Rio Preto.
Their participation reflects Namibia’s enduring connection to the global Dorper industry. Alongside South Africa, Namibia is recognised as one of the breed’s original strongholds, where the Dorper has been refined for its adaptability to arid conditions and exceptional meat quality. Namibian breeders have long supplied superior genetics across southern Africa and beyond, establishing a reputation for animals that perform well under extensive grazing systems.
Namibia’s involvement in the international Dorper circuit dates back several decades. Namibian judges have regularly been invited to officiate at shows in South America, Australia and Europe, while local stud breeders have exported top genetics worldwide.