Dorper project builds China ties

Kendenup Dorper producers Roger and Julie Mills have exported more than 500 of their stock's embryos to China, having established their stud 10 years ago with just three sheep.

The Mills partnered with a farmer 800km south of Beijing for the China Dorper project in 2012 and last month implanted 520 embryos from their Plantagenet Dorper Stud into "Han" sheep in China.

The goal is to create a successful holding farm in China, with a target of 15,000 sheep within the next two years.

The existing farm will potentially become one of four.

The Millses are working closely with Simon Bell, from Kojonup, and Mr Mills said between now and then there was an awful lot of embryo work to do.

"It has taken three years to get to the point where we input our first embryos, the planning takes a long time and it is a challenge," he said.

"But you need to be able to work through that; finding an avenue that not a lot of people are into was hard. Exportation of embryos, designing of the property and the embryo centre in China has been reasonably successful."

With previous knowledge about the food industry, Mr Mills said working with his stud was a natural progression and he would continue to develop his knowledge and understanding of the industry.

He is looking at further working with his client, who is eager to introduce the recognised international Dorper Standards in China.

"The Chinese don't want more sheep, they want better quality and increased quality, so they have taken a lot of genetics in live sheep," he said.

"It is like anything, the future is what you want to make it. Working with China, especially in agriculture, it can only do the agriculture business good, and there are a lot of opportunities out there."

It is like anything the future is what you want to make it, working with China especially in agriculture, it can only do the agriculture business good, and there are a lot of opportunities out there. Roger Mills