I direct sell a great number of lambs. I'd go with Dorper ram on Katahdin ewes. The carcass of the Cheviot tends to be plump and meaty, with just enough fat to produce a succulent meat. ~Ann, Your email address will not be published. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Im Carmella. Any of the sheep breeds thats considered to be one of the true hair sheep breeds has an advantage in that cockleburs, briars, stick-tights and so forth dont become entangled. Crossing these breeds with woolen breeds for efficient meat production does hold some potential. It is also exceptionally low-maintenance. Have good flocking instinct. While many of the characteristics hair animals possess appeal to the hobby flock owner, we expect an animal to make us money; if it doesnt, its gone. Dorper and Katahdin are medium size breeds. Rather than stay in a group, they will scatter in all directions like a covey of quail. The Katahdin hair sheep is the fastest growing breed in the United States. The Katahdins in the study had a consistently less barber pole worm infestation rate compared to the Dorper and Dorset crosses. We figured the combination would be a meatier sheep." They bought the ram in 1996 and some ewes the following spring. People converting to hair sheep breeds all notice certain things. I forgot to ask for notification via e-mail, so I am reposting my questions. my ewe with CL has had her first batch of lambs last month and she is a really good mother! A ewes wool will pay her winter feed bill. While Dorper sheep are considered a hair breed, Ive found a large number have quite a bit of wool or curly fibers in their coat. We began our Katahdin Sheep herd with non-registered sheep but have added registered Katahdin ewes to our farm. I have seen many Dorper X Katahdins which are small and the only sign they have Dorper in them is the fact that they have black heads, if they had been crossed with a white Dorper, one would assume that there was no Dorper in there at all. This is inconvenient since you must pasture ram lambs separately from ewes to prevent unplanned pregnancies. ByBasil Bactawar, UF/IFAS Duval County Extension Service. Origin: This breed originated from Maine, U.S. from crosses of woolen breeds mainly Suffolk and later Wiltshire Horn with hair sheep from the Virgin Islands. While it is estimated that hair sheep comprise only 10 percent of the world's sheep population, their numbers are growing, especially in temperate climates like the United States. Katahdins have hair and not wool, which means they are a low-maintenance breed that will shed their hair naturally. This breed produces rapid-growing lambs, with most lambs being considered ready for market at 12 weeks of age. HARDINESS Originating in South Africa, these lovable and attractive sheep tend to come with a lot more pros than cons. Nick. He seems pretty big to me, but since he is my first sheep, I dont know what he should weigh. There was only the body fleece that needed shearing. We let them be sheep and just help them along. November/December 2003 and regularly vetted for accuracy. Stoneheart Farm was established in 1994 by John and Doreen Simmons. They were called Africans at the time. No wool to deal with makes perfect economic sense. The shedding process may take some getting used to but will not litter your pasture with wool Photographer: Ulf Kintzel. Black color covers belly, inside legs and thighs and extends up to the neck. Thanks, Noela. The main differences between these two breeds are the colors available, and what they can be used for. At Kettle Haven Ranch we specialize in Katahdin x Dorper crosses for exceptional market lambs and for replacement breeding stock. Sure enough, hes been trimming hooves. This breed is also exceptionally hardy, able to thrive in both the cold, and the hot, humid climates in which many farmers struggle to. Mating season for Suffolk sheep usually happens in the Autumn or Winter of each year, as it is for most sheep breeds. Libyans prefer old worn out buck goats for their stronger flavor. Today I have 1/2, 3/4, 7/8th, and 15/16th White Dorper sheep. This breed was developed after 20 years of breeding and selection. While hair breeds comprise a small percentage of the number of sheep in North America, this is changing as sustainability becomes a bigger issue for landowners. Crossing these breeds with woolen breeds for efficient meat production does hold some potential. The ewes produce vigorous, healthy, robust lambs that have a high survivability. Baby Sheep: What a Baby Sheep is Called & Other Fun Facts. This is down to the fantastic range of benefits they deliver. Fact: While its true that Barbados and St. Croix are small animals (ewes 80-110 pounds), few commercial breeders raise them. Did you know that Dorper sheep dont need to be sheared? I belong to a herding club in Hawaii. If my product would be poorly finished or wouldnt taste good, I surely would lose customers. Subsequent generations with higher percentage shed better and better although shedding is not a black and white thing. Plans for the future include a larger lambing/working shed-currently under construction, later lambing to reduce cold weather losses (10percentdeath loss for everything combined, stillborn, drowning in water tank, mashed, runts, etc. I have a black face ewe and she is very fat and is 7 months old, should I be worried about her having a lamb and is she old enough to get in lamb. Ron remembers raising wool sheep as a teenager. The Dorper is highly adaptable and does well in harsh conditions. Purebred Dorper rams can reach a live-weight of 90-120 kg and ewes 50-80kg. Dorper lambs have amazing growth rates when young. The wool and hair comes mainly off in such small pieces that it is like a cow or a goat shedding you dont worry about their hair littering the pasture either. This is true for Barbados Blackbelly and St. Croix in particular, because they have not been subjected to selection for size and growth rate of the woolen breeds. Ulf owns and operates White Clover Sheep Farm and breeds and raises grass-fed White Dorper sheep and Kiko goats without any grain feeding and offers breeding stock suitable for grazing. We are fortunate that buyers for the large ethnic market in St. Louis often attend sales. The first generation grows quite well due to the heterosis effect, but nearly always has a wool coat. Coat & Color: The coat can be reddish brown, tan or yellow. Some European sheep genetics were incorporated into the African sheep to arrive at the existing hair breeds mentioned above. When the weathers hot and the pastures are dry, their wool animals will be under a tree while the hair animals are out grazing. Since hair sheep dont have a heavy wool coat, they cant take the cold. When the price of raw wool fleece is below the cost of shearing the animal, this is not cost effective. A caution when breeding is to choose the right size ram for the ewe. Katahdin meat tends to be leaner than many other breeds. Katahdin sheep and Dorper are bred as meat sheep breeds. I've seen some really nice Dorper/Katahdin crosses. The Royal White produces more mea t than Katahdin sheep and Dorper sheep. The customers, including the many ethnic customers, caught up and appreciate the milder flavor of hairsheep. If you plan on going into the meat production business, its important to know the difference between types of sheep meat. As mentioned earlier, theres no price discount for Katahdin sheep or Dorper sheep in central Missouri. Thank so much for this information. St. Croix Sheep have been used to develop other breeds such as the Royal White. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Romanov The Romanov breed may not be as popular as the Katahdin and Dorper, but it holds a very important value in this . Our spring lambs on pasture alone (17-20 percent protein and 65-72percentdigestible organic matter-DOM) will average 55-60 pounds. The Dorper is the fastest growing, heaviest-muscled hair sheep breed in the U.S. Dorpers do not shed as well as other hair sheep, but their carcasses are superior to any other breed of hair sheep. In years past, 18-30 pound lambs sold well in Chicago for Jewish Passover. Hi Qazi, I recently purchased 4 ram lambs for meat. "Shearing the wool was tough," he recalls, but the price paid for wool nearly covered feed costs. Reaching maturity earlier than many breeds, the Suffolk lamb will reach an average of 116 pounds by 100 days of age. We have all three breeds. This ancient breed has thrived in warm climates, continued to produce twins and good carcass weights. We also sell breeding stock locally. I had on occasion lambs butchered that exceeded 110 pounds. Lambing %: Approximately 125%, exceeding 200% with subsequent lambing. Market Weight/Live/Age: 110 lbs / 7 8 months, Professional Horticulture and Pest Services, Breed Directory- American Sheep Industry Association, Hair Sheep Production and Marketing Including Some Breeds, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, 1010 N. McDuff Avenue While there are far fewer cons than there are pros for keeping Dorper sheep, you do need to consider the potential downsides. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'savvyfarmlife_com-leader-1','ezslot_7',106,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-savvyfarmlife_com-leader-1-0');Katahdins are a popular meat breed for sheep farmers. The first rams I purchased were of outstanding shedding ability. The best genetics wont keep an animal from starving to death. Katahdin sheep will strip the bark from cedars, pines and any deciduous tree that has smooth, immature bark. In California prices for hair sheep have surpassed prices for wool sheep and in New Holland they are catching up. 7 year old Katahdin ewe . Unsave Save. ), more intense selection for increased body length and a ewe flock of around 160-175 ewes. Are Llamas Dangerous? No difference was noted between the purebred breeds of hair sheep. Hi currently running flock of 600. Originally publishedin sheep! Non selective grazers that perform well under both extensive and intensive production systems. The reproductive rate of true hair sheep is excellent. How the breed carries fat is, I think, important when dealing with older sheep. Carefully breeding only the best stock will ensure that the extreme hardiness and good mothering ability remain. The flocking instinct of hair animals generally isnt as good as wool breeds. Dorset ewes weigh approximately 150-200 pounds, with the rams weighing on average 275 pounds. (Icelandic sheep grow a double coat.) Forty-six Dorper, 46 Katahdin, and 43 St. Croix female sheep (initial BW of 58, 59, and 46 kg, respectively, SEM = 1.75; 3.3 0.18 yr of age, 2.6 - 3.7) from 45 commercial farms in four regions of the USA (Midwest, Northwest, Southeast, and central Texas) were used to evaluate responses to high heat load index (HLI) conditions in a central . Kt ewes under low-input semiarid conditions of northern Mxico. But the pasture littered with wool as I had feared just did not happen. The only problem with colesterol is that the big pharma found a new drug to sell. Dorper Sheep. Dorper sheep originated in South Africa and were the result of crossing Dorset Horn with Blackheaded Persian sheep. Two weeks later, the ewes hadnt lost any body condition. The leather from hair sheep grain is finer than the leather from wool breeds and brings in a larger amount of money. Although the breed was created in the 1930s, it is still fairly new to the US. JavaScript is disabled. These breeds are called hair sheep because the coat consists of hair more like that of cattle and many goats rather than wool. We have a dispute between the members about feeding sheep after working them. Last but not least on our list is the Cheviot breed. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Whether youre looking to be more self-sufficient or to make some income selling meat to local restaurants, raising sheep for meat can enable you to do both. These lambs that I have seen are usually by percentage Dorper rams or rams of lesser quality and out of smaller ewes or lesser quality ewes. Typically, the 75 percent Dorper crosses will exhibit the Dorper coloration and conformation. Ta Paul.5. Suffolk meat is hailed as lean and somewhat sweet, with a good muscle to fat ratio. History tells us our present-day sheep are derived from the wild Mouflon sheep, among others, that grew coarse hair with a downy undercoat. Hairbreeds have many positive traits that make them an ideal animal for small farms, homesteads, and of course, larger commercial farms. Texel sheep do best in colder climates, as they are exceptionally cold-hardy and have been known to be sensitive to the heat. Why Katahdin x Dorper Crosses. Environmental Adaptability: Tolerant of both high and low temperatures. These include: Dorper sheep dont produce much milk or wool, which means raising them for meat is your only option. We currently manage between 45-60 ewes per year with about 70% of our flock being registered. In winter puts on coat that is shed as temperatures increase. The Dorper is a mutton breed of hair sheep developed in the 1930s. we find dorpers a great sheep to raise and to eat.. had ribs tonight and use the grease on the dry dog food.. dogs love it.. The Blackhead Persian is a fat-rumped hair breed from the arid lands of the Middle East. The Katahdin sheep is listed as a Recovering heritage breed on the ALBC Conservation Priority List. Very tolerant of the humid hot conditions in the Carribean andSomolia, Blackhead Persians have a white body and black head. I like the Dorper temperament, generally they are a pretty docile breed. Weight Gain/Daily: 0.4 lbs daily with good nutrition. Coat & Color: Solid white or white with black head. Generally, hair breeds are more heat tolerant than wool breeds. They do produce wool, and will need regular shearing. Royal White (Dorper x St.Croix) In general they have low maintenance requirements. We feel that our time must be used where it will improve our operation, rather than maintaining status quo. The SNPs in NOS2, TGFB2, and IL2RA genes were also observed with high genetic differentiation in the Katahdin and St. Croix vs Dorper analysis. Cole, N.A. Dorset ewes weigh approximately 150-200 pounds, with the rams weighing on average 275 pounds. May-June lambs on pasture alone (10-13percentprotein and 60-65percent DOM) will average 45 pounds. This article first appeared in the May/June 2010 Hobby Farms. Katahdins are a popular meat breed for sheep farmers. Manage Settings Dorper sheep are exceptionally popular amongst both hobbyists and commercial homesteads. In this area, hair sheep often sell higher than wool sheep. Ewes weight approximately 200 pounds, and rams average out to around 260 pounds. In terms of temperament, cost, and maintenance, they are both excellent options. He is a native of Germany and lives in the US since 1995. Hampshire sheep can live in almost any climate, making them a hardy breed. Because of their hair and their low fat content, this breed is known to produce both flavorful and mild meat. All Rights Reserved | Website by Maple Creative, buildwithmaple.com. However, if you are not intending to feed grain and if you dont intend to grow your lambs beyond 100 lbs. take it from me, you dont have to worry about anyone getting too fat. You can find out more about lambing Dorper sheep through the American Dorper Sheep Breeders Society. Katahdins often breeding out of season. They also tend to be highly mobile, which means they will climb on top of anything. They like large groups of lambs on each farm, prefer solid colors, registered and must be enrolled in the scrapie program. If you plan on raising lambs for meat, youll need to know everything that comes with taking care of baby sheep. Consider the pros and cons featured above before making your decision. I had heard all the negatives about them such as The lambs get too fat, The lambs sell for less money at auctions, The pasture will be littered with wool as these sheep shed, and They get too cold in the winter. Origin: Developed in the Virgin Islands for crosses of West African hair sheep and Wiltshire Horn. keep checking it out! Milk replacers should be fed at 10%-20% of the lamb's body weight, divided into 4-6 feedings/day during the first week of life. We have members from Mexico to Northern Canada and have exported to Ecuador, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, United Kingdom, Chile, and Central America. All Rights Reserved | Website by Maple Creative, God Save the Beef: Trials of Sustainable Farming in the UK . This market presented difficulties such as lambing in the dead of winter, having lambs large enough (especially when Passover comes early) and pooling with your neighbors to find enough lambs for a truckload. Animals dont grow as fastbut dont need to with milder winters and longer growing season. In 2001, my friend with Polypay paid $2 to shear $.50 worth of wool per animal. Rams generally have horns. Ewes will breed back before the lambs are weaned. They also have a fat rump, short legs, and a compact body. Research has shown Dorper have good parasite tolerance or resilience rather than resistance. Dorset lambs, like the Suffolk and Dorper, mature quickly and are market-ready earlier than many other breeds. Any sheep can technically produce meat, but if youre looking to raise sheep for commercial meat production, youll want to make sure you get a good return on investment. Weight Gain/Daily: 1 pound under intensive production. However, if I consider the traits described in this article and add the easy lambing, good mothering and fertility as well as the calm disposition and eye appealing looks of these sheep to the mix, I have come very close to the ideal breed at least for my farming system and my market. Just like the Katahdin, you do not have to shear them as they shed their winter coat in the spring. However, since Dorpers can also be found further North in colder climates, I am sure that a lack of winter hardiness is not a trait applying to Dorper sheep. The shedding ability of this breed varies greatly. (Allardt) "Spike" is a 3 year old ram. Several myths still surround hair sheep. This is not a true hair sheep. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Grading up to Dorper. The American Sheep Industry recognizes 47 different sheep breeds in the US, with hundreds more recognized internationally. As one of the most populous sheep breeds in America, the Suffolk is a popular choice for meat producers. The ability of this breed to put grass into weight gain is remarkable. These include: The fact Dorper sheep are easy to breed is a huge advantage. This is a very good article to read and understand the secrets of Raising Katahdin Sheep. He farms in the Finger Lakes area in upstate New York. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Wondering What to Feed Sheep? While weve missed out on export sales the last several years because of retaining ewes to increase flock numbers, Mexican buyers will be coming by this spring. In addition, shearing is not a requirement thereby reducing operational cost. Mutton is meat that comes from mature sheep over the age of 1 year old. This breed is medium-sized and is hardy with a high-quality carcass. if any one would be interested in buying some good quality Dorpers check out my website MGDorpers.com it is comming out soon! After 13 years of medical education and military service they landed in Maine to put down roots. As we disperse all our crossbreeds, weve found the crossbred cull ewes with a wool coat have sold for 50-75percentof what comparable weight hair ewes bring. If you consider hairsheep like White Dorpers in the future dont forget to ask the breeder about the shedding ability of their flock! Thanks for the belly shaking laugh! Although the breed was created in the 1930s, it is still fairly new to the US. Fact: Eight or ten years ago you could expect a 5-10 cents/pound discount for hair animals. In addition to being a smaller breed, the lambs tend to mature slowly, not reaching ideal market weight until around 2 years of age. There are three main reasons to raise hair sheep. Breed is mainly free of wool and do not normally require shearing. Average Birth Weight (Lbs): 7.5 lbs for single, 6.5 7 for twins, and less for triplets. There are a few characteristics you will want to look for when choosing a meat-producing sheep. The Barbados Blackbelly got its name because of the characteristic black belly on an otherwise red brown coat. This breed averages in maturity at around 175 220 pounds. Owning Goats vs. Sheep The Katahdin and the St Croix give the dogs a little more run for their money, but they are not silly and bounce off fences like some other breeds can even with a lot of handling. Question is this common? They still dont take a huge amount of time to reach it, but it is something to be aware of if you are looking for fast production. To appeal to ethnic buyers, it often requires a change in flock management. That applies to purebred WD market lambs as well. In our city the sheep are raised very much because the grass is still fertile, Kita wajib menjaga kesuburan tanaman agar domba bisa makan dengan cukup dan bisa berkembang biak dengan baik oleh peternak, In addition to the delicious meat, lamb can also be made of skin for a high-value jacket material, Dorper Sheep: Truths and Myths Tempat jasa sablon kaos murah Kaos sablon Bandung Pusat tempat Pembuatan Kaos sablon Baju Distro di Bandung Konveksi Buat Kaos Kelas Reuni Polo Bandung kawasan Jakarta pusat Berkualitas cetak Screen Printing sablon Digital Custom manual Rubber Plastisol komunitas Reuni Jaket satuan grosiran Kemeja ~ Alamat Tempat Sablon Kaos. Mature Weight (Lb): Ewe = 120 - 160, Ram = 180 250. 7/8th exhibit all the traits of purebreds like out-of-season breeding and even many 3/4 look like purebred and shed as well. As they say, the proof is in the pudding eating. I have a very small Dorper ewe, she is 7 months old but very small. 2. Lambing %: Given an average lambing percent of 150 and 3 lambing in 2 years, Dorper will produce 2.25 lambs on an annual basis. To learn more about how you can make money off of sheep, read my article What Do Sheep Produce? University of South Dakota research found it requires 250-300 pounds of dry matter forage to produce each pound of wool. I have a pet ram lamb, texel dorset cross I was told. Originally, the established buyers at auctions resisted hairsheep in general and they fetched lower prices in places like New Holland. While you can make a great profit selling meat, if you are looking for multiple income streams from your flock then the Dorper may not be the right breed for you. These slaughter lambs sell comparable to pure Katahdin sheep per pound unless theyre full of cockleburs and briars. He experimented with breeding them to meat breeds, finally reaching a point, in the 1970s, where he named the breed, Katahdins after a nearby mountain in his home state of Maine. Their hair falls off naturally during the year, making them an easy breed to care for. Im sorry I cannot help you. Difference in color is a matter of preference. Two varieties of Dorper Sheep were created: the black headed Dorper and an all white variety, the White Dorper sheep. Katahdin can be used for both meat and milk, whereas Dorper sheep are only good for meat production. It is now farmed in other areas as well, and is the second most common sheep breed in South Africa. Moreover, RT was slightly less for Katahdin vs. Dorper in period 4 at 13:00 and 17:00 however, RR was less for Katahdin than for Dorper in periods 3 and 4. Katahdin Pedigrees Public Area Members List. We are interested purchasing Katahdin sheep and found this article very helpful. For registered breeding stock, permanent wooly fibers are a no-no. Blackbellys are often left unvaccinated due to their disease and parasite resistance (though of course, we recommend you do your research on the breed and talk to a vet about what they recommend for vaccinating). The number of feedings can be reduced over time to twice a day by 3-4 weeks of age. Lambs can also take a little longer to reach their market weight than some other breeds of sheep. In 1975 Utah State University imported a small flock of Virgin Island White which is the basis for the present St. Croix breed in North America. The cross breeding results in the best of both breeds but also in the benefits of heterosis, commonly known as hybrid vigor. Just remember that Dorpers do have multiple births.. we raise some dorpers and they start off with the first time lambing with twins then after that triplets. Flock owners with less than 50 animals have a difficult time getting someone to shear unless they pool their animals with neighbors. The flavor of the market lambs is in my opinion mostly influenced by the fact that these lambs are grass-fed. Considered to be the 2nd most popular breed of sheep in the US, the Dorset sheep is another solid meat-producer. Dorper sheep originated in South Africa and were the result of crossing Dorset Horn with Blackheaded Persian sheep. a From the review: Notter, g. 1978. Coat & Color: Coat can be any color or color pattern. They naturally shed their wool throughout the seasons. They will definitely get too fat. In a second study, Dorper or Dorset sired lambs were compared to Barbados Blackbelly x St. Croix or Katahdin lambs. Environmental Adaptability: Withstand heat and cold well, and part of this adjustment to extremes is behavioral. Breeders often use less-expensive Katahdin ewes to initiate an upgrading program with registered Dorper as the final goal. I no longer sell at livestock auctions mainly because I dont have to. The Gayogoh:n are members of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, an alliance of six sovereign Nations with a historic and contemporary presence on this land. We just started raising Katahdins this year. Looking forward to reply. As a bit of trivia, the majority of cull ewes the U.S. exports go to the Mexico City area. Between their size and their courage, llamas may seem intimidating at first. They have less subcutaneous fat on average and are a bit leaner because there is less feathering in the muscles. It improves from year one to year two of age but can again be reduced by external factors like disease or weight loss. Despite being a hairsheep, White Dorpers do not lack winter hardiness Photographer: Ulf Kintzel.
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