Easy Care Hair Sheep: Is There Really Such A Thing? After 13 years of medical education and military service they landed in Maine to put down roots. Katahdins often breeding out of season. Best Sheep for Milk: 7 Best Sheep Breeds for Milk - Savvy Farm Life A Katahdin ewe will average between 140-180 pounds, while Dorper ewes will average 160-200 pounds. They are the generally more fertile in hot humid regions and show greater tolerance to parasites than woolen breeds. Considered to be the 2nd most popular breed of sheep in the US, the Dorset sheep is another solid meat-producer. 2023, Countryside - All Rights Reserved, Raising Sheep For Profit: Milking Sheep Offer a Small Farm Alternative, Raising Sheep: Buying and Caring for Your First Flock, Raising Sheep For Profit: How to Sell Raw Fleece, Raising Sheep For Profit: A Cattle Man's View. People in the Midwest or southern states see this and make a trip to Alberta to purchase a super ram. Thanks, I am considering starting a small Dorper and or Katahdin herd to raise meat for the Western New York market. Hi currently running flock of 600. "Shearing the wool was tough," he recalls, but the price paid for wool nearly covered feed costs. 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. I saw that the author is from Central Missouri, which is where we live. What You Need To Know, link to Goats vs Sheep: Profit, Care & Behavioral Differences, Best Sheep for Wool: Top 8 Sheep Breeds for Wool. It may not display this or other websites correctly. An interesting study was done that showed the parasite resistance was higher in the purebred hair sheep over the crossbred shedding sheep. Though large in size, Hampshire sheep tend to be a docile and easy-going breed. As a result, the Katahdin is the most common hair sheep in America. Disposition & Mothering Ability: Extremely reactive to dogs and cats usually as though they wish to flee. This composite "easy-care" breed was developed from crosses of African hair sheep and a variety of wool breeds with selection for a hair coat, prolificacy, and conformation. Photo courtesy of:Dr. Stephan A. Wildeus. Katahdin Hair Sheep International The first generation grows quite well due to the heterosis effect, but nearly always has a wool coat. The breeder from whom I purchased the lambs said she is breeding in dorper with the katahdins to "beef" them up a little. Some Ideas About Crossbreeding Sheep | Oklahoma State University 3 year old Dorper Katahdin Ram. The Dorper is not a true hair sheep, but is included in this fact sheet because it is used in cross breeding programs involving hair sheep. The Dorper sheep is a meat sheep breed. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'savvyfarmlife_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_3',107,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-savvyfarmlife_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');Being native to Iceland, this breed is exceptionally cold-hardy, and is an excellent and efficient forager making it able to thrive and find food in harsh environments. In this area, hair sheep often sell higher than wool sheep. Some are calling these shedding sheep. Dorper lambs tolerated the infection more so than Suffolk (wool) lambs when fecal egg counts were low. Ewes typically reach sexual maturity by 7 months. The Dorper has been very effective in increasing the growth rate, carcass size and quality of all the typical hair-type breeds such a the Barbados, Katahdin, St. Croix, the Mexican Pelibuey and other breeds that are considered exotic types. Mating season for Suffolk sheep usually happens in the Autumn or Winter of each year, as it is for most sheep breeds. They grow quickly and reach market weight early. How the breed carries fat is, I think, important when dealing with older sheep. 3 year old Dorper Katahdin Ram - farm & garden - by owner - sale It is actually a hybrid which is bred for producing more meat, less fat and less wool with the goal of producing lean tender meat. We saw their ad and went to look at their Dorper rams. Katahdin Sheep: Facts, Lifespan, Behavior & Care Guide (With Pictures I would say try the dorpers.. we only raise a few for there is only us out here. There is no such thing as an ideal breed. FLAVOR -. Its also possible that some pieces of wool or hair remain along the back or on the hind quarters or arm pits. There is a growing market demand for high-quality, naturally-fed lamb. Several Polypay owners in the area worm all animals 6-8 times during the summer and still lose animals to stomach worms. My Texel sheep had served me well with their ability to finish on pasture, with their excellent meaty carcasses and with their lambing percentage of over 200 percent. View Details. Coat & Color: Solid white or white with black head. Fact: While its true that Barbados and St. Croix are small animals (ewes 80-110 pounds), few commercial breeders raise them. Tunis sheep are able to thrive in a variety of climates, and tolerate both heat and cold well. Looking forward to reply. let me know! Later on I found out that this was the faster route to accomplish shedding in the offspring. Environmental Adaptability: Tolerant of both high and low temperatures. The flocking instinct of hair animals generally isnt as good as wool breeds. He is a native of Germany and lives in the US since 1995. Dorpers Our goal is to develop a flock of productive, easy-care sheep that are scrapie resistant, require no shearing and that reach market specs on grass. Resistance to Internal Parasites in Lambs of Hair Sheep Composite Breeds You are using an out of date browser. Sheep will eat woody vegetation but prefer grass and weeds on the ground. They have less subcutaneous fat on average and are a bit leaner because there is less feathering in the muscles. Get Shipping Quotes Opens in a new tab. Origin: This mutton breed was developed in South Africa in the 1930s from Dorset Horn and Blackheaded Persia for the extensive regions of South Africa. 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). For example, we consider time spent worming, shearing, docking and trimming hooves as merely maintaining an operation. While I had no worries about my 1/2 market lambs since the Texel influence was still strong, my anticipation when the first 3/4 market lambs were harvested was great. These are some of the best reasons to raise Katahdin sheep - though the list is by no means exhaustive! How to Use Goats and Sheep to Clear Brush - Modern Farmer This information may be used to compare breeds of hair sheep. When the pastures are poor, hair animals hold their body condition much better. Interested in raising sheep for wool? Katahdin Pedigrees Public Area Members List. Beginning in the mid-1950s, Piel imported three St.Croix sheep. Do you have to go around picking it up out of the pasture? But what about the market lambs getting too fat? The Dorper sheep has gained popularity in the last decade for meat production, with ewes reaching a weight of 170-250 pounds, and rams up to 250 pounds. 2022 Cornell Small Farms. Our first lamb - Katahdin Dorper Cross - Farm Homestead Dorset lambs, like the Suffolk and Dorper, mature quickly and are market-ready earlier than many other breeds. They reach sexual maturity very early, with ewes able to breed between 7 to 9 months of age. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. They like large groups of lambs on each farm, prefer solid colors, registered and must be enrolled in the scrapie program. Katahdin Dorper The Dorper is a mutton breed of hair sheep developed in the 1930s. They also have a fat rump, short legs, and a compact body. 109:265-275. The first rams I purchased were of outstanding shedding ability. To showcase the commercial qualities of our animals, all breeding stock we sell comes directly from pasture, having received no special treatment. In colder zones they produce a very heavy winter coat that is shed in spring. Rather than stay in a group, they will scatter in all directions like a covey of quail. Now you have a good idea of the pros and cons of both Dorper and Katahdin sheep, which one is right for your homestead? Cheviots produce alert, strong lambs who are efficient foragers. Why Katahdin x Dorper Crosses At Stoneheart Farms we specialize in Katahdin x Dorper crosses for exceptional market lambs and for replacement breeding stock. How about Field Corn! The Blackbelly is a smaller breed of sheep, with ewes maturing at around 100 pounds, and rams weighing on average 120 pounds. This is not a true hair sheep. Our young Katahdins can be difficult to move. 46:131-143.. Making a Good Ewe Flock. Katahdins are awesome and productive mothers plus they are a very hardy breed and the Dorper will put more size on the meat sheep. Today I have 1/2, 3/4, 7/8th, and 15/16th White Dorper sheep. The only problem with colesterol is that the big pharma found a new drug to sell. For more on the differences, plus potential pros and cons between the breeds, read on. His website address is www.whitecloversheepfarm.com. Dorper's are by far the closest hair sheep to the wool breed. Hair sheep breeds (Katahdin, St. Croix, Barbados) generally have much greater parasite resistance than wooled breeds, especially after one year of age. The breed has a thick, well muscled carcass and extended period of fertility. Katahdins are alert, protective mothers. Fact: Eight or ten years ago you could expect a 5-10 cents/pound discount for hair animals. Technical Abstract: Very tolerant of the humid hot conditions in the Carribean andSomolia, Blackhead Persians have a white body and black head. Sheep Breeds - UF/IFAS Extension The Dorper has a high rate of lambing and is tolerant of the arid conditions it was developed for in South Africa. No wool to deal with makes perfect economic sense. Flock owners with less than 50 animals have a difficult time getting someone to shear unless they pool their animals with neighbors. As you can see in picture Spike has some tiny horn buds; they have never grown . He seems pretty big to me, but since he is my first sheep, I dont know what he should weigh. Our spring lambs require 4-5 pounds of dry matter forage to produce each pound of gain. Hi Qazi, No difference was noted between the purebred breeds of hair sheep. Often, when a new breed or type is rising in popularity, careful breeding can fall to the wayside in the haste to have stock to sell. We have a dispute between the members about feeding sheep after working them. What You Need To Know. Ewes with young lambs show protective behavior and may raise front feet to strike dogs and cats when confronted. While Im sure Ill rile a lot of Dorper breeders, Ive seen too many that had been sheared before a sale, which defeats the purpose of a hair animal. Breed utilization for meat production in sheep. Effects of high heat load conditions on body weight, feed intake While both breeds are exceptionally popular in the US, there are some differences between the two. The Barbados Blackbelly got its name because of the characteristic black belly on an otherwise red brown coat. Ron remembers raising wool sheep as a teenager. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. How often do dorpers have breeding problems and we will then have to pull the lambs? The Royal White produces more mea t than Katahdin sheep and Dorper sheep. Coat & Color: Coat can be any color or color pattern. Lambing %: Approximately 125%, exceeding 200% with subsequent lambing. Because of their hair, like the Dorper they do not produce lanolin which will give their meat a milder taste. Produce large amount of milk. Sheep: Dorper, White Dorper and Australian White Sheep Exports If you combine all traits I have not found a better breed for a farming system based on pasture and direct marketing. Market Weight/Live/Age: 70 90 lbs / 7 8 months. They are well adapted to a variety of climatic and grazing conditions. Dorper fullbloods, Katahdin fullbloods and St Croix fullbloods, We have a nice big fullblood dorper ram that we are putting over the St Croix and the Katahdin. A maternal breed, Katahdin ewes breed well with the Dorper rams to produce a meaty but feminine lamb. Your email address will not be published. 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. As we said in the introduction, if youre looking to earn multiple income streams from your sheep, youll probably find Katahdins to be the better option. Because of their hair and their low fat content, this breed is known to produce both flavorful and mild meat. It should be kept in mind that performance varies greatly with genetic . 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. At that weight there are no problems with too much fat cover whatsoever. Disposition & Mothering Ability: Ewes are docile with good mothering ability. Royal White Sheep Breed - Learn Natural Farming However, if thats what you are looking for then this breed might not be for you. The ewes produce vigorous, healthy, robust lambs that have a high survivability. Jacksonville, FL 32254. Market Weight/Live/Age: 80 110 lbs / 5.5 6 months. The main differences between these two breeds are the colors available, and what they can be used for. The breed was created by crossing Dorset and Blackheaded Persian sheep. Although the breed was created in the 1930s, it is still fairly new to the US. Some European sheep genetics were incorporated into the African sheep to arrive at the existing hair breeds mentioned above. Your email address will not be published. The breed was developed in the mid-1950s by crossing imported St. Croix Sheep and several other breeds, including the Suffolk Sheep. Cornell University is located on the traditional homelands of the Gayogoh:n (the Cayuga Nation). 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. Like most of the sheep listed here, Texel lambs reach market size quickly, by 5-6 months. Can you advise on the availability of a good ram and 10-12 ewe lambs this Spring. However, in older hairsheep the flavor is still impressive due to the genetic factor. Most lambs are considered market-ready by 9-12 weeks. Mature Weight (Lb): Ewe = 170 200 (can be less than 170lb), Ram = 220 250. In addition to being a smaller breed, the lambs tend to mature slowly, not reaching ideal market weight until around 2 years of age. High latitudes (up north) have a short growing season with long daylight periods and fast grass growth that is high in protein and low in fiber.

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