If you plan on going into the meat production business, its important to know the difference between types of sheep meat. Of the ewe lambs exposed, 95 percent gave birth at the age of 11-13 months. FLAVOR The ewes are also heavy milkers with excellent maternal instincts. How do you collect wool from self-shearing sheep? Our young Katahdins can be difficult to move. His father Barley ( in picture behind him) is a full blooded Dorper. Bosnians want 60-pound animals while Muslims often prefer 60-80 pound animals. I have some St Croix and they are quite large. There is a growing market demand for high-quality, naturally-fed lamb. But what about the market lambs getting too fat? I'll be using my Barbados Blackbelly ram on my BB ewes and also a few Kathadin ewes. Animal Breeding Abstracts. They dont need to be sheared, they have a docile temperament making them easy to handle, and they are resistant to disease. Secondly at what age are you removing lambs from mothers . Not only do they suffer fewer complications during birthing compared to some other breeds, but they also give birth to multiple lambs. Their hair falls off naturally during the year, making them an easy breed to care for. To learn more about how you can make money off of sheep, read my article What Do Sheep Produce? Dorpersare known for their fast weight gains as lambs. Though not year-round breeders, Tunis often breed out of season, with the occasional lamb (or two) born in late Summer / Fall. Hi Mary. The phrases youll hear most often is either mutton or lamb. Hair sheep have some attributes that make them admirably suited to fill market niches or fit varying production systems in Florida. A year and many dollars later, they cant understand why the rams offspring doesnt grow any faster than the rest of their animals. Two weeks later, the ewes hadnt lost any body condition. His website address is www.whitecloversheepfarm.com. As we train border collies for sheep and cattle trials and we need a few different types of sheep. Katahdins tend to birth twins, with triplets and quadruplets occurring often with good flock management. You will find the occasional larger patch of wool in your pasture and you will definitely find wool and hair on the trees where the sheep rub. They can mature to be up to 6 tall, can reach over 400 pounds, and they dont back down Goats vs Sheep: Profit, Care & Behavioral Differences. In colder zones they produce a very heavy winter coat that is shed in spring. It improves from year one to year two of age but can again be reduced by external factors like disease or weight loss. Savvyfarmlife.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. They can harbor significant worm populations, yet not suffer the same effects a wool animal would. If you have space to corral a few sheep, you can fill the freezer with a healthy alternative to beef and chicken. Blackbellys have hair and not wool, making them a low-maintenance breed. Bred Ewes Commercial - Market Sheep. The Katahdin breed is an easy to care for, meat type sheep, naturally tolerant of climatic extremes and capable of high performance in a wide variety of environments. Environmental Adaptability: Well adapted to hot, dry, humid and wet conditions. For more on the differences, plus potential pros and cons between the breeds, read on. Selling Price: $325.00 / Head. As you can see in picture Spike has some tiny horn buds; they have never grown . This, alongside their easy-going dietary needs, really cut down the cost of keeping them. That's interesting! The Dorper is a breed of sheep that originated in the south of Africa in the 1940's. It is the product of cross-breeding between the Dorset Horn and Blackhead Persian breeds. If there were a hair Hampshire or Suffolk that would do a better job, wed be raising them. Unfortunately, as the percentage of Dorper increases, more wool is found in their coat and some animals lose some of their shedding ability. In addition, there is almost no incidence of flystrike with hair sheep breeds. The Dorper sheep is a meat sheep breed. Katahdins have hair and not wool, which means they are a low-maintenance breed that will shed their hair naturally. Did you know that Dorper sheep dont need to be sheared? I used purebred as opposed to full blood White Dorper rams to upgrade my flock. Here is a list of the top 10 sheep breeds for meat:if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'savvyfarmlife_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_0',121,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-savvyfarmlife_com-medrectangle-3-0'); Sheep are one of the most versatile livestock animals you can find when it comes to the number of different products they are able to produce. The only things to consider include: The fact Katahdin sheep dont produce wool isnt necessarily a disadvantage. Best guess is he is 175-200 lbs. Market Weight/Live/Age: 80 110 lbs / 5.5 6 months. In addition to being a smaller breed, the lambs tend to mature slowly, not reaching ideal market weight until around 2 years of age. Hampshire sheep have a muscular and stocky build, and are comparative to the Suffolk in size. This is not a true hair sheep. The breed is famous in the United States for its high performance and low maintenance. However, as the challenge escalated, parasite resistance was greatest in St. Croix lambs, followed by Katahdin and Dorper lambs. You have to pay to have it sheared once a year. Bred sheep/ewes (Dorper and Katahdin), bred to a show ram. People converting to hair sheep breeds all notice certain things. Staking livestock to a rope and expecting them to clear vegetation is ineffective and can result in . Difference in color is a matter of preference. Nitrogen retention by lambs fed oscillating dietary protein concentrations. Continue with Recommended Cookies. This breed is adaptable and can live in many different climates. Flock owners with less than 50 animals have a difficult time getting someone to shear unless they pool their animals with neighbors. The customers, including the many ethnic customers, caught up and appreciate the milder flavor of hairsheep. Today I have 1/2, 3/4, 7/8th, and 15/16th White Dorper sheep. One of the first breeds to be recognized for its commercial production, the rams can reach more than 250 lbs. Very tolerant of the humid hot conditions in the Carribean andSomolia, Blackhead Persians have a white body and black head. Hair sheep breeds are growing in popularity as consumers look for economical ways to raise homestead meat animals. There are a few characteristics you will want to look for when choosing a meat-producing sheep. You can even crossbreed them to develop unique varieties for your farm or homestead. In general they have low maintenance requirements. Because of the wool, the Icelandic sheep do need to be sheared once to twice per year. Grading up to Dorper. Like most of the sheep listed here, Texel lambs reach market size quickly, by 5-6 months.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'savvyfarmlife_com-leader-2','ezslot_10',109,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-savvyfarmlife_com-leader-2-0'); With an extended breeding season of nearly 5 months, Texel sheep are prolific breeders. Instead, I get raving reports back and I never seem to have enough market lambs to make everyone happy. They do produce wool, and will need to be shorn annually. while letting some lambs reach weights up to 100+ lbs. St. Croix Sheep have been used to develop other breeds such as the Royal White. There are black headed Dorpers (most common) and white Dorpers (harder to find). Dorper-sired. The ewes produce vigorous, healthy, robust lambs that have a high survivability. HARDINESS We have all three breeds. Sheep are like lawnmowers, while goats are more like Bush Hogs (for the uninitiated, that's the brand name for a machine designed to clear heavy brush). He can be reached at 585-554-3313 or by e-mail at ulf@whitecloversheepfarm.com. Early maturing Terminal cross lambs. the last time the ewe had triplets she would not take care of the tiny black one but at first she did.. but my husband ended up bottle feeding the last one born. Katahdins are medium size, hardy, low-maintenance, and have a high-quality carcass weight. 2023, Countryside - All Rights Reserved, Extract Natural Dye for Wool from Goldenrod Plants, Why Teach Classes on How to Knit, Spin, Weave or Felt, Use This Sweater Mitten Pattern to Bring New Life to Old Clothes. My friend also mentioned his Katahdin-Dorper lambs are much fatter when born than Polypays. The Katahdin sheep is listed as a Recovering heritage breed on the ALBC Conservation Priority List. Ewes with young lambs show protective behavior and may raise front feet to strike dogs and cats when confronted. What Needle Felting Supplies Do You Use for Sculpting? The Katahdin is another great dual-purpose breed, producing on average 210 liters of milk per 210 day cycle. Keep reading to learn more about the best sheep breeds for meat. Parasite resistance and reproductive efficiency is very high, making the Katahdin a valued breed in the hair sheep industry. Mature Weight (Lb): Ewe = 70 -120, Ram = 110 140. It should be kept in mind that performance varies greatly with genetic, management, climate, etc. While mutton and lamb may seem like more of a rarity in America, it is more popular as a main dish in other parts of the world. May 23, 2011 #3 Beekissed Herd Master Joined Aug 3, 2008 Messages 3,634 Reaction score 5,536 Points 453 Location mountains of WV ), In fall 2000, we grazed our flock on cocklebur and waterhemp that followed an oat crop. Four years ago we began converting all our cropland into pasture and expanded the flock. Katahdins often breeding out of season. Feeding these breeds too much grain can result in an overabundance of internal fat. What is worse, however, is the fact that there are breeders who do not select for shedding ability and for the show ring instead. Disposition & Mothering Ability: Breed is docile and calm with good flocking instinct. Subsequent generations with higher percentage shed better and better although shedding is not a black and white thing. Ten percent of sheep breeds are hair breeds but ninety percent of these are found in tropical areas. Can you advise on the availability of a good ram and 10-12 ewe lambs this Spring. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. What You Need To Know, link to Goats vs Sheep: Profit, Care & Behavioral Differences, Best Sheep for Wool: Top 8 Sheep Breeds for Wool. Hair sheep dont bring as much on the slaughter market. To learn more about baby sheep, check out my article Baby Sheep: What a Baby Sheep is Called & Other Fun Facts. Since Missouri has more Katahdin sheep than any other state, the majority of export animals come from here. . These White Dorper female replacement lambs already look very much like purebred White Dorpers Photographer: Ulf Kintzel. marina@mgdorpers.com. Coat & Color: Coat can be any color or color pattern. Will they settle into a seasonal pattern or will they breed continually? Like most of the sheep listed here, Texel lambs reach market size quickly, by 5-6 months. You can find out more about lambing Dorper sheep through the American Dorper Sheep Breeders Society. Dorset lambs, like the Suffolk and Dorper, mature quickly and are market-ready earlier than many other breeds. Bred to produce less back fat, their meat is lean and flavorful. Hair sheep breeds simply shed their hair covering and fleecy undercoat when the weather warms. To showcase the commercial qualities of our animals, all breeding stock we sell comes directly from pasture, having received no special treatment. When the weathers hot and the pastures are dry, their wool animals will be under a tree while the hair animals are out grazing. Future importations to university breeding flocks led to the development of the American Blackbelly sheep breed. However, Texel sheep breed strongly seasonal, are heat sensitive, have at times problems lambing due to the broad head and shoulders, and they need shearing. J. Anim Sci 77:215-222. The Dorper grows more wool but self-sheds annually. Ewes will weigh an average of 190 pounds, with rams reaching up to 300 pounds. It is also exceptionally low-maintenance. Being aware of the pros and cons of each breed will help you to make a better-informed decision over which one is right for your setup. The Katahdin Sheep is a domestic breed developed in Maine in the United States and named after the highest peak in Maine, Mount Katahdin. They can provide you with information pertaining to regulations, health requirements and local export brokers. 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. 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. 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. Many ethnic groups want a much different lamb or goat than has been marketed in the past. Can someone tell me a few of the pros and cons for both dorper sand katahdin. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. All Rights Reserved | Website by Maple Creative, God Save the Beef: Trials of Sustainable Farming in the UK . 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.. Dorper-sired lambs produce carcasses that are most similar in weight and muscling to that of wool breeds, but generally have greater fatness when slaughtered at the same age. Breeding stock is selected under rigorous criteria, including parasite resistance, hair coat, growth characteristics on grass alone and general thriftiness. How the breed carries fat is, I think, important when dealing with older sheep. 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. The mild and yet rich flavor of these culled ewes is remarkable and does not at all remind anyone of mutton. 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. The desire to climb mandates the use of a bale ring to prevent excessive waste. 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. There are three main reasons to raise hair sheep. I love lambs Does lambs has less cholesterol than goat? 2022 Cornell Small Farms. Do you want to earn multiple income streams from your flock. He is a native of Germany and lives in the US since 1995. Culling the genetic faults and only keeping the best rams for breeding will ensure a good future for any new hair sheep breeds. $300. Photo courtesy of:Dr. Stephan A. Wildeus. This has nothing to do with genetics and everything to do with the latitude in which the animal lives: Things being equal, our weights will be lower than the weights of similar Katahdins raised in Canada, but higher than ones raised in Florida. Dorpers grow a combination of hair and wool, and shed naturally meaning no shearing is required. Some hair breed rams are long-bodied which can create a lengthy birthing scenario for the ewe. Some of the main pros of keeping Katahdin sheep include: Katahdin sheep are one of the easiest breeds of sheep to care for. Weve found that while genetics play an important role in weight gains, flock management, parasite control, forage quality and forage availability seem to be more important when it comes to the bottom line. I had a Texel flock of 100 breeding ewes at the time when I bought my first White Dorper rams. Last but not least on our list is the Cheviot breed. After lambing season, most of our sheep time is spent managing our pastures so that we can provide our animals with the best quality forage possible. What happens if you leave the ram out all year round? I dont want him to get unhealthily fat. Unfortunately, Mr. Piel did not live long enough to see his breed reach having a registry and breed standards. 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. Though large in size, Hampshire sheep tend to be a docile and easy-going breed. For several years weve had Romanov/Katahdin crosses. We had the idea of crossing a Dorper with their 60 Katahdin ewes. We have eight foot Scotch Pines that look like a girdled palm tree and have seen them strip an old dried Christmas tree of its needles. As far as winter hardiness is concerned, I have my sheep out in zero degree weather. 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. Lambing %: Average lambing rate is between 150 and 250%. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Unsave Save. Dorper Sheep. 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. My Texel and Dorset lambs that I used to have in the past didnt differ that much in flavor, although the WD lambs are indeed milder tasting. Environmental Adaptability: Tolerant of both high and low temperatures. If you consider hairsheep like White Dorpers in the future dont forget to ask the breeder about the shedding ability of their flock! After 13 years of medical education and military service they landed in Maine to put down roots. When the price of raw wool fleece is below the cost of shearing the animal, this is not cost effective. (Weve heard them all.). JavaScript is disabled. They like large groups of lambs on each farm, prefer solid colors, registered and must be enrolled in the scrapie program. They will definitely get too fat. Icelandic Sheep are excellent and reliable breeders, breeding seasonally in the Fall to Winter. Some breeders have been working on crosses between traditional wool meat breeds and hair sheep breeds. 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. The second reason I chose Dorper over St. Croix is desirability. Although they are one of the newest sheep breeds introduced in America, Katahdin sheep have quickly become a popular choice. In conclusion, based on RT and RR, resilience to high HLI conditions ranked St. Croix > Katahdin > Dorper, with lowest . Mature Weight (Lb): Ewe = 130 140 (Average is 136), Ram = 170 - 200. They are excellent mothers. 2022 Cornell Small Farms. Katahdin would adapt best under humid, warm conditions, while Dorper would be best suited for dry arid and semiarid rangeland conditions. The ancestry is believed to be of both African hair sheep and European breeds. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); If you have a disability and are having trouble accessing information on this website or need materials in an alternate format, please contact Cornell University via email at web-accessibility@cornell.edu for assistance. Two varieties of Dorper Sheep were created: the black headed Dorper and an all white variety, the White Dorper sheep. A caution when breeding is to choose the right size ram for the ewe. Katahdin meat tends to be leaner than many other breeds. These slaughter lambs sell comparable to pure Katahdin sheep per pound unless theyre full of cockleburs and briars. We both work off thefarm; therefore time is a commodity in short supply.
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