We just started raising Katahdins this year. People converting to hair sheep breeds all notice certain things. Some of the main pros of keeping Katahdin sheep include: Katahdin sheep are one of the easiest breeds of sheep to care for. I think this is where the good reputation of hair sheep comes in. There is the wool type and the hairtype with the hairtype being slightly less meaty but far better shedding. The bodybuilder of the sheep world, the Texel sheep is known for its heavily-muscled and sturdy frame. As you can see in picture Spike has some tiny horn buds; they have never grown . 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. Because of their hair, like the Dorper they do not produce lanolin which will give their meat a milder taste. There are lots of Dorper breeders in NC also, as well as "commercial" crossbreeds: You can search this site by States to find Scrapie-free certified breeders of sheep and goats: Special Notes The Dorper sheep are very hardy animals. Some general information on hair sheep is found on the next page. $300. Ta Paul.5. Your email address will not be published. The Dorper has a high rate of lambing and is tolerant of the arid conditions it was developed for in South Africa. It is raised mainly for meat production. Parasitol. Its also possible that some pieces of wool or hair remain along the back or on the hind quarters or arm pits. Keep reading to learn more about the best sheep breeds for meat. (A friend with Polypay and Katahdin sheep has had the same experience. Katahdin ewes weigh around 125-185 pounds, and rams average around 200 pounds. "We liked their look," Ruby puts in. 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. I have a pet ram lamb, texel dorset cross I was told. To showcase the commercial qualities of our animals, all breeding stock we sell comes directly from pasture, having received no special treatment. Photo courtesy of: Dr. Stephan A. Wildeus. Well, at least Katahdins, St Croix and barbs. In addition, there is almost no incidence of flystrike with hair sheep breeds. It is a very hardy breed and is disease resistant. 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). Most hair sheep breeds will lamb out of season without resorting to hormone therapy. Looking forward to reply. The desire to climb mandates the use of a bale ring to prevent excessive waste. Two varieties of Dorper Sheep were created: the black headed Dorper and an all white variety, the White Dorper sheep. 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. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'savvyfarmlife_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_11',105,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-savvyfarmlife_com-large-leaderboard-2-0');Considered to be the 2nd most popular breed of sheep in the US, the Dorset sheep is another solid meat-producer. Between their size and their courage, llamas may seem intimidating at first. A year and many dollars later, they cant understand why the rams offspring doesnt grow any faster than the rest of their animals. Lamb comes from a sheep under the age of 1 year old. "Dorper sheep are barrel-shaped with a well-muscled back end. 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. Have good flocking instinct. 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. Katahdin Sheep - Kiko and Boer Goats This means that, theoretically, a Dorper ewe can produce a lamb (or 2 or 3) every 8 months. Required fields are marked *. Thirdly how long after separation to market. Viewing a thread - Dorper Sheep vs. Katahdin Sheep One in particular is more like a paint horse. If you plan on raising lambs for meat, youll need to know everything that comes with taking care of baby sheep. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to compare productive performance of F 1 Dp vs . Average Birth Weight (Lbs): 7 lbs for small lambs, 4-5 lbs for twin lambs. This site is owned and operated by Wild Wire Media, LLC. He can be reached at 585-554-3313 or by e-mail at ulf@whitecloversheepfarm.com. Our grass-fed ewes normally go into the fall with a body score of 4-5, which makes flushing difficult: Adult Katahdin sheep can maintain themselves on poor quality forage that had our Romanovs literally skin and bones. 3 year old Dorper Katahdin Ram. And does anyone have experience with katahdin ewes on dorper bucks . When youre raising sheep for meat, the wool is a by-product. I recently purchased 4 ram lambs for meat. If you have space to corral a few sheep, you can fill the freezer with a healthy alternative to beef and chicken. Best guess is he is 175-200 lbs. What happens if you leave the ram out all year round? Now you have a good idea of the pros and cons of both Dorper and Katahdin sheep, which one is right for your homestead? Breed is mainly free of wool and do not normally require shearing. Mature Weight (Lb): Ewe = 170 200 (can be less than 170lb), Ram = 220 250. It should be kept in mind that performance varies greatly with genetic . 100 Dorper - Bred Ewes. This article first appeared in the May/June 2010 Hobby Farms. Effects of high heat load conditions on body weight, feed intake They shed their winter coats during spring and early summer. Katahdin x Texel. Why they are Crossed - YouTube 0:00 / 4:43 Dorper Sheep vs. Katahdin Sheep. The SNPs in NOS2, TGFB2, and IL2RA genes were also observed with high genetic differentiation in the Katahdin and St. Croix vs Dorper analysis. How do you decide which breed is right for your needs? He can be reached at 585-554-3313 or by e-mail at ulf@whitecloversheepfarm.com. Forty-six Dorper, 46 Katahdin, and 43 St. Croix female sheep from four regions of the USA were used to evaluate responses to high heat load index (HLI) conditions. Kasteel Whitedorper Stud - Homepage The Barbados Blackbelly got its name because of the characteristic black belly on an otherwise red brown coat. Katahdins are awesome and productive mothers plus they are a very hardy breed and the Dorper will put more size on the meat sheep. The Dorper grows more wool but self-sheds annually. They are attentive, protective, and make excellent mothers. take it from me, you dont have to worry about anyone getting too fat. Most Muslims prefer intact ram lambs without tails being docked. The breed was developed in the mid-1950s by crossing imported St. Croix Sheep and several other breeds, including the Suffolk Sheep. Dorset lambs, like the Suffolk and Dorper, mature quickly and are market-ready earlier than many other breeds. 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. Variance in RT in periods 3 and 4 ranked St. Croix < Dorper < Katahdin. 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. Dorper sheep do well in warm, arid climates, but can tolerate cold as well. The leather from hair sheep grain is finer than the leather from wool breeds and brings in a larger amount of money. Katahdin sheep and Dorper are bred as meat sheep breeds. If this same time is spent building homestead fencing, watersystems, improving lambing or handling facilities, its improving an operation. 2 are Katahdin and 2 are katahdin/dorper crosses. 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. These slaughter lambs sell comparable to pure Katahdin sheep per pound unless theyre full of cockleburs and briars. Due to the high amount of red muscle fibers, the Icelandic sheep has a uniquely tender and fine texture. Feeding Practices in Sheep - Merck Veterinary Manual By John Kirchhoff For many people, mentioning hair sheep evokes either I wouldnt have anything else or a No way would I have them response. My wife and I feel theres no best breed, but rather which breed best fits your operation. However, if you are not intending to feed grain and if you dont intend to grow your lambs beyond 100 lbs. Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment. Lambs are efficient producers of meat. LMAO!!!! Katahdin ewes weigh around 125-185 pounds, and rams average around 200 pounds. Some of the ancestors of these breeds originated in Africa and were brought to the Caribbean Islands, Central America and northern South America during the 18th and 19th century. They can harbor significant worm populations, yet not suffer the same effects a wool animal would. Some are calling these shedding sheep. Lambing %: Given an average lambing percent of 150 and 3 lambing in 2 years, Dorper will produce 2.25 lambs on an annual basis. Q. Featured Listing. Fact: While its true that Barbados and St. Croix are small animals (ewes 80-110 pounds), few commercial breeders raise them. Shear force values were greatest, tougher, for Dorset-sired than Dorper-sired or Katahdin lambs. Environmental Adaptability: Well adapted to hot, dry, humid and wet conditions. Our experienced ewes averaged 2.1 lambs/ewe born with 1.9 weaned. I would say try the dorpers.. we only raise a few for there is only us out here. Although the breed was created in the 1930s, it is still fairly new to the US. As with any young growing animal, the weight gains of a Katahdin lamb increase as the protein and digestibility of the forage increases. Apparently, Momma Kathadin doesnt wait around to see what happens when Mr. Coyote shows up for dinner. Lambing %: Lambing rates vary from 150% to 250% with 3 lambing every 2 years not uncommon. How do you collect wool from self-shearing sheep? The Dorper has a high rate of lambing and is tolerant of the arid conditions it was developed for in South Africa. 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. This breed produces rapid-growing lambs, with most lambs being considered ready for market at 12 weeks of age. The Dorper carcass has a good conformation and fat distribution. You can check my blog at Merino sheep for sale. The trend is now reversed. 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. Its also common to see animals of up to a year old climbing to the top of a big bale of hay. The cross breeding results in the best of both breeds but also in the benefits of heterosis, commonly known as hybrid vigor. They also have a fat rump, short legs, and a compact body. They are prolific breeders as well, often producing twins. Hampshire sheep have a muscular and stocky build, and are comparative to the Suffolk in size. 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. We saw their ad and went to look at their Dorper rams. Sales at the 2022 mid America Dorper Show nearly broke $1 MILLION with the top Dorper ewe bringing $20,000 and ram $12,800. The Dorper Sheep is a hardy resilient South African breed of sheep that can withstand various harsh climates, environments and intensive operations. Breed ideal for pasture lambing and grass/forage based management systems. we really enjoy that black baby lamb and she is 9 months old now. I have some St Croix and they are quite large. Katahdin Pedigrees ~ Members List We currently manage between 45-60 ewes per year with about 70% of our flock being registered. Consider the pros and cons featured above before making your decision. The Gayogoh:n are members of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, an alliance of six sovereign Nations with a historic and contemporary presence on this land. The other half needed shearing. I had a Texel flock of 100 breeding ewes at the time when I bought my first White Dorper rams. Vet. In fact, when we have pot roast from a culled ewe I can still fool my wife into thinking we had lamb for dinner. 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. Rams generally have horns. (Weve heard them all.). When the pastures are poor, hair animals hold their body condition much better. 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. It is now farmed in other areas as well, and is the second most common sheep breed in South Africa. Four Barbados Blackbelly sheep arrived in the United States in 1904. In general they have low maintenance requirements. Dorset sheep have lean and muscular carcasses, making them excellent at producing meat. Mature Weight (Lb): Ewe = 70 -120, Ram = 110 140. Dorsets commonly produce twins and even triplets. Why they are Crossed Waco Childbirth Education 74 subscribers Subscribe 127 Share. Good set of ewes. As we train border collies for sheep and cattle trials and we need a few different types of sheep. Some hair breed rams are long-bodied which can create a lengthy birthing scenario for the ewe. Market Weight/Live/Age: 80 110 lbs / 5.5 6 months. In conclusion, based on RT and RR, resilience to high HLI conditions ranked St. Croix > Katahdin > Dorper, with lowest . ), more intense selection for increased body length and a ewe flock of around 160-175 ewes. 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. The main questions to ask yourself to determine the answer are: Katahdin sheep come in multiple color varieties, whereas Dorper sheep are white and black. Easy Care Hair Sheep: Is There Really Such A Thing? Dorper Sheep - Sheep Breed Series 22,946 views Mar 15, 2020 417 Dislike Share The Grass-fed Homestead 75.8K subscribers Shepherdess Tess talks about her Dorper sheep breeding program and how. I forgot to ask for notification via e-mail, so I am reposting my questions. Dorper and Katahdin are medium size breeds. Dorper Vs Katadhin Sheep: Which Is Better For Your Farm? We normally worm our lambs 3-4 times a summer and the ewes not at all. Today I have 1/2, 3/4, 7/8th, and 15/16th White Dorper sheep. Most lambs are considered market-ready by 9-12 weeks. I usually harvest my lambs between 80 and 90 lbs. Choosing breeding stock with this in mind can avoid this problem. The ability of this breed to put grass into weight gain is remarkable. 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. McKinney. Suffolk ewes have an excellent lambing rate of 180%, making them a solid choice for breeding. Unfortunately, as the percentage of Dorper increases, more wool is found in their coat and some animals lose some of their shedding ability. 2022 Cornell Small Farms. Dorset lambs, like the Suffolk and Dorper, mature quickly and are market-ready earlier than many other breeds. The ewes produce vigorous, healthy, robust lambs that have a high survivability. 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. One of the oldest breeds of sheep, the Tunis is still a favorite breed for meat production. The lighter weights are the result of hot weather reducing forage intake (occurs with all grazing animals) and lowered nutritional quality of cool-season forages. Sheds coat as temperature and day length increase. He farms in the Finger Lakes area in upstate New York. Their main advantage is that they adapt well to hot humid climate where woolen breeds do not thrive well. So, what about littering the pasture with wool? Glenn Land Farm Dexter Cattle & Dorper Sheep The cross breeding results in the best of both breeds but also in the benefits of heterosis, commonly known as hybrid vigor. We prefer using forage to produce lambs rather than wool. 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. While there are far fewer cons than there are pros for keeping Dorper sheep, you do need to consider the potential downsides. A large-framed, late-maturing breed will not have the necessary carcass quality at these weights, whereas Katahdin sheep or Dorpers will. Icelandic Sheep are another popular choice for meat, with ewes weighing an average of 150 pounds at maturity, and rams averaging 200 pounds. Fact: In central Missouri, raising sheep for wool has been a losing proposition for a number of years. The only problem with colesterol is that the big pharma found a new drug to sell. The Blackbelly is a smaller breed of sheep, with ewes maturing at around 100 pounds, and rams weighing on average 120 pounds. Katahdin is probably the more economical choice, however, namely because they can produce both meat and milk. Check out my article Best Sheep for Wool: Top 8 Sheep Breeds for Wool. Newbie trying to decide (Katahdin, Dorper, or St. Croix) 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. The Royal White sheep shed their wool naturally, it saves the cost of shearing. Crossing these breeds with woolen breeds for efficient meat production does hold some potential. Ewes will weigh an average of 190 pounds, with rams reaching up to 300 pounds. Our flock is content to sleep outside in the coldest weather and will have unmelted snow on their backs like a wool animal. 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 . The Cheviot sheep is best suited for northern, colder climates, and does not tolerate heat as well. Several myths still surround hair sheep. After slaughter, all thats left is hide, manure and stomach contents. They do produce wool, and will need regular shearing. The customers, including the many ethnic customers, caught up and appreciate the milder flavor of hairsheep. We are in the process of installing another 10,000 feet of electric fence on 25 acres that will result in another nine paddocks. May 23, 2011 #3 Beekissed Herd Master Joined Aug 3, 2008 Messages 3,634 Reaction score 5,536 Points 453 Location mountains of WV The breed was created by crossing Dorset and Blackheaded Persian sheep. Hair sheep breeds are growing in popularity as consumers look for economical ways to raise homestead meat animals. And some shed one year but not totally the next for no apparent reason at all. When comparing weights, keep in mind we live in north central Missouri. There were sequential 2-wk. . Dorpersare known for their fast weight gains as lambs. Considered to be the 2nd most popular breed of sheep in the US, the Dorset sheep is another solid meat-producer. Hair sheep dont bring as much on the slaughter market. Are Llamas Dangerous? I could always pick out the dorper/katahdin crosses. Owning Goats vs. Sheep The St. Croix breed is descended from the original West African hair sheep although some believe they are a cross breed of Criollo and Wiltshire White sheep. An interesting study was done that showed the parasite resistance was higher in the purebred hair sheep over the crossbred shedding sheep. Katahdin Hair Sheep | Successful Farming Reaching maturity earlier than many breeds, the Suffolk lamb will reach an average of 116 pounds by 100 days of age. Average weight for the Cheviot is 130 175 pounds. . American Blackbelly Hairbreeds have many positive traits that make them an ideal animal for small farms, homesteads, and of course, larger commercial farms. Tunis are solid breeders and excellent mothers. We currently have about 100 ewes. . We live in central NSW ( Australia ) our usual rainfall is 30 inchs, temp range from -7 deg to 45 deg C ( yes 115 F ) but over the past 3 years we have been experiencing a huge drought. All Rights Reserved | Website by Maple Creative, God Save the Beef: Trials of Sustainable Farming in the UK . Weight Gain/Daily: 0.4 lbs daily with good nutrition. Generally, hair breeds are more heat tolerant than wool breeds. Required fields are marked *. Hair Sheep: No Wooling Around - Hobby Farms Culling the genetic faults and only keeping the best rams for breeding will ensure a good future for any new hair sheep breeds. Posted 11/18/2019 21:09 (#7854689) Subject: Dorper Sheep vs. Katahdin Sheep. Thank so much for this information. You can overcome this by making sure your walls are high enough, and that there is nothing in their enclosure that they can climb onto. What You Need To Know, link to Goats vs Sheep: Profit, Care & Behavioral Differences, Best Sheep for Wool: Top 8 Sheep Breeds for Wool. The carcass of the Cheviot tends to be plump and meaty, with just enough fat to produce a succulent meat. Hi just wondering it may be a silly question anyways can you milk Dorper sheep. Since todays hair sheep breeds are developed from hardy ancestors, they are considered easy keepers because they have a natural resistance to disease and parasites. We find its seldom necessary to trim hooves. Many ethnic groups want a much different lamb or goat than has been marketed in the past. The Katahdin is another great dual-purpose breed, producing on average 210 liters of milk per 210 day cycle. The majority of ewe lambs are sold as registered breeding stock; the majority of ram lambs are sold for slaughter. Keeping Boer Goats: 5 Biggest Disadvantages, 4 Best Places with Sheep for Sale in Missouri, They are easy to breed and commonly give birth to multiple lambs, They arent great for milk or wool production, They dont require shearing, tail docking, or crutching, Lambs take a little longer than some breeds to reach market weight. Libyans prefer old worn out buck goats for their stronger flavor. However, they all shed around the belly, legs, head, and all the other places that would otherwise prolong shearing. For several years weve had Romanov/Katahdin crosses. Hi Qazi, Texel sheep do best in colder climates, as they are exceptionally cold-hardy and have been known to be sensitive to the heat. -. The Dorper sheep is a meat sheep breed. In terms of temperament, cost, and maintenance, they are both excellent options. My friend also mentioned his Katahdin-Dorper lambs are much fatter when born than Polypays. Effects of high heat load conditions on body weight, feed intake Dorper Sheep Breed - Everything You Need to Know - Domestic Animal Breeds You are using an out of date browser. Ulf, Another goodproductfromhair sheep is leather. The Dorpers get so quiet and even a little lazy that the dogs really have to work hard to make them move much. We are currently running 130 registered ewes with 10 commercial ewes that will be dispersed this year. Bred Ewes Commercial - Market Sheep. Kt ewes under low-input semiarid conditions of northern Mxico. I love lambs Does lambs has less cholesterol than goat? As a bit of trivia, the majority of cull ewes the U.S. exports go to the Mexico City area. Environmental Adaptability: Withstand higher heat and humidity than British sheep breeds. my ewe with CL has had her first batch of lambs last month and she is a really good mother! To be successful, you must sell quality, and I stress quality animals; send anything else to slaughter. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Why Katahdin x Dorper Crosses. Their hair falls off naturally during the year, making them an easy breed to care for. Cheviots are easy to breed, meeting a 90% lambing average without assistance. Not only do they suffer fewer complications during birthing compared to some other breeds, but they also give birth to multiple lambs. Sheep for sale: young grass-fed butcher ram lambs (Dorper & Katahdin) The main differences between these two breeds are the colors available, and what they can be used for. Dorper Vs Katadhin Sheep: Which is better for your homestead? 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. What You Need To Know. You will always need to make compromises if you choose to have a purebred flock. They will definitely get too fat. The shedding ability of this breed varies greatly. Hi..I have a merino female sheep and I would like to know if its possible to cross it with male dorper sheep to get pregnant .. Do Dorpers only breed seasonally ? Dorper sheep are exceptionally popular amongst both hobbyists and commercial homesteads. An older, fat sheep is likely where the reputation of nasty mutton comes from. They have woolier coats and are slower to shed (most of them). $300. Vigorous growers, the Icelandic produce lambs that are market-ready at 70-100 pounds in as little as 4-5 months. Though large in size, Hampshire sheep tend to be a docile and easy-going breed. This breed tolerates both heat and cold making them a good choice for most climates. Your email address will not be published. Katahdins often breeding out of season. There is no such thing as an ideal breed. Dries Wiese, the owner and Studbreeder, was 9 years old when his father bought him his first . Two weeks later, the ewes hadnt lost any body condition. Like the Dorper, Dorset ewes are able to breed year-round and are not limited to a typical Fall/Winter breeding season. Blackbellys have hair and not wool, making them a low-maintenance breed. Due to its heavily muscled carcass, the Texel sheep is a very popular meat breed. I have noticed that some lambs are showing caramel patches. Good milkers, and is suggested not to wean lambs before three months. They were an excellent choice for this as they seldom bothered the pine trees. They are easy care sheep that divert most of their energy into producing meat instead of wool. Nick. I raise all my sheep and lambs strictly on pasture and feed no grain whatsoever. Secrets of Raising Katahdin Sheep - Countryside