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Best Sheep for Milk: 7 Best Sheep Breeds for Milk - Savvy Farm Life I had a Texel flock of 100 breeding ewes at the time when I bought my first White Dorper rams. Viewing a thread - Dorper Sheep vs. Katahdin Sheep The Blackbelly is a smaller breed of sheep, with ewes maturing at around 100 pounds, and rams weighing on average 120 pounds. Originally, the established buyers at auctions resisted hairsheep in general and they fetched lower prices in places like New Holland. I can only put this down to past genetics. There is no such thing as an ideal breed. 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. What sheep breeds are best for meat? 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. In years past, 18-30 pound lambs sold well in Chicago for Jewish Passover. 1. Sheep for Meat: 10 Best Sheep Breeds for Meat - Savvy Farm Life The American Sheep Industry recognizes 47 different sheep breeds in the US, with hundreds more recognized internationally. 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. Tunis sheep are able to thrive in a variety of climates, and tolerate both heat and cold well. Katahdins are alert, protective mothers. That applies to purebred WD market lambs as well. You must log in or register to reply here. The Royal White sheep shed their wool naturally, it saves the cost of shearing. The second reason I chose Dorper over St. Croix is desirability. An interesting study was done that showed the parasite resistance was higher in the purebred hair sheep over the crossbred shedding sheep. We began our Katahdin Sheep herd with non-registered sheep but have added registered Katahdin ewes to our farm. link to Are Llamas Dangerous? Breeders often use less-expensive Katahdin ewes to initiate an upgrading program with registered Dorper as the final goal. You can also use them for multiple income streams thanks to their excellent meat and milk production. The Dorper carcass has a good conformation and fat distribution. In lambs, grain feeding versus grass-fed has a greater influence on flavor than the differences in breeds. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. Environmental Adaptability:They are adaptable to all climates. Suffolk grow wool continuously, and will need to be sheared annually. Ron remembers raising wool sheep as a teenager. Like most of the sheep listed here, Texel lambs reach market size quickly, by 5-6 months. The Katahdin sheep is listed as a Recovering heritage breed on the ALBC Conservation Priority List. When it comes down to it, the choice of whether to add Dorper sheep or Katahdin sheep to your homestead is more about personal preference. Dorpersare known for their fast weight gains as lambs. For us, the Katahdin sheep breed fits our operation and our philosophy quite well. Our paddocks are grazed for 5-7 days followed by 25-34 days of . Grazing animals put on weight quickly in preparation for the long winters. Hi just wondering it may be a silly question anyways can you milk Dorper sheep. This is down to the fantastic range of benefits they deliver. Cornell University is located on the traditional homelands of the Gayogoh:n (the Cayuga Nation). Dorper and Katahdin are medium size breeds. Signatures of selection for resistance to - BMC Genomics When the pastures are poor, hair animals hold their body condition much better. . The Dorper grows more wool but self-sheds annually. Secondly at what age are you removing lambs from mothers . However, they have been cross-bred with other breeds over the years to develop the modern breed we see today. The Dorper sheep is a meat sheep breed. One needs to do a detail review of the information related to the hair breed one wishes to raise. we really enjoy that black baby lamb and she is 9 months old now. I would say try the dorpers.. we only raise a few for there is only us out here. Katahdins have generated a great deal of interest from all parts of North America. At Kettle Haven Ranch we specialize in Katahdin x Dorper crosses for exceptional market lambs and for replacement breeding stock. I had on occasion lambs butchered that exceeded 110 pounds. 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. What You Need To Know. Photo courtesy of: Dr. Stephan A. Wildeus. Thank so much for this information. so so far we are separating her and letting the pus drain It is common to have ewes lambing twice per year. Due to the high amount of red muscle fibers, the Icelandic sheep has a uniquely tender and fine texture. University of South Dakota research found it requires 250-300 pounds of dry matter forage to produce each pound of wool. We are fortunate that buyers for the large ethnic market in St. Louis often attend sales. Dorper Vs Katadhin Sheep: Which is better for your homestead? Half of the group thinks it is okay to feed hot sheep, the other half disagrees. It is now farmed in other areas as well, and is the second most common sheep breed in South Africa. How to Use Goats and Sheep to Clear Brush - Modern Farmer Crossing with the Dorper led tothis larger hair breed. I could always pick out the dorper/katahdin crosses. Dorpers grow a combination of hair and wool, and shed naturally meaning no shearing is required. 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, Cornell University is located on the traditional homelands of the Gayogoh:n. Dorper and Katahdin are medium size breeds. 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. We are currently using rams with high shedding scores, while culling heavily on production traits. For more on the differences, plus potential pros and cons between the breeds, read on. While they always have access to a wind break when the wind howls, they are not being housed with the exception of those that lamb during the winter. This breed is adaptable and can live in many different climates. I think that we are asking for bloat. A unique characteristic about the Dorper is that they do not breed seasonally, instead they are able to breed year-around. The Dorper has a high rate of lambing and is tolerant of the arid conditions it was developed for in South Africa. Katahdin meat tends to be leaner than many other breeds. 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. The Dorpers get so quiet and even a little lazy that the dogs really have to work hard to make them move much. The Dorper originated in South Africa from crosses between the Dorset and the Blackhead Persian. These include: The fact Dorper sheep are easy to breed is a huge advantage. 1999. When selecting breeding stock, choose animals with good feet. When the price of raw wool fleece is below the cost of shearing the animal, this is not cost effective. The lambing rate is not as high as other hair breeds. His information is given at the conclusion of the article, pasted below. Considered to be the 2nd most popular breed of sheep in the US, the Dorset sheep is another solid meat-producer. Originally publishedin sheep! The only problem with colesterol is that the big pharma found a new drug to sell. Katahdins are a popular meat breed for sheep farmers. Katahdin x Texel. Suffolk ewes have an excellent lambing rate of 180%, making them a solid choice for breeding. The Barbados Blackbelly got its name because of the characteristic black belly on an otherwise red brown coat. Katahdin sheep are one of several hair breeds, the most common of which includes Barbados Black Belly, St. Croix and Dorper sheep. 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. You can even crossbreed them to develop unique varieties for your farm or homestead. 2. Feed conversion is good since these sheep fatten easily on less than ideal pasture and forage. They do produce wool, and will need regular shearing. Can you advise on the availability of a good ram and 10-12 ewe lambs this Spring. 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. Some Ideas About Crossbreeding Sheep | Oklahoma State University They do produce wool, and need to be shorn on a regular basis. It may not display this or other websites correctly. 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. i want buy texel sheep unit so please tell how can buy it this breed. The Dorper X Katahdin are very popular and providing you use a good quality ram, I would suggest fullblood or purebred, they do tend to really stamp the babies with their type. Dorper - Wikipedia Making Natural Clothing Dye From Vegetables. As with any young growing animal, the weight gains of a Katahdin lamb increase as the protein and digestibility of the forage increases. The Confederacy precedes the establishment of Cornell University, New York state, and the United States of America. The majority of ewe lambs are sold as registered breeding stock; the majority of ram lambs are sold for slaughter. As mentioned earlier, hair sheep breeds are considerably more heat-tolerant than wool breeds. The ancestry is believed to be of both African hair sheep and European breeds. Dorper Sheep Breed Information, History & Facts - RaisingSheep.net Future importations to university breeding flocks led to the development of the American Blackbelly sheep breed. Manage Settings My friend used to manage a flock of purebreds of both breeds and crosses. JavaScript is disabled. Icelandic Sheep are excellent and reliable breeders, breeding seasonally in the Fall to Winter. i do not want to cull her from the flock! Coat & Color: Most of the individuals are white, but tan and spotted ones exist. What is the point of getting hairsheep when you end up shearing them? for info and videos along with books and much more! However, as the challenge escalated, parasite resistance was greatest in St. Croix lambs, followed by Katahdin and Dorper lambs. As wild sheep were domesticated, breeding for increased wool came into practice. Non selective grazers that perform well under both extensive and intensive production systems. As a result, the Katahdin is the most common hair sheep in America. The percentage of 15/16 is considered purebred. Because of the wool, the Icelandic sheep do need to be sheared once to twice per year. 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 ? Next Page: Flock ID Last Name First Name Farm Name Address City State . 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. However, if thats what you are looking for then this breed might not be for you. Members List; Customize Search Results Format: Quick Search: Flock ID: Member Name: Farm Name: State: Records 1 - 100 of 1770 records found matching your criteria: All Records : Page 1 of 18 Go To Page . They are seasonal breeders, conceiving in the Fall and Winter. Many ethnic groups want a much different lamb or goat than has been marketed in the past. 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. Katahdin sheep and Dorper are bred as meat sheep breeds. They are excellent mothers. We may be partial to the breed, but were not raising a hobby flock. Despite being a hairsheep, White Dorpers do not lack winter hardiness Photographer: Ulf Kintzel. If this same time is spent building homestead fencing, watersystems, improving lambing or handling facilities, its improving an operation. The cross breeding results in the best of both breeds but also in the benefits of heterosis, commonly known as hybrid vigor. Mating season for Suffolk sheep usually happens in the Autumn or Winter of each year, as it is for most sheep breeds. 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. 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. Animals dont grow as fastbut dont need to with milder winters and longer growing season. . Because of their hair and their low fat content, this breed is known to produce both flavorful and mild meat. I have a pet ram lamb, texel dorset cross I was told. Just a little more "stingy" than the Dorper (and I am talking more for working them with dogs). They do produce wool, and will need to be shorn annually. Will they settle into a seasonal pattern or will they breed continually? Resistance to Internal Parasites in Lambs of Hair Sheep Composite Breeds After 13 years of medical education and military service they landed in Maine to put down roots. Breeding Season: They breed throughout the year. 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. 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. The customers, including the many ethnic customers, caught up and appreciate the milder flavor of hairsheep. Typically, the 75 percent Dorper crosses will exhibit the Dorper coloration and conformation. Disposition & Mothering Ability: Ewes are docile with good mothering ability. 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. Some general information on hair sheep is found on the next page. While I cant speak for other hair sheep breeds, Katahdin sheep are often more flighty than many other breeds: Several producers of both hair and wool animals have found coyote losses are considerably lower with Katahdins. The cross breeding results in the best of both breeds but also in the benefits of heterosis, commonly known as hybrid vigor. Selling Price: $325.00 / Head. There was only the body fleece that needed shearing. They reach sexual maturity early, and will remain fertile for a longer period of time than many other breeds. Crossing these breeds with woolen breeds for efficient meat production does hold some potential. 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. For specific questions, please contact the author. They have incredible growth of lambs at butcher weight within 6-8 months with carcass weights in the 45-60 lb range. Just like to make a comment. Theyre too small to be of commercial value. Wondering What to Feed Sheep? Last but not least on our list is the Cheviot breed. Staking livestock to a rope and expecting them to clear vegetation is ineffective and can result in . ), more intense selection for increased body length and a ewe flock of around 160-175 ewes. Publication : USDA ARS Quite a few meat producers are finding better success with the hair breeds of meat sheep than with meat goats. Compared to other breeds, these sheep are relatively new, dating back to the 1950s. Hi currently running flock of 600. Sales of sheep meat and sheep breeding stock are on the rise in the United States and Canada. Though the breed produces wool (and lanolin), it is known to have a particularly mild taste. Thanks, Noela. Why they are Crossed - YouTube 0:00 / 4:43 Dorper Sheep vs. Katahdin Sheep. The breed has a thick, well muscled carcass and extended period of fertility. Consider the pros and cons featured above before making your decision. Suffolk ewes are excellent mothers and prolific breeders. As they say, the proof is in the pudding eating. You are using an out of date browser. I have no way of weighing him. We are in the process of installing another 10,000 feet of electric fence on 25 acres that will result in another nine paddocks. These are some of the best reasons to raise Katahdin sheep - though the list is by no means exhaustive!