), In fall 2000, we grazed our flock on cocklebur and waterhemp that followed an oat crop. Hair sheep have some attributes that make them admirably suited to fill market niches or fit varying production systems in Florida. In lambs, grain feeding versus grass-fed has a greater influence on flavor than the differences in breeds. Just like to make a comment. Mature Weight (Lb): Ewe = 70 -120, Ram = 110 140. What sheep breeds are best for meat? For several years weve had Romanov/Katahdin crosses. It is more flighty than Dorper, Kathadin and St. Croix breeds. 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. People converting to hair sheep breeds all notice certain things. This information is important to producers and extension agents with an interest in hair sheep. November/December 2003 and regularly vetted for accuracy. 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. He seems pretty big to me, but since he is my first sheep, I dont know what he should weigh. so so far we are separating her and letting the pus drain A caution when breeding is to choose the right size ram for the ewe. Yes, you can milk Dorper sheep! Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Originally publishedin sheep! The cross breeding results in the best of both breeds but also in the benefits of heterosis, commonly known as hybrid vigor. To showcase the commercial qualities of our animals, all breeding stock we sell comes directly from pasture, having received no special treatment. Hi just wondering it may be a silly question anyways can you milk Dorper sheep. I have a question. 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. Westexas. Hairbreeds have many positive traits that make them an ideal animal for small farms, homesteads, and of course, larger commercial farms. Good set of ewes. Why Katahdin x Dorper Crosses. Environmental Adaptability: Tolerant of both high and low temperatures. Your email address will not be published. The Katahdin is another great dual-purpose breed, producing on average 210 liters of milk per 210 day cycle. If I took the chance and had her bred would she be able to carry her lamb/s? There is the wool type and the hairtype with the hairtype being slightly less meaty but far better shedding. Grading up to Dorper. The first generation grows quite well due to the heterosis effect, but nearly always has a wool coat. Generally, hair breeds are more heat tolerant than wool breeds. Are Llamas Dangerous? After 13 years of medical education and military service they landed in Maine to put down roots. The Barbados Blackbelly got its name because of the characteristic black belly on an otherwise red brown coat. Market Weight/Live/Age: 60 80 lbs / 9 month. The cross breeding results in the best of both breeds but also in the benefits of heterosis, commonly known as hybrid vigor. The Blackbelly is a smaller breed of sheep, with ewes maturing at around 100 pounds, and rams weighing on average 120 pounds. Ewes typically reach sexual maturity by 7 months. As a result, about 50 percent of the first generation of White Dorper cross bred sheep shed partially or mostly. The breed has a thick, well muscled carcass and extended period of fertility. LMAO!!!! Origin: This breed was developed or evolved on the Eastern Caribbean Island of Barbados. Sheds coat as temperature and day length increase. For example, cold wind and warm sun quickly result in herd finding shelter under conditions when woolen sheep remain in the open. This is down to the fantastic range of benefits they deliver. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Not only do they suffer fewer complications during birthing compared to some other breeds, but they also give birth to multiple lambs. Katahdins are docile, medium-sized sheep; ewes weigh 125 to 185 pounds, rams 180 to 250 pounds. 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. Hair sheep breeds simply shed their hair covering and fleecy undercoat when the weather warms. 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 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. As mentioned earlier, theres no price discount for Katahdin sheep or Dorper sheep in central Missouri. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. The Dorper sheep is a meat sheep breed. 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. Dorper sheep have a distinctive appearance: black heads and white bodies. A large-framed, late-maturing breed will not have the necessary carcass quality at these weights, whereas Katahdin sheep or Dorpers will. I can only put this down to past genetics. In 2001, my friend with Polypay paid $2 to shear $.50 worth of wool per animal. For more on the differences, plus potential pros and cons between the breeds, read on. Royal Whites are more recent in the hair sheep scene and development is still ongoing. Are you interested in raising sheep for meat? But the dorpers always have say ten % that need shearing still. The Royal White sheep shed their wool naturally, it saves the cost of shearing. 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. The ewes are also heavy milkers with excellent maternal instincts. More on that subject later. An older, fat sheep is likely where the reputation of nasty mutton comes from. Originating in South Africa, these lovable and attractive sheep tend to come with a lot more pros than cons. Katahdin Pedigrees Public Area Members List. I love lambs Does lambs has less cholesterol than goat? Katahdins are a popular meat breed for sheep farmers. Keep reading to learn more about the best sheep breeds for meat. The Dorper is a mutton breed of hair sheep developed in the 1930s. Katahdin Dorper The Dorper is a mutton breed of hair sheep developed in the 1930s. Beginning in the mid-1950s, Piel imported three St.Croix sheep. These are some of the best reasons to raise Katahdin sheep - though the list is by no means exhaustive! They are well adapted to a variety of climatic and grazing conditions. When the weathers hot and the pastures are dry, their wool animals will be under a tree while the hair animals are out grazing. These White Dorper female replacement lambs already look very much like purebred White Dorpers Photographer: Ulf Kintzel. While there are far fewer cons than there are pros for keeping Dorper sheep, you do need to consider the potential downsides. Blackbellys have hair and not wool, making them a low-maintenance breed. The hair sheep breeds lamb easily in the pasture and the lambs gain weight rapidly and develop to maturity quickly. Royal White (Dorper x St.Croix) To be successful, you must sell quality, and I stress quality animals; send anything else to slaughter. They are best raised on pasture and finishing these breeds on feedlots can lead to less desirable meat products as the ethnic market prefers a leaner lamb. The Dorper Sheep is a hardy resilient South African breed of sheep that can withstand various harsh climates, environments and intensive operations. Sheep for sale: young grass-fed butcher ram lambs (Dorper & Katahdin) At lower latitudes (down south), summer daylight periods are shorter, the temperature higher, grass growth is slower and is lower in protein and higher fiber. Plainview, Tx. A type of hair breed, Katahdin sheep originate in the United States. Wondering What to Feed Sheep? Dorper sheep originated in South Africa and were the result of crossing Dorset Horn with Blackheaded Persian sheep. We are currently using rams with high shedding scores, while culling heavily on production traits. We acknowledge the painful history of Gayogoh:n dispossession, and honor the ongoing connection of Gayogoh:n people, past and present, to these lands and waters. 1. Hampshire sheep can live in almost any climate, making them a hardy breed. Hairsheep breeds such as the Barbados Blackbelly and St.Croix are largely found in these tropical areas of the world. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Contact | About Us | Sitemap, As one of the most populous sheep breeds in America, the. Cole, N.A. It is a very hardy breed and is disease resistant. Now you have a good idea of the pros and cons of both Dorper and Katahdin sheep, which one is right for your homestead? Why they are Crossed Waco Childbirth Education 74 subscribers Subscribe 127 Share. The Kasteel White Dorper Stud farm lies in an arid area of the Republic of South Africa, called the Great Karoo. I'd go with Dorper ram on Katahdin ewes. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Farmersville. 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. Purebred Dorper rams can reach a live-weight of 90-120 kg and ewes 50-80kg. It should be kept in mind that performance varies greatly with genetic . Environmental Adaptability: Well adapted to hot, dry, humid and wet conditions. "We liked their look," Ruby puts in. Some general information on hair sheep is found on the next page. Carefully breeding only the best stock will ensure that the extreme hardiness and good mothering ability remain. They naturally shed their wool throughout the seasons. Breeding Season: They breed throughout the year. The breeder from whom I purchased the lambs said she is breeding in dorper with the katahdins to "beef" them up a little. If you combine all traits I have not found a better breed for a farming system based on pasture and direct marketing. The Dorper is a South African breed of domestic sheep developed by crossing Dorset Horn and the Blackhead Persian sheep.The breed was created through the efforts of the South African Department of Agriculture to breed a meat sheep suitable to the more arid regions of the country. -. Katahdins often breeding out of season. This behavior causes problems with maintaining desirable trees unless protection is provided. Coat & Color: The coat can be reddish brown, tan or yellow. Since these breeds are so adaptable, when found in colder climates, the hair sheep adapt by growing a thicker undercoat. Very tolerant of the humid hot conditions in the Carribean andSomolia, Blackhead Persians have a white body and black head. Mature Weight (Lb): Ewe = 170 200 (can be less than 170lb), Ram = 220 250. We may be partial to the breed, but were not raising a hobby flock. 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. Environmental Adaptability: Withstand higher heat and humidity than British sheep breeds. After being in the business of raising wool sheep of various kinds for two decades, I decided in 2005 to start with hair sheep. The first rams I purchased were of outstanding shedding ability. They are also highly resistant to many parasites that can become bothersome to other breeds of sheep. They were called Africans at the time. $300. Request PDF | Signatures of selection in sheep and goats infected with Haemonchus contortus | Host genetic variation for resistance to Haemonchus contortus allows selective breeding of animals for . I direct sell a great number of lambs. Fact: Katahdin sheep, at least, will thrive from hot, humid Florida to the western provinces of Canada. That's interesting! In general they have low maintenance requirements. In many cases, farmers are adding hair sheep to pastures with cattle to maximize efficiency and for parasite control. 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. There were sequential 2-wk. Originally, the established buyers at auctions resisted hairsheep in general and they fetched lower prices in places like New Holland. But what about the market lambs getting too fat? Coat & Color: Solid white or white with black head. Secondly at what age are you removing lambs from mothers . They also are not limited to a breeding season, conceiving year round. (I know, Im not a good farmer) American Blackbelly Like most of the sheep listed here, Texel lambs reach market size quickly, by 5-6 months. Breeding stock is selected under rigorous criteria, including parasite resistance, hair coat, growth characteristics on grass alone and general thriftiness. You must log in or register to reply here. Though large in size, Hampshire sheep tend to be a docile and easy-going breed. You can check my blog at Merino sheep for sale. They grow quickly and reach market weight early. Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment. Originally bred for their meat, the Katahdin tends to have a wider variation of milk production - some ewes producing significantly more (or significantly less) than the average. I have no way of weighing him. Choosing breeding stock with this in mind can avoid this problem. 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. Lambs are efficient producers of meat. 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. Difference in color is a matter of preference. Dorper lambs have amazing growth rates when young. Nick. Disposition & Mothering Ability: Breed is docile and calm with good flocking instinct. We just started raising Katahdins this year. No Need to Shear One of the most obvious benefits of raising Katahdin sheep is that they do not need to be sheared on an annual or twice-per-year basis.