They do produce wool, and will need to be shorn annually. 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. To showcase the commercial qualities of our animals, all breeding stock we sell comes directly from pasture, having received no special treatment. The Cornell Small Farms Program is housed at Cornell University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) in Ithaca, NY, and works in partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension across New York State. There are a lot of advantages to keeping Dorper sheep in the US. The breed was created by crossing Dorset and Blackheaded Persian sheep. If there were a hair Hampshire or Suffolk that would do a better job, wed be raising them. A list of the breeds of sheep that are thought of as being good ewe breeds would start with (1) Rambouillet sheep such as there are in Texas (2) several kinds of Whitefaced Western sheep, (3) the Dorset breed, which is a white-faced meat breed . They are the generally more fertile in hot humid regions and show greater tolerance to parasites than woolen breeds. For us, the Katahdin sheep breed fits our operation and our philosophy quite well. (Weve heard them all.). You can even crossbreed them to develop unique varieties for your farm or homestead. They are excellent mothers. Now meat sheep producers are lucky if wool prices cover . Unfortunately, as the percentage of Dorper increases, more wool is found in their coat and some animals lose some of their shedding ability. PDF Productive Performance of F Dorper vs. Katahdin Ewes Under Semi Crossing these breeds with woolen breeds for efficient meat production does hold some potential. Signatures of selection for resistance to - BMC Genomics Dorper lambs have amazing growth rates when young. Plans for the future include a larger lambing/working shed-currently under construction, later lambing to reduce cold weather losses (10percentdeath loss for everything combined, stillborn, drowning in water tank, mashed, runts, etc. 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. This is a very good article to read and understand the secrets of Raising Katahdin Sheep. Secrets of Raising Katahdin Sheep - Countryside Featured Listing. You will always need to make compromises if you choose to have a purebred flock. Dorset ewes weigh approximately 150-200 pounds, with the rams weighing on average 275 pounds. This means that, theoretically, a Dorper ewe can produce a lamb (or 2 or 3) every 8 months. Just like to make a comment. 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. i do not want to cull her from the flock! How do you collect wool from self-shearing sheep? Katahdin x Lacaune. Owning Goats vs. Sheep 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. The reproductive rate of true hair sheep is excellent. 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. This is a very old article and I do not have the contact info for John. This breed tolerates both heat and cold making them a good choice for most climates. Tunis are solid breeders and excellent mothers. Bred to produce less back fat, their meat is lean and flavorful. What is worse, however, is the fact that there are breeders who do not select for shedding ability and for the show ring instead. This makes them one of the more profitable breeds to specialize in. J. Anim Sci 77:215-222. Breed ideal for pasture lambing and grass/forage based management systems. Katahdin ewes weigh around 125-185 pounds, and rams average around 200 pounds. In many cases, farmers are adding hair sheep to pastures with cattle to maximize efficiency and for parasite control. We may be partial to the breed, but were not raising a hobby flock. Your email address will not be published. Though large in size, Hampshire sheep tend to be a docile and easy-going breed. You must log in or register to reply here. They reach sexual maturity early, and will remain fertile for a longer period of time than many other breeds. Baby Sheep: What a Baby Sheep is Called & Other Fun Facts. Anymore (at least in Missouri) its the carcass quality that sets the price. We have an 18-cell planned grazing system with 10,000 feet of electric fence and 5,000 feet of underground waterline on 35 acres. Very tolerant of the humid hot conditions in the Carribean andSomolia, Blackhead Persians have a white body and black head. 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. He can be reached at 585-554-3313 or by e-mail at ulf@whitecloversheepfarm.com. They do produce wool, and will need to be shorn annually. 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. Lambs are efficient producers of meat. Why they are Crossed Waco Childbirth Education 74 subscribers Subscribe 127 Share. Katahdins have hair and not wool, which means they are a low-maintenance breed that will shed their hair naturally. 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. This breed was developed after 20 years of breeding and selection. All Rights Reserved | Website by Maple Creative, God Save the Beef: Trials of Sustainable Farming in the UK . The Katahdin Sheep is a domestic breed developed in Maine in the United States and named after the highest peak in Maine, Mount Katahdin. Characteristics - St Croix Hair Sheep Breeders They have incredible growth of lambs at butcher weight within 6-8 months with carcass weights in the 45-60 lb range. The Confederacy precedes the establishment of Cornell University, New York state, and the United States of America. When selecting breeding stock, choose animals with good feet. ), more intense selection for increased body length and a ewe flock of around 160-175 ewes. my ewe with CL has had her first batch of lambs last month and she is a really good mother! Texel sheep do best in colder climates, as they are exceptionally cold-hardy and have been known to be sensitive to the heat. Thirdly how long after separation to market. Because of their hair, they do not produce the lanolin that can lend gaminess to the meat, giving it a milder flavor. Photo courtesy of:Dr. Stephan A. Wildeus. Theyre too small to be of commercial value. Get Shipping Quotes Opens in a new tab. They are easy care sheep that divert most of their energy into producing meat instead of wool. In lambs, grain feeding versus grass-fed has a greater influence on flavor than the differences in breeds. However, if thats what you are looking for then this breed might not be for you. Secondly at what age are you removing lambs from mothers . Dorper Sheep Breed - Everything You Need to Know - Domestic Animal Breeds The first generation grows quite well due to the heterosis effect, but nearly always has a wool coat. Dorsets commonly produce twins and even triplets. About. 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. 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. This breed produces rapid-growing lambs, with most lambs being considered ready for market at 12 weeks of age. Two varieties of Dorper Sheep were created: the black headed Dorper and an all white variety, the White Dorper sheep. It is also exceptionally low-maintenance. One in particular is more like a paint horse. daging domba sangat enak dan sangat kaya akan protein. This breed averages in maturity at around 175 220 pounds. There were sequential 2-wk. Why Katahdin Sheep - stoneheartfarm The major disadvantage is that they grow slower and produce a lighter weight carcass than most breeds of European origin. Typically, the 75 percent Dorper crosses will exhibit the Dorper coloration and conformation. ~Ann, Your email address will not be published. The shedding ability of this breed varies greatly. 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. Origin: This breed was developed or evolved on the Eastern Caribbean Island of Barbados. In addition to being a smaller breed, the lambs tend to mature slowly, not reaching ideal market weight until around 2 years of age. 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. Royal Whites are more recent in the hair sheep scene and development is still ongoing. The wool and hair comes mainly off in such small pieces that it is like a cow or a goat shedding you dont worry about their hair littering the pasture either. Breeders often use less-expensive Katahdin ewes to initiate an upgrading program with registered Dorper as the final goal. With a high rate of multiple births and a gentle temperament, this is a good choice for people looking to start a hair sheep business, particularly in warm climates. Dorper sheep originated in South Africa and were the result of crossing Dorset Horn with Blackheaded Persian sheep. The percentage of 15/16 is considered purebred. 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 ? The best genetics wont keep an animal from starving to death. a From the review: Notter, g. 1978. I had on occasion lambs butchered that exceeded 110 pounds. Suffolk meat is hailed as lean and somewhat sweet, with a good muscle to fat ratio. Suffolk ewes are excellent mothers and prolific breeders. 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. Considered to be the 2nd most popular breed of sheep in the US, the Dorset sheep is another solid meat-producer. $300. Required fields are marked *. My question is, how much should he weigh. 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. Currently have a friend running dorper but was looking at katahdins since they are a little bigger. 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. (Icelandic sheep grow a double coat.) To avoid the coloring and spots that come along with first and second generation cross breeding with Dorper sheep, I decided to go with White Dorper sheep (WD). Breeding stock is selected under rigorous criteria, including parasite resistance, hair coat, growth characteristics on grass alone and general thriftiness. Dorper lambs tolerated the infection more so than Suffolk (wool) lambs when fecal egg counts were low. Katahdin sheep will strip the bark from cedars, pines and any deciduous tree that has smooth, immature bark. As a bit of trivia, the majority of cull ewes the U.S. exports go to the Mexico City area. This may be due to the fact that wool can hide a lot of rib bones and other defects, while with a hair sheep what you see is what you get. Its important to have an animal thats pure or unaltered for sacrifice in observance of many holidays. About - stoneheartfarm The lambing rate is not as high as other hair breeds. I am new to the sheep business so I am concerned that she will never be large enough to breed. In years past, 18-30 pound lambs sold well in Chicago for Jewish Passover. Today I have 1/2, 3/4, 7/8th, and 15/16th White Dorper sheep. Because of the wool, the Icelandic sheep do need to be sheared once to twice per year. View Details. Do you have to go around picking it up out of the pasture? Very interesting and informational! Yes, you can milk Dorper sheep! We have all three breeds. In a second study, Dorper or Dorset sired lambs were compared to Barbados Blackbelly x St. Croix or Katahdin lambs. However, as the challenge escalated, parasite resistance was greatest in St. Croix lambs, followed by Katahdin and Dorper lambs. 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. 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. 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. Research has shown Dorper have good parasite tolerance or resilience rather than resistance. However, they are suitable for markets requiring smaller carcass size. Id recommend getting in touch with the author of this article- he might have some good insight for you. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. I forgot to ask for notification via e-mail, so I am reposting my questions. There is a growing market demand for high-quality, naturally-fed lamb. Difference in color is a matter of preference. At Kettle Haven Ranch we specialize in Katahdin x Dorper crosses for exceptional market lambs and for replacement breeding stock. As we train border collies for sheep and cattle trials and we need a few different types of sheep. We normally worm our lambs 3-4 times a summer and the ewes not at all. FAQs - American Dorper Sheep Breeders' Society For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Not only do they suffer fewer complications during birthing compared to some other breeds, but they also give birth to multiple lambs. You will want to take into account the mature size of the animal (you can expect to yield 40% of an animals live weight in meat), the quality of meat, and whether it will tolerate your climate. Katahdins are alert, protective mothers. Katahdins are a popular meat breed for sheep farmers. Lambing %: Approximately 125%, exceeding 200% with subsequent lambing. Katahdins often breeding out of season. 2 are Katahdin and 2 are katahdin/dorper crosses. At that weight there are no problems with too much fat cover whatsoever. How the breed carries fat is, I think, important when dealing with older sheep. Good luck! The flavor of the market lambs is in my opinion mostly influenced by the fact that these lambs are grass-fed. What happens if you leave the ram out all year round? Suffolk ewes reach between 180-250 pounds, while rams can top out at 350 pounds. While there are far fewer cons than there are pros for keeping Dorper sheep, you do need to consider the potential downsides. In another study conducted by Gamble and Zajac for the Agricultural Research Service of the USDA and Virginia Tech, the scientists found that St. Croix "demonstrated high levels of acquired resistance to Haemonchus contortus under conditions of experimental or natural infection." As they say, the proof is in the pudding eating. 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. 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. The Dorper has a high rate of lambing and is tolerant of the arid conditions it was developed for in South Africa. 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. I recently purchased 4 ram lambs for meat. 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. Reaching maturity earlier than many breeds, the Suffolk lamb will reach an average of 116 pounds by 100 days of age. 7 year old Katahdin ewe . How to Use Goats and Sheep to Clear Brush - Modern Farmer Average Birth Weight (Lbs): 7.5 lbs for single, 6.5 7 for twins, and less for triplets. It was bred from West African hair sheep and is extremely well-adapted to hot, humid conditions. You can also use them for multiple income streams thanks to their excellent meat and milk production. Sheep Breeds - UF/IFAS Extension Mature Weight (Lb): Ewe = 130 140 (Average is 136), Ram = 170 - 200. 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. The ancestry is believed to be of both African hair sheep and European breeds. 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. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. As hair sheep breeds become more popular, it will be important for breeders to ensure the future integrity of the breeds. 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. What Needle Felting Supplies Do You Use for Sculpting? 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. Its also possible that some pieces of wool or hair remain along the back or on the hind quarters or arm pits. Are Llamas Dangerous? I would love to get in touch with the author personally. They started with an idle, tired farm and through years of blood, sweat and tears have transformed it into a vibrant . Dorset sheep have lean and muscular carcasses, making them excellent at producing meat. Best Sheep for Milk: 7 Best Sheep Breeds for Milk - Savvy Farm Life 80 pounds at 90 days can be expected. To learn more about how you can make money off of sheep, read my article What Do Sheep Produce? I have a black face ewe and she is very fat and is 7 months old, should I be worried about her having a lamb and is she old enough to get in lamb. Early maturing Terminal cross lambs. We are currently running 130 registered ewes with 10 commercial ewes that will be dispersed this year. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Katahdin can be used for both meat and milk, whereas Dorper sheep are only good for meat production. That applies to purebred WD market lambs as well. 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. It improves from year one to year two of age but can again be reduced by external factors like disease or weight loss. Sold all our cattle. We find its seldom necessary to trim hooves. Market Weight/Live/Age: 70 90 lbs / 7 8 months. Fact: Katahdin sheep, at least, will thrive from hot, humid Florida to the western provinces of Canada. Royal White Sheep Breed - Learn Natural Farming Sheep are one of the most versatile producers when it comes to livestock animals. If my product would be poorly finished or wouldnt taste good, I surely would lose customers. 3 year old Dorper Katahdin Ram - farm & garden - by owner - sale This, alongside their easy-going dietary needs, really cut down the cost of keeping them. Dorpers tend to be a little larger, and Katahdins are excellent mothers, so a Dorper /Kathadin cross is nearly perfect. Unsave Save. For registered breeding stock, permanent wooly fibers are a no-no. After 22 years they are well rooted in South Paris. Our spring lambs require 4-5 pounds of dry matter forage to produce each pound of gain. 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. Ewes will weigh an average of 190 pounds, with rams reaching up to 300 pounds. Also, much of the flavor ( good or bad) comes from the fat. Dorper Sheep. I would say try the dorpers.. we only raise a few for there is only us out here. If you plan on raising lambs for meat, youll need to know everything that comes with taking care of baby sheep. In general they have low maintenance requirements. The Katahdin breed has hair instead of wool, and that means less work, according to the couple, who raise the sheep near Perham, Minnesota. Last but not least on our list is the Cheviot breed. They do produce wool, and need to be shorn on a regular basis. It is common to have ewes lambing twice per year. The phrases youll hear most often is either mutton or lamb. The Dorper grows more wool but self-sheds annually. 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. Originally publishedin sheep! How do you decide which breed is right for your needs? We let them be sheep and just help them along. 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. Despite being a hairsheep, White Dorpers do not lack winter hardiness Photographer: Ulf Kintzel. and, as such, the data are estimates. We began our Katahdin Sheep herd with non-registered sheep but have added registered Katahdin ewes to our farm. Coat & Color: Has a variety of color ranging from black and tan through yellow with variegated mottled pattern. Feed conversion is good since these sheep fatten easily on less than ideal pasture and forage. Market Weight/Live/Age: 60 80 lbs / 9 month. LMAO!!!! Since Missouri has more Katahdin sheep than any other state, the majority of export animals come from here. The low maintenance qualities of Katahdins allow us the time to do so. 199 Effects of high heat load conditions on Dorper, Katahdin, and St