When youre raising sheep for meat, the wool is a by-product. Katahdins have generated a great deal of interest from all parts of North America. Ta Paul.5. 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. These slaughter lambs sell comparable to pure Katahdin sheep per pound unless theyre full of cockleburs and briars. As wild sheep were domesticated, breeding for increased wool came into practice. The Cheviot sheep is best suited for northern, colder climates, and does not tolerate heat as well. Blackbellys often breed easily and well, usually birthing multiple lambs in one breeding. Dorper's are by far the closest hair sheep to the wool breed. Now meat sheep producers are lucky if wool prices cover . I have seen many Dorper X Katahdins which are small and the only sign they have Dorper in them is the fact that they have black heads, if they had been crossed with a white Dorper, one would assume that there was no Dorper in there at all. There are without a doubt breeds that surpass White Dorper sheep in one or the other trait. Fact: Katahdin sheep, at least, will thrive from hot, humid Florida to the western provinces of Canada. The outside temp is above 85* sheep are heaving and panting rapidly. Bosnians want 60-pound animals while Muslims often prefer 60-80 pound animals. Mutton is meat that comes from mature sheep over the age of 1 year old. I had a Texel flock of 100 breeding ewes at the time when I bought my first White Dorper rams. As hair sheep breeds become more popular, it will be important for breeders to ensure the future integrity of the breeds. Our spring lambs on pasture alone (17-20 percent protein and 65-72percentdigestible organic matter-DOM) will average 55-60 pounds. The ability of this breed to put grass into weight gain is remarkable. View Details. I would never go back to merinos & do not intend having cattle again, My dorper sheep have been lambing only male lambs..i do not know why there are no females being born9males so far..no females. The Blackhead Persian is a fat-rumped hair breed from the arid lands of the Middle East. You are using an out of date browser. 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, as the challenge escalated, parasite resistance was greatest in St. Croix lambs, followed by Katahdin and Dorper lambs. In Canada, Katahdin sheep commonly gain well over a pound per day. Variance in RT in periods 3 and 4 ranked St. Croix < Dorper < Katahdin. Average Birth Weight (Lbs): 7 lbs for small lambs, 4-5 lbs for twin lambs. He experimented with breeding them to meat breeds, finally reaching a point, in the 1970s, where he named the breed, Katahdins after a nearby mountain in his home state of Maine. I am trying to locate a couple of nice ewe lambs now. Theyre too small to be of commercial value. This, alongside their easy-going dietary needs, really cut down the cost of keeping them. I like the Dorper temperament, generally they are a pretty docile breed. Required fields are marked *. 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. Continue with Recommended Cookies. What sheep breeds are best for meat? Katahdin Sheep work very well in a variety of production situations as a low-maintenance, easy care sheep. Environmental Adaptability: Withstand higher heat and humidity than British sheep breeds. Farmersville. 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. Though size and time to mature are not the Blackbellys strongest points, there are many advantages to raising this hardy breed of sheep. The breeds of hair sheep that are of importance in Florida include Katahdin, St. Croix, American Blackbelly, and Barbados Blackbelly. They were called Africans at the time. Disposition & Mothering Ability: Ewes are docile with good mothering ability. My Dorper ram is not really large but he is bigger than her. Feeding these breeds too much grain can result in an overabundance of internal fat. Dorset lambs, like the Suffolk and Dorper, mature quickly and are market-ready earlier than many other breeds. My wife and I feel theres no best breed, but rather which breed best fits your operation. There was only the body fleece that needed shearing. Relative resistance of Dorper crossbred ewes to gastrointestinal nematode infection compared with St. Croix and Katahdin ewes in the southeastern United States. including sheepamong them an extra-special Dorper-Katahdin lamb named Mopple. You can also use them for multiple income streams thanks to their excellent meat and milk production. 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). 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. Hi Joanne. Stoneheart Farm was established in 1994 by John and Doreen Simmons. Dorper Sheep vs. Katahdin Sheep. 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. 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. They do produce wool, and will need to be shorn annually. Unlike meat goats, hair sheep are resistant to many of the parasites shed by cattle. If you consider hairsheep like White Dorpers in the future dont forget to ask the breeder about the shedding ability of their flock! Kt ewes under low-input semiarid conditions of northern Mxico. Breeding stock is selected under rigorous criteria, including parasite resistance, hair coat, growth characteristics on grass alone and general thriftiness. Photo courtesy of:Dr. Stephan A. Wildeus. However, they all shed around the belly, legs, head, and all the other places that would otherwise prolong shearing. 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. Typically, the 75 percent Dorper crosses will exhibit the Dorper coloration and conformation. Black color covers belly, inside legs and thighs and extends up to the neck. Did you know that Dorper sheep dont need to be sheared? Grazing animals put on weight quickly in preparation for the long winters. One of the first breeds to be recognized for its commercial production, the rams can reach more than 250 lbs. 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. Since these breeds are so adaptable, when found in colder climates, the hair sheep adapt by growing a thicker undercoat. Mating season for Suffolk sheep usually happens in the Autumn or Winter of each year, as it is for most sheep breeds. Many Greeks eat lamb for Easter, which is not always the same date as the traditional Easter. 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." Feel free to contact the author, Ulf Kintzel, at [email protected] for further information. There are black headed Dorpers (most common) and white Dorpers (harder to find). I no longer sell at livestock auctions mainly because I dont have to. For a number of years, there has been a good export market for ewe lambs going to Mexico. (I know, Im not a good farmer) Do you want to earn multiple income streams from your flock. May 23, 2011 #3 Beekissed Herd Master Joined Aug 3, 2008 Messages 3,634 Reaction score 5,536 Points 453 Location mountains of WV Ulf Kintzel owns and manages White Clover Sheep Farm (www.whitecloversheepfarm.com) in Rushville, NY where he breeds grass-fed White Dorper sheep. Research has shown Dorper have good parasite tolerance or resilience rather than resistance. They will definitely get too fat. The carcass of the Cheviot tends to be plump and meaty, with just enough fat to produce a succulent meat. The leather from hair sheep grain is finer than the leather from wool breeds and brings in a larger amount of money. How about Field Corn! Ron remembers raising wool sheep as a teenager. He is a native of Germany and lives in the US since 1995. 4 1. You can even crossbreed them to develop unique varieties for your farm or homestead. Generally, hair breeds are more heat tolerant than wool breeds. In winter puts on coat that is shed as temperatures increase. And some shed one year but not totally the next for no apparent reason at all. However, they are suitable for markets requiring smaller carcass size. The number of feedings can be reduced over time to twice a day by 3-4 weeks of age. This information may be used to compare breeds of hair sheep. 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. 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 [email protected] for assistance. Thirty percent of the ewes were first-time lambers, having an average of 1.2 lambs/ewe. Dorper lambs tolerated the infection more so than Suffolk (wool) lambs when fecal egg counts were low. A caution when breeding is to choose the right size ram for the ewe. 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. We feel that our time must be used where it will improve our operation, rather than maintaining status quo. 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. The bodybuilder of the sheep world, the Texel sheep is known for its heavily-muscled and sturdy frame. -. 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. Because of their hair, like the Dorper they do not produce lanolin which will give their meat a milder taste. Dorper lambs have amazing growth rates when young. Origin: This breed was developed or evolved on the Eastern Caribbean Island of Barbados. The Katahdin sheep is listed as a Recovering heritage breed on the ALBC Conservation Priority List. In terms of lambing, youll find Katahdins mostly give birth to multiple lambs. Several myths still surround hair sheep. What is worse, however, is the fact that there are breeders who do not select for shedding ability and for the show ring instead. Just like to make a comment. Coat & Color: The coat can be reddish brown, tan or yellow. Katahdins are awesome and productive mothers plus they are a very hardy breed and the Dorper will put more size on the meat sheep. Posted 11/18/2019 21:09 (#7854689) Subject: Dorper Sheep vs. Katahdin Sheep. The Dorper has a high rate of lambing and is tolerant of the arid conditions it was developed for in South Africa. i love the dorper sheep breed! Crossing with the Dorper led tothis larger hair breed. At that weight the fat cover did indeed get too much. They also have a fat rump, short legs, and a compact body. Fourteen years ago my wife got into the sheep business when she purchased three registered Katahdin ewes, a ram, and later, three Romanov ewes. How the breed carries fat is, I think, important when dealing with older sheep. Very tolerant of the humid hot conditions in the Carribean andSomolia, Blackhead Persians have a white body and black head. Dorpers grow a combination of hair and wool, and shed naturally meaning no shearing is required. Produce large amount of milk. mantap ! This site is owned and operated by Wild Wire Media, LLC. While it is estimated that hair sheep comprise only 10 percent of the world's sheep population, their numbers are growing, especially in temperate climates like the United States. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Hi Mary. Coat & Color: Has a variety of color ranging from black and tan through yellow with variegated mottled pattern. Breed utilization for meat production in sheep. Of the ewe lambs exposed, 95 percent gave birth at the age of 11-13 months. The low maintenance qualities of Katahdins allow us the time to do so. The other half needed shearing. It is raised mainly for meat production. Lambs can also take a little longer to reach their market weight than some other breeds of sheep. Non selective grazers that perform well under both extensive and intensive production systems. However, if you are not intending to feed grain and if you dont intend to grow your lambs beyond 100 lbs. Thanks, Noela. How do you collect wool from self-shearing sheep? I'll be using my Barbados Blackbelly ram on my BB ewes and also a few Kathadin ewes. I sell a lot of culled ewes as roasts, ground meat, stew meat and various sausages. Market Weight/Live/Age: 80 110 lbs / 5.5 6 months. Culling the genetic faults and only keeping the best rams for breeding will ensure a good future for any new hair sheep breeds. One in particular is more like a paint horse. Suffolk ewes reach between 180-250 pounds, while rams can top out at 350 pounds. 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. Hair coat becomes thick and long as cold weather sets in and the length decreases. 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. Hair sheep breeds (Katahdin, St. Croix, Barbados) generally have much greater parasite resistance than wooled breeds, especially after one year of age. If you are interested in bringing a herd of small livestock to your homestead, you will want to look into both sheep and goats. Materials and methods He can be reached by e-mail at [email protected] or by phoneduring calling hour specified on his answering machineat 585-554-3313. At Kettle Haven Ranch we specialize in Katahdin x Dorper crosses for exceptional market lambs and for replacement breeding stock. We find its seldom necessary to trim hooves. Have good flocking instinct. Ewes typically reach sexual maturity by 7 months. Katatdin x Dorper . For us, the Katahdin sheep breed fits our operation and our philosophy quite well. Four Barbados Blackbelly sheep arrived in the United States in 1904. Katahdin sheep and Dorper are bred as meat sheep breeds. 46:131-143.. Making a Good Ewe Flock. They have incredible growth of lambs at butcher weight within 6-8 months with carcass weights in the 45-60 lb range. Staking livestock to a rope and expecting them to clear vegetation is ineffective and can result in . Why they are Crossed - YouTube 0:00 / 4:43 Dorper Sheep vs. Katahdin Sheep. This is inconvenient since you must pasture ram lambs separately from ewes to prevent unplanned pregnancies. Katahdin ewes weigh around 125-185 pounds, and rams average around 200 pounds. Since Missouri has more Katahdin sheep than any other state, the majority of export animals come from here. The best genetics wont keep an animal from starving to death. So, what about littering the pasture with wool? I saw that the author is from Central Missouri, which is where we live. . 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. Icelandic Sheep are excellent and reliable breeders, breeding seasonally in the Fall to Winter. Though the breed produces wool (and lanolin), it is known to have a particularly mild taste. 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. The Gayogoh:n are members of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, an alliance of six sovereign Nations with a historic and contemporary presence on this land. There are very few disadvantages of keeping Katahdin sheep. It is now farmed in other areas as well, and is the second most common sheep breed in South Africa. Originally publishedin sheep! Despite its origins in a cold northern climate, the Katahdin is remarkably well-suited to warm weather living. or you can contact me at- Our paddocks are grazed for 5-7 days followed by 25-34 days of . Dorper and Katahdin are medium size breeds. Dorset lambs, like the Suffolk and Dorper, mature quickly and are market-ready earlier than many other breeds. Bred Ewes Commercial - Market Sheep. I have a very small Dorper ewe, she is 7 months old but very small. $300. Hair sheep breeds simply shed their hair covering and fleecy undercoat when the weather warms. Breed ideal for pasture lambing and grass/forage based management systems. Dorper ram purchased from Juan Navarro of J.N. Consider the pros and cons featured above before making your decision. Katahdin-sired lambs typically produce carcasses that are heavier in weight and more muscular than St. Croix or Barbados Blackbelly when harvested at a similar age. Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment. What You Need To Know. 2022 Cornell Small Farms. Although the breed was created in the 1930s, it is still fairly new to the US. for info and videos along with books and much more! One needs to do a detail review of the information related to the hair breed one wishes to raise. I have some St Croix and they are quite large. We saw their ad and went to look at their Dorper rams. A ewes wool will pay her winter feed bill. 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. Why Katahdin x Dorper Crosses At Stoneheart Farms we specialize in Katahdin x Dorper crosses for exceptional market lambs and for replacement breeding stock. Q. Dorper sheep originated in South Africa and were the result of crossing Dorset Horn with Blackheaded Persian sheep. Some hair breed rams are long-bodied which can create a lengthy birthing scenario for the ewe. Lamb meat is known to be more tender and tasty. Four years ago we began converting all our cropland into pasture and expanded the flock. Vigorous growers, the Icelandic produce lambs that are market-ready at 70-100 pounds in as little as 4-5 months. It was bred from West African hair sheep and is extremely well-adapted to hot, humid conditions. Katahdin ewes weigh around 125-185 pounds, and rams average around 200 pounds. Thirdly how long after separation to market. A unique characteristic about the Dorper is that they do not breed seasonally, instead they are able to breed year-around.