The ancestry is believed to be of both African hair sheep and European breeds. Sheep are one of the most versatile producers when it comes to livestock animals. I am trying to locate a couple of nice ewe lambs now. Why they are Crossed Waco Childbirth Education 74 subscribers Subscribe 127 Share. What is the point of getting hairsheep when you end up shearing them? The bodybuilder of the sheep world, the Texel sheep is known for its heavily-muscled and sturdy frame. There are very few disadvantages of keeping Katahdin sheep. The Dorper Sheep is a hardy resilient South African breed of sheep that can withstand various harsh climates, environments and intensive operations. About. 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. Most hair sheep breeds will lamb out of season without resorting to hormone therapy. JavaScript is disabled. You can even crossbreed them to develop unique varieties for your farm or homestead. Dorper Sheep vs. Katahdin Sheep. 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. We currently manage between 45-60 ewes per year with about 70% of our flock being registered. 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 ? He is a native of Germany and lives in the US since 1995. As mentioned earlier, hair sheep breeds are considerably more heat-tolerant than wool breeds. Interested in raising sheep for wool? Katahdins tend to birth twins, with triplets and quadruplets occurring often with good flock management. 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. 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. Dorset ewes weigh approximately 150-200 pounds, with the rams weighing on average 275 pounds. "Shearing the wool was tough," he recalls, but the price paid for wool nearly covered feed costs. The Blackhead Persian is a fat-rumped hair breed from the arid lands of the Middle East. Variance in RT in periods 3 and 4 ranked St. Croix < Dorper < Katahdin. Ewes typically reach sexual maturity by 7 months. Dorper sheep are exceptionally popular amongst both hobbyists and commercial homesteads. We began our Katahdin Sheep herd with non-registered sheep but have added registered Katahdin ewes to our farm. 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. Suffolk ewes are excellent mothers and prolific breeders. Why Katahdin x Dorper Crosses At Stoneheart Farms we specialize in Katahdin x Dorper crosses for exceptional market lambs and for replacement breeding stock. The St Croix are also quiet, but seem to be next on the ladder. He is 8 months old. 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. Rather than stay in a group, they will scatter in all directions like a covey of quail. Its also common to see animals of up to a year old climbing to the top of a big bale of hay. Unfortunately, Mr. Piel did not live long enough to see his breed reach having a registry and breed standards. The phrases youll hear most often is either mutton or lamb. Ten percent of sheep breeds are hair breeds but ninety percent of these are found in tropical areas. Origin: Developed in the Virgin Islands for crosses of West African hair sheep and Wiltshire Horn. Parasite resistance and reproductive efficiency is very high, making the Katahdin a valued breed in the hair sheep industry. Thanks, Noela. I think that we are asking for bloat. When the pastures are poor, hair animals hold their body condition much better. This information may be used to compare breeds of hair sheep. I no longer sell at livestock auctions mainly because I dont have to. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to compare productive performance of F 1 Dp vs . Tunis are solid breeders and excellent mothers. Dorper and Katahdin are medium size breeds. If I took the chance and had her bred would she be able to carry her lamb/s? This, alongside their easy-going dietary needs, really cut down the cost of keeping them. After 13 years of medical education and military service they landed in Maine to put down roots. Produce large amount of milk. In many cases, farmers are adding hair sheep to pastures with cattle to maximize efficiency and for parasite control. As a result, about 50 percent of the first generation of White Dorper cross bred sheep shed partially or mostly. In conclusion, based on RT and RR, resilience to high HLI conditions ranked St. Croix > Katahdin > Dorper, with lowest . In terms of temperament, cost, and maintenance, they are both excellent options. This breed produces rapid-growing lambs, with most lambs being considered ready for market at 12 weeks of age. Due to the high amount of red muscle fibers, the Icelandic sheep has a uniquely tender and fine texture. There are a lot of advantages to keeping Dorper sheep in the US. Hair sheep primer . Can someone tell me a few of the pros and cons for both dorper sand katahdin. Dorpers grow a combination of hair and wool, and shed naturally meaning no shearing is required. ), more intense selection for increased body length and a ewe flock of around 160-175 ewes. i love the dorper sheep breed! Mature Weight (Lb): Ewe = 120 - 160, Ram = 180 250. 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. Crossing these breeds with woolen breeds for efficient meat production does hold some potential. Our flock is content to sleep outside in the coldest weather and will have unmelted snow on their backs like a wool animal. The leather from hair sheep grain is finer than the leather from wool breeds and brings in a larger amount of money. 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. Culling the genetic faults and only keeping the best rams for breeding will ensure a good future for any new hair sheep breeds. Have good flocking instinct. Some breeders have been working on crosses between traditional wool meat breeds and hair sheep breeds. How do you decide which breed is right for your needs? 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. Bred to produce less back fat, their meat is lean and flavorful. Libyans prefer old worn out buck goats for their stronger flavor. has anyone had CL in Dorper sheep one of my fav ewes has CL and we are trying to find a way to maybe stop it! Non selective grazers that perform well under both extensive and intensive production systems. November/December 2003 and regularly vetted for accuracy. The Katahdin breed was developed in the United States by Michael Piel. Hair sheep breeds simply shed their hair covering and fleecy undercoat when the weather warms. The Katahdins in the study had a consistently less barber pole worm infestation rate compared to the Dorper and Dorset crosses. 2 are Katahdin and 2 are katahdin/dorper crosses. Disposition & Mothering Ability: This breed is a bit flighty. Some general information on hair sheep is found on the next page. They reach sexual maturity very early, with ewes able to breed between 7 to 9 months of age. 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. Most lambs are considered market-ready by 9-12 weeks. Dorper lambs tolerated the infection more so than Suffolk (wool) lambs when fecal egg counts were low. Dorper Sheep. I cant speak to colder temperatures, taking zero degrees without a problem is good enough for me. Your email address will not be published. For several years weve had Romanov/Katahdin crosses. Cheviots produce alert, strong lambs who are efficient foragers. They grow quickly and reach market weight early. If you combine all traits I have not found a better breed for a farming system based on pasture and direct marketing. Why they are Crossed - YouTube 0:00 / 4:43 Dorper Sheep vs. Katahdin Sheep. However, in older hairsheep the flavor is still impressive due to the genetic factor. 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 is not a true hair sheep. The breed was created by crossing Dorset and Blackheaded Persian sheep. I like the Dorper temperament, generally they are a pretty docile breed. You can find out more about lambing Dorper sheep through the American Dorper Sheep Breeders Society. A caution when breeding is to choose the right size ram for the ewe. We have a dispute between the members about feeding sheep after working them. Katahdin ewes weigh around 125-185 pounds, and rams average around 200 pounds. Hair sheep have some attributes that make them admirably suited to fill market niches or fit varying production systems in Florida. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Your email address will not be published. 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: . Katahdin sheep will strip the bark from cedars, pines and any deciduous tree that has smooth, immature bark. And does anyone have experience with katahdin ewes on dorper bucks . After being in the business of raising wool sheep of various kinds for two decades, I decided in 2005 to start with hair sheep. They like large groups of lambs on each farm, prefer solid colors, registered and must be enrolled in the scrapie program. The ewes produce vigorous, healthy, robust lambs that have a high survivability. Market Weight/Live/Age: 80 110 lbs / 5.5 6 months. (I know, Im not a good farmer) You must log in or register to reply here. Katatdin x Dorper . Special Notes The Dorper sheep are very hardy animals. 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. When the price of raw wool fleece is below the cost of shearing the animal, this is not cost effective. Though the breed produces wool (and lanolin), it is known to have a particularly mild taste. They are the generally more fertile in hot humid regions and show greater tolerance to parasites than woolen breeds. We had the idea of crossing a Dorper with their 60 Katahdin ewes. Lambs are efficient producers of meat. Cole, N.A. It is a very hardy breed and is disease resistant. In addition, shearing is not a requirement thereby reducing operational cost. my ewe with CL has had her first batch of lambs last month and she is a really good mother! I have noticed that some lambs are showing caramel patches. Coat & Color: The coat can be reddish brown, tan or yellow. Rams generally have horns. Coat & Color: Has a variety of color ranging from black and tan through yellow with variegated mottled pattern. 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. Ive seen Shropshire being used to keep weeds and grass down in Christmas tree plantations. Dorset ewes weigh approximately 150-200 pounds, with the rams weighing on average 275 pounds. Coat & Color: Coat can be any color or color pattern. They can harbor significant worm populations, yet not suffer the same effects a wool animal would. Required fields are marked *. The purpose of the breed is to efficiently produce meat. The Dorper is a good example of this interbreeding. Dorpers DO NOT shed their coats as well and consistently as katahdins. Lambing %: Average lambing rate is between 150 and 250%. The Dorper is a mutton breed of hair sheep developed in the 1930s. Originating in South Africa, these lovable and attractive sheep tend to come with a lot more pros than cons. Your email address will not be published. The major disadvantage is that they grow slower and produce a lighter weight carcass than most breeds of European origin. Just like to make a comment. 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 . Our experienced ewes averaged 2.1 lambs/ewe born with 1.9 weaned. History tells us our present-day sheep are derived from the wild Mouflon sheep, among others, that grew coarse hair with a downy undercoat. . In this useful guide, youll discover the pros and cons of both Dorper and Katahdin sheep, alongside advice on choosing the best type for your farm or homestead. Katahdins are awesome and productive mothers plus they are a very hardy breed and the Dorper will put more size on the meat sheep. Dorper lambs have amazing growth rates when young. The Confederacy precedes the establishment of Cornell University, New York state, and the United States of America. For the Katahdin vs Dorper analysis (Table 1), 8 SNPs under selection were observed in SOCS2, NOS2, TGFB2 and IL2RA genes within OAR3, 11, 12 and 13, respectively. Katahdins tend to birth twins, with triplets and quadruplets occurring often with good flock management. 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. There is the wool type and the hairtype with the hairtype being slightly less meaty but far better shedding. Updated: Monday, February 06, 2023 02:46 PM. Can you advise on the availability of a good ram and 10-12 ewe lambs this Spring. We figured the combination would be a meatier sheep." They bought the ram in 1996 and some ewes the following spring. His website address is www.whitecloversheepfarm.com. Origin: This breed was developed or evolved on the Eastern Caribbean Island of Barbados. Flock owners with less than 50 animals have a difficult time getting someone to shear unless they pool their animals with neighbors. However, they all shed around the belly, legs, head, and all the other places that would otherwise prolong shearing. They are prolific breeders as well, often producing twins. Environmental Adaptability: Well adapted to hot, dry, humid and wet conditions. Nick. They will stand on their hind feet like goats to strip any low hanging limbs of their leaves. Work with your states department of agriculture if youre interested in export sales. The breeds of hair sheep that are of importance in Florida include Katahdin, St. Croix, American Blackbelly, and Barbados Blackbelly. Get Shipping Quotes Opens in a new tab. Purebred Dorper rams can reach a live-weight of 90-120 kg and ewes 50-80kg. 7 year old Katahdin ewe . They do produce wool, and will need regular shearing. Ulf Kintzel owns and manages White Clover Sheep Farm (www.whitecloversheepfarm.com) in Rushville, NY where he breeds grass-fed White Dorper sheep. Crossing with the Dorper led tothis larger hair breed. To learn more about baby sheep, check out my article Baby Sheep: What a Baby Sheep is Called & Other Fun Facts. However, if you are not intending to feed grain and if you dont intend to grow your lambs beyond 100 lbs. Breeding Season: They breed throughout the year. For a number of years, there has been a good export market for ewe lambs going to Mexico. 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. The breed has a thick, well muscled carcass and extended period of fertility. Future importations to university breeding flocks led to the development of the American Blackbelly sheep breed. 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.. Relative resistance of Dorper crossbred ewes to gastrointestinal nematode infection compared with St. Croix and Katahdin ewes in the southeastern United States. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 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. The hair sheep breeds lamb easily in the pasture and the lambs gain weight rapidly and develop to maturity quickly. We normally worm our lambs 3-4 times a summer and the ewes not at all. Making Natural Clothing Dye From Vegetables. Icelandic Sheep are another popular choice for meat, with ewes weighing an average of 150 pounds at maturity, and rams averaging 200 pounds. I saw that the author is from Central Missouri, which is where we live. Last but not least on our list is the Cheviot breed. There were sequential 2-wk. The majority of ewe lambs are sold as registered breeding stock; the majority of ram lambs are sold for slaughter. Dorper-sired. Suffolk ewes have an excellent lambing rate of 180%, making them a solid choice for breeding. However, since Dorpers can also be found further North in colder climates, I am sure that a lack of winter hardiness is not a trait applying to Dorper sheep. Katahdins are medium size, hardy, low-maintenance, and have a high-quality carcass weight. This is a very good article to read and understand the secrets of Raising Katahdin Sheep. 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. Their hair falls off naturally during the year, making them an easy breed to care for. I direct sell a great number of lambs. Question is this common? The mild and yet rich flavor of these culled ewes is remarkable and does not at all remind anyone of mutton. Dorset lambs, like the Suffolk and Dorper, mature quickly and are market-ready earlier than many other breeds. Animals dont grow as fastbut dont need to with milder winters and longer growing season. If there were a hair Hampshire or Suffolk that would do a better job, wed be raising them. Royal White (Dorper x St.Croix) 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. Twice a year my friend with Polypays shows up at work doubled over as he shuffles around in pain. The cross breeding results in the best of both breeds but also in the benefits of heterosis, commonly known as hybrid vigor. Mostly Katahdin hair ewes exposed to Dorper and Katahdin bucks. Manage Settings How the breed carries fat is, I think, important when dealing with older sheep. We have just over 1200 breeding ewes & aim for around 2000 when things get better. Katahdins have generated a great deal of interest from all parts of North America. $300. The Dorper originated in South Africa from crosses between the Dorset and the Blackhead Persian. Suffolk meat is hailed as lean and somewhat sweet, with a good muscle to fat ratio. As you can see in picture Spike has some tiny horn buds; they have never grown . Several myths still surround hair sheep. It was a fairly bold move at the time since it meant giving up on the customers who bought breeding stock from me, and since I also didnt know how well my market lambs would sell. Since hair sheep dont have a heavy wool coat, they cant take the cold. Katahdins are alert, protective mothers. The entire belly is black including areas between the legs, nose and forehead. The flocking instinct of hair animals generally isnt as good as wool breeds. Two weeks later, the ewes hadnt lost any body condition. I think this is where the good reputation of hair sheep comes in. Just weaned 530 lambs .If we can get some weight on them worth $200+ in current market. 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. (Allardt) "Spike" is a 3 year old ram. Sheep for sale: young grass-fed butcher ram lambs (Dorper & Katahdin) I have a pet ram lamb, texel dorset cross I was told. Technical Abstract: These breeds are called hair sheep because the coat consists of hair more like that of cattle and many goats rather than wool. The Dorper has been very effective in increasing the growth rate, carcass size and quality of all the typical hair-type breeds such a the Barbados, Katahdin, St. Croix, the Mexican Pelibuey and other breeds that are considered exotic types. Fact: Eight or ten years ago you could expect a 5-10 cents/pound discount for hair animals. They can provide you with information pertaining to regulations, health requirements and local export brokers. I am new to the sheep business so I am concerned that she will never be large enough to breed. Though size and time to mature are not the Blackbellys strongest points, there are many advantages to raising this hardy breed of sheep. BREEDING DORPER SHEEP Hair sheep dont bring as much on the slaughter market. There are a few characteristics you will want to look for when choosing a meat-producing sheep. However, they are suitable for markets requiring smaller carcass size. If my product would be poorly finished or wouldnt taste good, I surely would lose customers. 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. The breed is actually very good for meat production, and it produce more meat than Dorper and Katahdin sheep. Dorper lambs have amazing growth rates when young. Some Ewes shed coats after second lambing. As they say, the proof is in the pudding eating. 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. A maternal breed, Katahdin ewes breed well with the Dorper rams to produce a meaty but feminine lamb. 4 1. Mature Weight (Lb): Ewe = 100 130, Ram = 120 150. Owning Goats vs. Sheep Breed is mainly free of wool and do not normally require shearing. -. I'll be using my Barbados Blackbelly ram on my BB ewes and also a few Kathadin ewes. 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. The ability of this breed to put grass into weight gain is remarkable. Due to their superior conformation and shedding characteristics, they have become one of the most popular breeds of sheep in the U.S. Mature Weight (Lb): Ewe = 130 140 (Average is 136), Ram = 170 - 200. best beef in the word is lamb,i like lamb beef spesialis sate.. Amazing sheep, been breeding the Dorper for sometime now and i must say their adaptability is really outstanding. Origin: This breed originated from Maine, U.S. from crosses of woolen breeds mainly Suffolk and later Wiltshire Horn with hair sheep from the Virgin Islands. This breed is also exceptionally hardy, able to thrive in both the cold, and the hot, humid climates in which many farmers struggle to. Later on I found out that this was the faster route to accomplish shedding in the offspring. Three ewes needed assistance lambing (one got it, the other two didnt and lost their lambs), one of which was 8 years old. Are Llamas Dangerous? But the pasture littered with wool as I had feared just did not happen. Just like the Katahdin, you do not have to shear them as they shed their winter coat in the spring. Thirty percent of the ewes were first-time lambers, having an average of 1.2 lambs/ewe. How do you collect wool from self-shearing sheep? 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. Many ethnic groups want a much different lamb or goat than has been marketed in the past. while letting some lambs reach weights up to 100+ lbs.
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