Im Carmella. I'd go with Dorper ram on Katahdin ewes. They shed their winter coats during spring and early summer. Bred to produce less back fat, their meat is lean and flavorful. Breed ideal for pasture lambing and grass/forage based management systems. History tells us our present-day sheep are derived from the wild Mouflon sheep, among others, that grew coarse hair with a downy undercoat. The number of feedings can be reduced over time to twice a day by 3-4 weeks of age. Dorpers tend to be a little larger, and Katahdins are excellent mothers, so a Dorper /Kathadin cross is nearly perfect. 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. Originating in South Africa, these lovable and attractive sheep tend to come with a lot more pros than cons. Dorset lambs, like the Suffolk and Dorper, mature quickly and are market-ready earlier than many other breeds. The Katahdin breed has hair instead of wool, and that means less work, according to the couple, who raise the sheep near Perham, Minnesota. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. 4 1. Katahdins tend to birth twins, with triplets and quadruplets occurring often with good flock management. The shedding process may take some getting used to but will not litter your pasture with wool Photographer: Ulf Kintzel. 2. Carefully breeding only the best stock will ensure that the extreme hardiness and good mothering ability remain. The Katahdins in the study had a consistently less barber pole worm infestation rate compared to the Dorper and Dorset crosses. 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 more on the differences, plus potential pros and cons between the breeds, read on. 7/8th exhibit all the traits of purebreds like out-of-season breeding and even many 3/4 look like purebred and shed as well. ByBasil Bactawar, UF/IFAS Duval County Extension Service. 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 . The Dorper is not a true hair sheep, but is included in this fact sheet because it is used in cross breeding programs involving hair sheep. No wool to deal with makes perfect economic sense. Katahdin is probably the more economical choice, however, namely because they can produce both meat and milk. Ulf, They are the generally more fertile in hot humid regions and show greater tolerance to parasites than woolen breeds. Looking forward to reply. When youre raising sheep for meat, the wool is a by-product. What You Need To Know. Technical Abstract: Fact: While its true that Barbados and St. Croix are small animals (ewes 80-110 pounds), few commercial breeders raise them. They are prolific breeders as well, often producing twins. This may or may not be the case in other states. Photo courtesy of:Dr. Stephan A. Wildeus. Dorper lambs have amazing growth rates when young. I sell a lot of culled ewes as roasts, ground meat, stew meat and various sausages. Dorper and Katahdin are medium size breeds. Fencing. Coat & Color: Solid white or white with black head. Many of the Dorper you see have been crossed with Katahdin sheep for several reasons. They are also highly resistant to many parasites that can become bothersome to other breeds of sheep. However, in older hairsheep the flavor is still impressive due to the genetic factor. It is also exceptionally low-maintenance. People in the Midwest or southern states see this and make a trip to Alberta to purchase a super ram. This is a very good article to read and understand the secrets of Raising Katahdin Sheep. Like most of the sheep listed here, Texel lambs reach market size quickly, by 5-6 months. 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. Environmental Adaptability: Tolerant of both high and low temperatures. Flock owners with less than 50 animals have a difficult time getting someone to shear unless they pool their animals with neighbors. What is worse, however, is the fact that there are breeders who do not select for shedding ability and for the show ring instead. As mentioned earlier, hair sheep breeds are considerably more heat-tolerant than wool breeds. He farms in the Finger Lakes area in upstate New York. The cross breeding results in the best of both breeds but also in the benefits of heterosis, commonly known as hybrid vigor. Katahdin sheep and Dorper are bred as meat sheep breeds. Though size and time to mature are not the Blackbellys strongest points, there are many advantages to raising this hardy breed of sheep. In California prices for hair sheep have surpassed prices for wool sheep and in New Holland they are catching up. One needs to do a detail review of the information related to the hair breed one wishes to raise. Originally, the established buyers at auctions resisted hairsheep in general and they fetched lower prices in places like New Holland. We have just over 1200 breeding ewes & aim for around 2000 when things get better. Choosing breeding stock with this in mind can avoid this problem. The breeds of hair sheep that are of importance in Florida include Katahdin, St. Croix, American Blackbelly, and Barbados Blackbelly. Subsequent generations with higher percentage shed better and better although shedding is not a black and white thing. They grow quickly and reach market weight early. Today I have 1/2, 3/4, 7/8th, and 15/16th White Dorper sheep. 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. As one of the most populous sheep breeds in America, the Suffolk is a popular choice for meat producers. Two weeks later, the ewes hadnt lost any body condition. Ewes weight approximately 200 pounds, and rams average out to around 260 pounds. 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. Breeding stock is selected under rigorous criteria, including parasite resistance, hair coat, growth characteristics on grass alone and general thriftiness. Very tolerant of the humid hot conditions in the Carribean andSomolia, Blackhead Persians have a white body and black head. Vigorous growers, the Icelandic produce lambs that are market-ready at 70-100 pounds in as little as 4-5 months. In addition, there is almost no incidence of flystrike with hair sheep breeds. Plainview, Tx. Half of the group thinks it is okay to feed hot sheep, the other half disagrees. 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. Weight Gain/Daily: 1 pound under intensive production. 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. J. Anim Sci 77:215-222. He can be reached at 585-554-3313 or by e-mail at ulf@whitecloversheepfarm.com. The breed is actually very good for meat production, and it produce more meat than Dorper and Katahdin sheep. This breed is adaptable and can live in many different climates. Breed is mainly free of wool and do not normally require shearing. Sheep and cattle have different grazing needs and preferences, and the sheep will clean up the growth that doesnt appeal to the cows. They also benefit from a long productive life, giving you maximum bang for your buck. No difference was noted between the purebred breeds of hair sheep. Vet. In addition, shearing is not a requirement thereby reducing operational cost. Tunis sheep are known to have an excellent flavor of meat. Dorset lambs, like the Suffolk and Dorper, mature quickly and are market-ready earlier than many other breeds. Not only do they suffer fewer complications during birthing compared to some other breeds, but they also give birth to multiple lambs. Research has shown Dorper have good parasite tolerance or resilience rather than resistance. The Katahdin is another great dual-purpose breed, producing on average 210 liters of milk per 210 day cycle. They dont need to be sheared, they have a docile temperament making them easy to handle, and they are resistant to disease. A large-framed, late-maturing breed will not have the necessary carcass quality at these weights, whereas Katahdin sheep or Dorpers will. Although the breed was created in the 1930s, it is still fairly new to the US. Market Weight/Live/Age: 80 110 lbs / 5.5 6 months. My customers are also distributors of various sizes who sell mainly at restaurants and their private customers. Twinning is common and triplets and quadruplets are not rare. He can be reached by e-mail at ulf@whitecloversheepfarm.com or by phoneduring calling hour specified on his answering machineat 585-554-3313. While Hampshire sheep are seasonal breeders, they tend to have a longer breeding season than others. Disposition & Mothering Ability: Ewes have good mothering ability and lamb easily unassisted. The outside temp is above 85* sheep are heaving and panting rapidly. Origin: This mutton breed was developed in South Africa in the 1930s from Dorset Horn and Blackheaded Persia for the extensive regions of South Africa. Baby Sheep: What a Baby Sheep is Called & Other Fun Facts. Blackbellys often breed easily and well, usually birthing multiple lambs in one breeding. 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.. I can only put this down to past genetics. There are black headed Dorpers (most common) and white Dorpers (harder to find). Best guess is he is 175-200 lbs. Blackbellys have hair and not wool, making them a low-maintenance breed. A caution when breeding is to choose the right size ram for the ewe. 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. Between their size and their courage, llamas may seem intimidating at first. Hair sheep breeds (Katahdin, St. Croix, Barbados) generally have much greater parasite resistance than wooled breeds, especially after one year of age. In addition to being a smaller breed, the lambs tend to mature slowly, not reaching ideal market weight until around 2 years of age. Moreover, RT was slightly less for Katahdin vs. Dorper in period 4 at 13:00 and 17:00 however, RR was less for Katahdin than for Dorper in periods 3 and 4. That applies to purebred WD market lambs as well. Three ewes needed assistance lambing (one got it, the other two didnt and lost their lambs), one of which was 8 years old. Grazing animals put on weight quickly in preparation for the long winters. Can you advise on the availability of a good ram and 10-12 ewe lambs this Spring. Your email address will not be published. The katahdin//dorper crosses are noticeably bigger than the pure katahdins. 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. 2022 Cornell Small Farms. I dont want him to get unhealthily fat. Variance in RT in periods 3 and 4 ranked St. Croix < Dorper < Katahdin. 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. A Katahdin ewe will average between 140-180 pounds, while Dorper ewes will average 160-200 pounds. Photo courtesy of: Dr. Stephan A. Wildeus. The mild and yet rich flavor of these culled ewes is remarkable and does not at all remind anyone of mutton. Ta Paul.5. Katahdin would adapt best under humid, warm conditions, while Dorper would be best suited for dry arid and semiarid rangeland conditions. Parasitol. That's interesting! The Dorper is a good example of this interbreeding. His father Barley ( in picture behind him) is a full blooded Dorper. The customers, including the many ethnic customers, caught up and appreciate the milder flavor of hairsheep. I bottle fed him for three months and give him grain 2x a day, and free choice hay as well as pasture grass. We have a dispute between the members about feeding sheep after working them. The first rams I purchased were of outstanding shedding ability. Dorper and Katahdin are medium size breeds. Some of the ancestors of these breeds originated in Africa and were brought to the Caribbean Islands, Central America and northern South America during the 18th and 19th century. Katahdin Dorper The Dorper is a mutton breed of hair sheep developed in the 1930s. In general they have low maintenance requirements. He farms in the Finger Lakes area in upstate New York. But the pasture littered with wool as I had feared just did not happen. Most Muslims prefer intact ram lambs without tails being docked. a From the review: Notter, g. 1978. Dorpersare known for their fast weight gains as lambs. They do produce wool, and will need to be shorn annually. I am trying to locate a couple of nice ewe lambs now. I would say try the dorpers.. we only raise a few for there is only us out here. This is true for Barbados Blackbelly and St. Croix in particular, because they have not been subjected to selection for size and growth rate of the woolen breeds. Next Page: Flock ID Last Name First Name Farm Name Address City State . 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 entire belly is black including areas between the legs, nose and forehead. We are fortunate that buyers for the large ethnic market in St. Louis often attend sales. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. I usually harvest my lambs between 80 and 90 lbs. 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. The flocking instinct of hair animals generally isnt as good as wool breeds. (Grabbing a Romanov thats been walking through cockleburs is like wrestling with a 130-pound cocklebur.). Ulf Kintzel owns and manages White Clover Sheep Farm (www.whitecloversheepfarm.com) in Rushville, NY where he breeds grass-fed White Dorper sheep. Mating season for Suffolk sheep usually happens in the Autumn or Winter of each year, as it is for most sheep breeds. We currently have about 100 ewes. The breed is famous in the United States for its high performance and low maintenance. To showcase the commercial qualities of our animals, all breeding stock we sell comes directly from pasture, having received no special treatment. Whether youre looking to be more self-sufficient or to make some income selling meat to local restaurants, raising sheep for meat can enable you to do both. We also sell breeding stock locally. Unsave Save. I forgot to ask for notification via e-mail, so I am reposting my questions. Early maturing Terminal cross lambs. This breed tolerates both heat and cold making them a good choice for most climates. Dorsets commonly produce twins and even triplets. A year and many dollars later, they cant understand why the rams offspring doesnt grow any faster than the rest of their animals. Black color covers belly, inside legs and thighs and extends up to the neck. I have a question. 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. link to Are Llamas Dangerous? marina@mgdorpers.com. As a result, the Katahdin is the most common hair sheep in America. 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! While I had no worries about my 1/2 market lambs since the Texel influence was still strong, my anticipation when the first 3/4 market lambs were harvested was great. 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 . I love lambs Does lambs has less cholesterol than goat? What happens if you leave the ram out all year round? The Gayogoh:n are members of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, an alliance of six sovereign Nations with a historic and contemporary presence on this land. Required fields are marked *. Have been buying in feed since the start of 2018. The Blackhead Persian is a fat-rumped hair breed from the arid lands of the Middle East. Cheviots are easy to breed, meeting a 90% lambing average without assistance. There are very few disadvantages of keeping Katahdin sheep. If I took the chance and had her bred would she be able to carry her lamb/s? Hi currently running flock of 600. 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. Dorper's are by far the closest hair sheep to the wool breed. When comparing weights, keep in mind we live in north central Missouri. Ewes will weigh an average of 190 pounds, with rams reaching up to 300 pounds. Just a little more "stingy" than the Dorper (and I am talking more for working them with dogs). An interesting study was done that showed the parasite resistance was higher in the purebred hair sheep over the crossbred shedding sheep. Thirdly how long after separation to market. In our operation, that sheep breed is the Katahdin sheep. The Katahdin hair sheep is the fastest growing breed in the United States. There are three main reasons to raise hair sheep. They have incredible growth of lambs at butcher weight within 6-8 months with carcass weights in the 45-60 lb range. I am new to the sheep business so I am concerned that she will never be large enough to breed. Work with your states department of agriculture if youre interested in export sales. 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..