Your email address will not be published. Question is this common? They reach sexual maturity very early, with ewes able to breed between 7 to 9 months of age. Bosnians want 60-pound animals while Muslims often prefer 60-80 pound animals. Bred to produce less back fat, their meat is lean and flavorful. 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.. Coat & Color: Most of the individuals are white, but tan and spotted ones exist. In addition to being a smaller breed, the lambs tend to mature slowly, not reaching ideal market weight until around 2 years of age. 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. How often do dorpers have breeding problems and we will then have to pull the lambs? Coat & Color: Has a variety of color ranging from black and tan through yellow with variegated mottled pattern. Sales at the 2022 mid America Dorper Show nearly broke $1 MILLION with the top Dorper ewe bringing $20,000 and ram $12,800. We are interested purchasing Katahdin sheep and found this article very helpful. You can also use them for multiple income streams thanks to their excellent meat and milk production. As far as winter hardiness is concerned, I have my sheep out in zero degree weather. Dorset lambs, like the Suffolk and Dorper, mature quickly and are market-ready earlier than many other breeds. The Dorper is a mutton breed of hair sheep developed in the 1930s. 2022 Cornell Small Farms. Libyans prefer old worn out buck goats for their stronger flavor. Katahdins are awesome and productive mothers plus they are a very hardy breed and the Dorper will put more size on the meat sheep. Dorpers DO NOT shed their coats as well and consistently as katahdins. 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. $300. Nick. The Dorper originated in South Africa from crosses between the Dorset and the Blackhead Persian. The Dorper carcass has a good conformation and fat distribution. Unlike meat goats, hair sheep are resistant to many of the parasites shed by cattle. Sold all our cattle. Half of the group thinks it is okay to feed hot sheep, the other half disagrees. 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. . They are attentive, protective, and make excellent mothers. Some hair breed rams are long-bodied which can create a lengthy birthing scenario for the ewe. As with any young growing animal, the weight gains of a Katahdin lamb increase as the protein and digestibility of the forage increases. Cole, N.A. I forgot to ask for notification via e-mail, so I am reposting my questions. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Katahdin x Lacaune. Suffolk ewes are excellent mothers and prolific breeders. The Dorper has a high rate of lambing and is tolerant of the arid conditions it was developed for in South Africa. After being in the business of raising wool sheep of various kinds for two decades, I decided in 2005 to start with hair sheep. Grazing animals put on weight quickly in preparation for the long winters. Compared to other breeds, these sheep are relatively new, dating back to the 1950s. The Confederacy precedes the establishment of Cornell University, New York state, and the United States of America. Are you interested in raising sheep for meat? Ten percent of sheep breeds are hair breeds but ninety percent of these are found in tropical areas. Most Muslims prefer intact ram lambs without tails being docked. It improves from year one to year two of age but can again be reduced by external factors like disease or weight loss. In general they have low maintenance requirements. Apparently, Momma Kathadin doesnt wait around to see what happens when Mr. Coyote shows up for dinner. Sales of sheep meat and sheep breeding stock are on the rise in the United States and Canada. Ewes will breed back before the lambs are weaned. In 1975 Utah State University imported a small flock of Virgin Island White which is the basis for the present St. Croix breed in North America. The best genetics wont keep an animal from starving to death. This makes them one of the more profitable breeds to specialize in. However, if you are not intending to feed grain and if you dont intend to grow your lambs beyond 100 lbs. This article first appeared in the May/June 2010 Hobby Farms. Dorset sheep thrive in a wide variety of climates, and being wool-producers, they will need to be sheared annually. In Canada, Katahdin sheep commonly gain well over a pound per day. They naturally shed their wool throughout the seasons. They shed their winter coats during spring and early summer. I really like all three breeds. In addition, shearing is not a requirement thereby reducing operational cost. link to Are Llamas Dangerous? A ewes wool will pay her winter feed bill. My friend used to manage a flock of purebreds of both breeds and crosses. Anymore (at least in Missouri) its the carcass quality that sets the price. Thanks, Noela. The breed was created by crossing Dorset and Blackheaded Persian sheep. For us, the Katahdin sheep breed fits our operation and our philosophy quite well. How do you decide which breed is right for your needs? They do produce wool, and will need to be shorn annually. Very interesting and informational! 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. They do produce wool, and need to be shorn on a regular basis. Our flock is managed through pasture rotation from April until late December. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to compare productive performance of F 1 Dp vs . We have a dispute between the members about feeding sheep after working them. Why Katahdin x Dorper Crosses. 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. The saving grace are our Dorpers. He farms in the Finger Lakes area in upstate New York. Typically, the 75 percent Dorper crosses will exhibit the Dorper coloration and conformation. 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. No wool to deal with makes perfect economic sense. Mature Weight (Lb): Ewe = 170 200 (can be less than 170lb), Ram = 220 250. Suffolk ewes reach between 180-250 pounds, while rams can top out at 350 pounds. One needs to do a detail review of the information related to the hair breed one wishes to raise. There are three main reasons to raise hair sheep. its ok to wean the lamb as soon as possible. This breed is also exceptionally hardy, able to thrive in both the cold, and the hot, humid climates in which many farmers struggle to. Since hair sheep dont have a heavy wool coat, they cant take the cold. McKinney. There is a growing market demand for high-quality, naturally-fed lamb. 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. This breed was imported in the US in 1904 and was crossed with Mouflon (wild sheep), Rambouillet and other European breeds to produce what is known as American Blackbelly. I have a question. With an annual rainfall of approximately 175mm (7 inches), the grazing is mainly scrubland with a stocking rate of 1 LSU per 32 hectare. Environmental Adaptability: Tolerant of both high and low temperatures. If ewes are fed well, lambing rate approaches the higher end. While I cant speak for other hair breeds, Katahdin sheep are tough, hardy animals with eating habits more like that of a goat. In conclusion, based on RT and RR, resilience to high HLI conditions ranked St. Croix > Katahdin > Dorper, with lowest . The bodybuilder of the sheep world, the Texel sheep is known for its heavily-muscled and sturdy frame. That's interesting! Breed utilization for meat production in sheep. They are well adapted to a variety of climatic and grazing conditions. We find its seldom necessary to trim hooves. Other than a few lambs for Hispanic weddings, we sell our slaughter animals through the local auction barn. Ewes weight approximately 200 pounds, and rams average out to around 260 pounds. You can even crossbreed them to develop unique varieties for your farm or homestead. 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. Very tolerant of the humid hot conditions in the Carribean andSomolia, Blackhead Persians have a white body and black head. Dorper and Katahdin are medium size breeds. Dorper sheep originated in South Africa and were the result of crossing Dorset Horn with Blackheaded Persian sheep. These are some of the best reasons to raise Katahdin sheep - though the list is by no means exhaustive! Bred sheep/ewes (Dorper and Katahdin), bred to a show ram. The Cheviot sheep is best suited for northern, colder climates, and does not tolerate heat as well. As you can see in picture Spike has some tiny horn buds; they have never grown . The trend is now reversed. Average weight for the Cheviot is 130 175 pounds. The shedding ability of this breed varies greatly. Hairsheep breeds such as the Barbados Blackbelly and St.Croix are largely found in these tropical areas of the world. However, they are suitable for markets requiring smaller carcass size. We prefer using forage to produce lambs rather than wool. This breed is adaptable and can live in many different climates. Mature Weight (Lb): Ewe = 130 140 (Average is 136), Ram = 170 - 200. The ewes are also heavy milkers with excellent maternal instincts. and, as such, the data are estimates. I dont want him to get unhealthily fat. In addition, there is almost no incidence of flystrike with hair sheep breeds. I've seen some really nice Dorper/Katahdin crosses. Market Weight/Live/Age: 70 90 lbs / 7 8 months. Icelandic Sheep are excellent and reliable breeders, breeding seasonally in the Fall to Winter. Required fields are marked *. Animals dont grow as fastbut dont need to with milder winters and longer growing season. Fact: While its true that Barbados and St. Croix are small animals (ewes 80-110 pounds), few commercial breeders raise them. Next Page: Flock ID Last Name First Name Farm Name Address City State . And does anyone have experience with katahdin ewes on dorper bucks . They also are not limited to a breeding season, conceiving year round. The Royal White sheep shed their wool naturally, it saves the cost of shearing. 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. If I took the chance and had her bred would she be able to carry her lamb/s? 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! The number of feedings can be reduced over time to twice a day by 3-4 weeks of age. 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. Thanks, I am considering starting a small Dorper and or Katahdin herd to raise meat for the Western New York market. my ewe with CL has had her first batch of lambs last month and she is a really good mother! including sheepamong them an extra-special Dorper-Katahdin lamb named Mopple. As well as a hand full of peanuts every day. 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 Dorper X Katahdin are very popular and providing you use a good quality ram, I would suggest fullblood or purebred, they do tend to really stamp the babies with their type. Just weaned 530 lambs .If we can get some weight on them worth $200+ in current market. Ewes typically reach sexual maturity by 7 months. I would love to get in touch with the author personally. As we train border collies for sheep and cattle trials and we need a few different types of sheep. Dorper sheep originated in South Africa and were the result of crossing Dorset Horn with Blackheaded Persian sheep. J. Anim Sci 77:215-222. 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. Some of the main pros of keeping Katahdin sheep include: Katahdin sheep are one of the easiest breeds of sheep to care for. I used to want a Dorper cross over Katahdin but finally got to see the results of this cross and was not very impressed with the results. The Barbados Blackbelly got its name because of the characteristic black belly on an otherwise red brown coat. It should be kept in mind that performance varies greatly with genetic . Breeders often use less-expensive Katahdin ewes to initiate an upgrading program with registered Dorper as the final goal. Crossing these breeds with woolen breeds for efficient meat production does hold some potential. To be successful, you must sell quality, and I stress quality animals; send anything else to slaughter. The only things to consider include: The fact Katahdin sheep dont produce wool isnt necessarily a disadvantage. The other half needed shearing. We are in the process of installing another 10,000 feet of electric fence on 25 acres that will result in another nine paddocks. Katahdin is probably the more economical choice, however, namely because they can produce both meat and milk. 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. I usually harvest my lambs between 80 and 90 lbs. Is there any way to contact him? The flocking instinct of hair animals generally isnt as good as wool breeds. I have found that the Katahdin can be a little taller than many of the Dorper but then it will also depend on what bloodlines.