The only problem with colesterol is that the big pharma found a new drug to sell. For more on the differences, plus potential pros and cons between the breeds, read on. Black color covers belly, inside legs and thighs and extends up to the neck. Katahdins often breeding out of season. Grazing animals put on weight quickly in preparation for the long winters. Just a little more "stingy" than the Dorper (and I am talking more for working them with dogs). 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. Texel sheep do best in colder climates, as they are exceptionally cold-hardy and have been known to be sensitive to the heat. You can overcome this by making sure your walls are high enough, and that there is nothing in their enclosure that they can climb onto. Crossbred individuals tend to be more vigorous, more fertile . 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. The Dorper originated in South Africa from crosses between the Dorset and the Blackhead Persian. Dorper lambs have amazing growth rates when young. Weight Gain/Daily: 0.4 lbs daily with good nutrition. 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. Disposition & Mothering Ability: This breed is a bit flighty. Now you have a good idea of the pros and cons of both Dorper and Katahdin sheep, which one is right for your homestead? I'd go with Dorper ram on Katahdin ewes. We are fortunate that buyers for the large ethnic market in St. Louis often attend sales. Dorper sheep Revolutionizing the meat sheep industry Dorper sheep are exceptionally popular amongst both hobbyists and commercial homesteads. However, as the challenge escalated, parasite resistance was greatest in St. Croix lambs, followed by Katahdin and Dorper lambs. They naturally shed their wool throughout the seasons. Our experienced ewes averaged 2.1 lambs/ewe born with 1.9 weaned. He seems pretty big to me, but since he is my first sheep, I dont know what he should weigh. Katahdin Sheep work very well in a variety of production situations as a low-maintenance, easy care sheep. 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. Some general information on hair sheep is found on the next page. Market Weight/Live/Age: 80 110 lbs / 5.5 6 months. Work with your states department of agriculture if youre interested in export sales. When I look out in the paddock it looks like hell on earth but at the same time beautiful. Of the ewe lambs exposed, 95 percent gave birth at the age of 11-13 months. Suffolk ewes reach between 180-250 pounds, while rams can top out at 350 pounds. Considered to be the 2nd most popular breed of sheep in the US, the Dorset sheep is another solid meat-producer. 2022 Cornell Small Farms. The main differences between these two breeds are the colors available, and what they can be used for. Unlike meat goats, hair sheep are resistant to many of the parasites shed by cattle. I really like all three breeds. Disposition & Mothering Ability: Ewes are docile with good mothering ability. Dorper Sheep - Sheep Breed Series 22,946 views Mar 15, 2020 417 Dislike Share The Grass-fed Homestead 75.8K subscribers Shepherdess Tess talks about her Dorper sheep breeding program and how. FLAVOR They do produce wool, and will need to be shorn annually. The Dorper have a black head extending in the neck, with a white body. Your email address will not be published. so so far we are separating her and letting the pus drain They also do well eating the vegetation that other species reject. He can be reached at 585-554-3313 or by e-mail at ulf@whitecloversheepfarm.com. Shear force values were greatest, tougher, for Dorset-sired than Dorper-sired or Katahdin lambs. Bred to produce less back fat, their meat is lean and flavorful. 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. Best Meat Cross-Breed with Katahdin Ram - Permies Mature Weight (Lb): Ewe = 100 130, Ram = 120 150. Hampshire sheep can live in almost any climate, making them a hardy breed. Sheep 201: Hair sheep primer In lambs, grain feeding versus grass-fed has a greater influence on flavor than the differences in breeds. Jacksonville, FL 32254. 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. Apparently, Momma Kathadin doesnt wait around to see what happens when Mr. Coyote shows up for dinner. Feed conversion is good since these sheep fatten easily on less than ideal pasture and forage. Breeders often use less-expensive Katahdin ewes to initiate an upgrading program with registered Dorper as the final goal. They can provide you with information pertaining to regulations, health requirements and local export brokers. They also tend to be highly mobile, which means they will climb on top of anything. including sheepamong them an extra-special Dorper-Katahdin lamb named Mopple. 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. Breeding stock is selected under rigorous criteria, including parasite resistance, hair coat, growth characteristics on grass alone and general thriftiness. We find its seldom necessary to trim hooves. His website address is www.whitecloversheepfarm.com. Two weeks later, the ewes hadnt lost any body condition. "Shearing the wool was tough," he recalls, but the price paid for wool nearly covered feed costs. Crossing with the Dorper led tothis larger hair breed. They are easy care sheep that divert most of their energy into producing meat instead of wool. As with any young growing animal, the weight gains of a Katahdin lamb increase as the protein and digestibility of the forage increases. The Katahdin Sheep is a domestic breed developed in Maine in the United States and named after the highest peak in Maine, Mount Katahdin. The other half needed shearing. View Details. Sheep Breeds - UF/IFAS Extension 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 Katahdin breed was developed in the United States by Michael Piel. Ewes with young lambs show protective behavior and may raise front feet to strike dogs and cats when confronted. Some European sheep genetics were incorporated into the African sheep to arrive at the existing hair breeds mentioned above. I like the Dorper temperament, generally they are a pretty docile breed. The Dorper carcass has a good conformation and fat distribution. Katahdin can be used for both meat and milk, whereas Dorper sheep are only good for meat production. In this area, hair sheep often sell higher than wool sheep. Katahdins are awesome and productive mothers plus they are a very hardy breed and the Dorper will put more size on the meat sheep. Fact: Eight or ten years ago you could expect a 5-10 cents/pound discount for hair animals. 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. An older, fat sheep is likely where the reputation of nasty mutton comes from. Im Carmella. Your email address will not be published. They have woolier coats and are slower to shed (most of them). The breeder from whom I purchased the lambs said she is breeding in dorper with the katahdins to "beef" them up a little. Libyans prefer old worn out buck goats for their stronger flavor. The Dorper sheep is a meat sheep breed. The Dorper has a high rate of lambing and is tolerant of the arid conditions it was developed for in South Africa. 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. The Katahdan tend to be a little more "active", in general not quite as docile, though many would disagree but they are still quiet. Some are calling these shedding sheep. Plainview, Tx. They are well adapted to a variety of climatic and grazing conditions. Hair sheep dont bring as much on the slaughter market. The major disadvantage is that they grow slower and produce a lighter weight carcass than most breeds of European origin. Lambing Interval:It ranges from 6 to 8 months. I cant speak to colder temperatures, taking zero degrees without a problem is good enough for me. Everything You Need to Know About Hair Sheep - Cross S Ranch These are some of the best reasons to raise Katahdin sheep - though the list is by no means exhaustive! For us, the Katahdin sheep breed fits our operation and our philosophy quite well. This ancient breed has thrived in warm climates, continued to produce twins and good carcass weights. We normally worm our lambs 3-4 times a summer and the ewes not at all. . 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 . Katahdin Dorper The Dorper is a mutton breed of hair sheep developed in the 1930s. We are currently using rams with high shedding scores, while culling heavily on production traits. Katahdin Sheep - MAD-KETTLE FARM - KATAHDIN SHEEP AND DEXTER CATTLE At that weight the fat cover did indeed get too much. We are currently running 130 registered ewes with 10 commercial ewes that will be dispersed this year. 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. Good milkers, and is suggested not to wean lambs before three months. The Katahdin sheep is listed as a Recovering heritage breed on the ALBC Conservation Priority List. link to Are Llamas Dangerous? You can even crossbreed them to develop unique varieties for your farm or homestead. Feeding small quantities throughout numerous feedings helps reduce the incidence of bloat and/or diarrhea. More on that subject later. When the pastures are poor, hair animals hold their body condition much better. 100 Dorper - Bred Ewes. Looking forward to reply. 13 Hair Sheep Breeds You Should Know About - The Homesteading Hippy Best Sheep for Milk: 7 Best Sheep Breeds for Milk - Savvy Farm Life Most lambs are considered market-ready by 9-12 weeks. 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. The number of feedings can be reduced over time to twice a day by 3-4 weeks of age. I have a pet ram lamb, texel dorset cross I was told. The flavor of the market lambs is in my opinion mostly influenced by the fact that these lambs are grass-fed. How about Field Corn! He farms in the Finger Lakes area in upstate New York. His father Barley ( in picture behind him) is a full blooded Dorper. its ok to wean the lamb as soon as possible. If you have space to corral a few sheep, you can fill the freezer with a healthy alternative to beef and chicken. Katahdins are docile, medium-sized sheep; ewes weigh 125 to 185 pounds, rams 180 to 250 pounds. Carefully breeding only the best stock will ensure that the extreme hardiness and good mothering ability remain. Hi Mary. Their hair falls off naturally during the year, making them an easy breed to care for. Will they settle into a seasonal pattern or will they breed continually? How do you collect wool from self-shearing sheep? Dries Wiese, the owner and Studbreeder, was 9 years old when his father bought him his first . . Our first lamb - Katahdin Dorper Cross - Farm Homestead Fact: In central Missouri, raising sheep for wool has been a losing proposition for a number of years. Hair sheep primer . Nitrogen retention by lambs fed oscillating dietary protein concentrations. Also, much of the flavor ( good or bad) comes from the fat. Resistance to Internal Parasites in Lambs of Hair Sheep Composite Breeds We saw their ad and went to look at their Dorper rams. 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. The Royal White produces more mea t than Katahdin sheep and Dorper sheep. Docking tails is unnecessary, although you still see some old timers that dock just because they always have. Rams generally have horns. I'll be using my Barbados Blackbelly ram on my BB ewes and also a few Kathadin ewes. Our paddocks are grazed for 5-7 days followed by 25-34 days of . I have a question. In terms of temperament, cost, and maintenance, they are both excellent options. As a result, about 50 percent of the first generation of White Dorper cross bred sheep shed partially or mostly. Tunis sheep are able to thrive in a variety of climates, and tolerate both heat and cold well. This site is owned and operated by Wild Wire Media, LLC. 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. Dorpers tend to be a little larger, and Katahdins are excellent mothers, so a Dorper /Kathadin cross is nearly perfect. As far as winter hardiness is concerned, I have my sheep out in zero degree weather. They have incredible growth of lambs at butcher weight within 6-8 months with carcass weights in the 45-60 lb range. Thirty percent of the ewes were first-time lambers, having an average of 1.2 lambs/ewe. It is now farmed in other areas as well, and is the second most common sheep breed in South Africa.
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