This breed averages in maturity at around 175 220 pounds. Early maturing Terminal cross lambs. Royal White Sheep: Characteristics, Uses, Origin - ROYS FARM An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. As hair sheep breeds become more popular, it will be important for breeders to ensure the future integrity of the breeds. Lamb chops from Barbados Blackbelly x St. Croix lambs were similar to those from Dorset-sired, Dorper-sired, or Katahdin. Feed conversion is good since these sheep fatten easily on less than ideal pasture and forage. They were called Africans at the time. Katahdin Dorper cross ram lambs for Sale - Highnote Alabama There are a lot of advantages to keeping Dorper sheep in the US. You will want to take into account the mature size of the animal (you can expect to yield 40% of an animals live weight in meat), the quality of meat, and whether it will tolerate your climate. The Dorper grows more wool but self-sheds annually. Variance in RT in periods 3 and 4 ranked St. Croix < Dorper < Katahdin. The breed is actually very good for meat production, and it produce more meat than Dorper and Katahdin sheep. Will they settle into a seasonal pattern or will they breed continually? They do produce wool, and will need to be shorn annually. They are the generally more fertile in hot humid regions and show greater tolerance to parasites than woolen breeds. Some European sheep genetics were incorporated into the African sheep to arrive at the existing hair breeds mentioned above. Hi Joanne. Carcass Composition of Hair Sheep Breeds and Crosses - Virginia Tech The Kasteel White Dorper Stud farm lies in an arid area of the Republic of South Africa, called the Great Karoo. Four years ago we began converting all our cropland into pasture and expanded the flock. I have a pet ram lamb, texel dorset cross I was told. They started with an idle, tired farm and through years of blood, sweat and tears have transformed it into a vibrant . 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. Newbie trying to decide (Katahdin, Dorper, or St. Croix) We feel that our time must be used where it will improve our operation, rather than maintaining status quo. Posted 11/18/2019 21:09 (#7854689) Subject: Dorper Sheep vs. Katahdin Sheep. In general they have low maintenance requirements. Another goodproductfromhair sheep is leather. Is there any way to contact him? Work with your states department of agriculture if youre interested in export sales. In terms of temperament, cost, and maintenance, they are both excellent options. Thank you for stopping by, and best of luck with your farm! View Details. Next Page: Flock ID Last Name First Name Farm Name Address City State . Dorper Sheep. Disposition & Mothering Ability: Ewes have good mothering ability and lamb easily unassisted. I have a question. He is 8 months old. They dont need to be sheared, they have a docile temperament making them easy to handle, and they are resistant to disease. Our first lamb - Katahdin Dorper Cross - Farm Homestead Mexicans prefer a larger lamb, and let nothing go to waste. Coat & Color: Has a variety of color ranging from black and tan through yellow with variegated mottled pattern. His information is given at the conclusion of the article, pasted below. Fact: Katahdin sheep, at least, will thrive from hot, humid Florida to the western provinces of Canada. Breeders often use less-expensive Katahdin ewes to initiate an upgrading program with registered Dorper as the final goal. 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. You can find out more about lambing Dorper sheep through the American Dorper Sheep Breeders Society. 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. It is common to have ewes lambing twice per year. Weight Gain/Daily: 1 pound under intensive production. Hair sheep breeds are growing in popularity as consumers look for economical ways to raise homestead meat animals. Origin: This breed was developed or evolved on the Eastern Caribbean Island of Barbados. 4 1. This spring we had an overall lambing average of 1.9 lambs/ewe born with 1.7 lambs weaned. My friend also mentioned his Katahdin-Dorper lambs are much fatter when born than Polypays. This breed is also exceptionally hardy, able to thrive in both the cold, and the hot, humid climates in which many farmers struggle to. That applies to purebred WD market lambs as well. All Rights Reserved | Website by Maple Creative, God Save the Beef: Trials of Sustainable Farming in the UK . It should be kept in mind that performance varies greatly with genetic, management, climate, etc. Our young Katahdins can be difficult to move. Hair sheep primer . Can someone tell me a few of the pros and cons for both dorper sand katahdin. Sold all our cattle. As they say, the proof is in the pudding eating. 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. This information is important to producers and extension agents with an interest in hair sheep. The reproductive rate of true hair sheep is excellent. Reaching maturity earlier than many breeds, the Suffolk lamb will reach an average of 116 pounds by 100 days of age. Dorpers tend to be a little larger, and Katahdins are excellent mothers, so a Dorper /Kathadin cross is nearly perfect. Unfortunately, Mr. Piel did not live long enough to see his breed reach having a registry and breed standards. They also tend to be highly mobile, which means they will climb on top of anything. Market Weight/Live/Age: 70 90 lbs / 7 8 months. Their hair falls off naturally during the year, making them an easy breed to care for. You can check my blog at Merino sheep for sale. Signatures of selection in sheep and goats infected with Haemonchus Signatures of selection for resistance to - BMC Genomics Black color covers belly, inside legs and thighs and extends up to the neck. Request PDF | Signatures of selection in sheep and goats infected with Haemonchus contortus | Host genetic variation for resistance to Haemonchus contortus allows selective breeding of animals for . We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. What is the Ideal Weight for a Market Lamb? - Cornell Small Farms marina@mgdorpers.com. 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. J. Anim Sci 77:215-222. Please indicate pricing as well. The Dorper have a black head extending in the neck, with a white body. The St Croix are also quiet, but seem to be next on the ladder. Three ewes needed assistance lambing (one got it, the other two didnt and lost their lambs), one of which was 8 years old. The Katahdin sheep is listed as a Recovering heritage breed on the ALBC Conservation Priority List. Photo courtesy of:Dr. Stephan A. Wildeus. The purpose of the breed is to efficiently produce meat. Since Missouri has more Katahdin sheep than any other state, the majority of export animals come from here. For more on the differences, plus potential pros and cons between the breeds, read on. Hampshire sheep have a muscular and stocky build, and are comparative to the Suffolk in size. 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.. keep checking it out! We just started raising Katahdins this year. In California prices for hair sheep have surpassed prices for wool sheep and in New Holland they are catching up. 109:265-275. 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. Why Choose St. Croix Hair Sheep? The flocking instinct of hair animals generally isnt as good as wool breeds. 199 Effects of high heat load conditions on Dorper, Katahdin, and St You can also use them for multiple income streams thanks to their excellent meat and milk production. A common lamb on good pasture will perform better than Super Lamb on poor pasture. However, if you are not intending to feed grain and if you dont intend to grow your lambs beyond 100 lbs. Because of the wool, the Icelandic sheep do need to be sheared once to twice per year. Icelandic Sheep are excellent and reliable breeders, breeding seasonally in the Fall to Winter. 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. Milk replacers should be fed at 10%-20% of the lamb's body weight, divided into 4-6 feedings/day during the first week of life. As well as a hand full of peanuts every day. Im Carmella. The thickness of a Katahdin sheeps winter coat will vary among individuals, but it needs to shed completely for an A or AA coat classification, which is the norm. Sheds coat as temperature and day length increase. This makes them one of the more profitable breeds to specialize in. 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 ? Good set of ewes. Anymore (at least in Missouri) its the carcass quality that sets the price. However, if thats what you are looking for then this breed might not be for you. For us, the Katahdin sheep breed fits our operation and our philosophy quite well. They are easy care sheep that divert most of their energy into producing meat instead of wool. Q. Originally bred for their meat, the Katahdin tends to have a wider variation of milk production - some ewes producing significantly more (or significantly less) than the average. Sales of sheep meat and sheep breeding stock are on the rise in the United States and Canada. At that weight there are no problems with too much fat cover whatsoever. Dorper Sheep Breed Information, History & Facts - RaisingSheep.net Suffolk ewes are excellent mothers and prolific breeders. Thank so much for this information. At that weight the fat cover did indeed get too much. My wife and I feel theres no best breed, but rather which breed best fits your operation. With an annual rainfall of approximately 175mm (7 inches), the grazing is mainly scrubland with a stocking rate of 1 LSU per 32 hectare. 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. They also do well eating the vegetation that other species reject. 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. 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 web-accessibility@cornell.edu for assistance. As mentioned earlier, hair sheep breeds are considerably more heat-tolerant than wool breeds. 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. More on that subject later. Due to their superior conformation and shedding characteristics, they have become one of the most popular breeds of sheep in the U.S. Hi just wondering it may be a silly question anyways can you milk Dorper sheep. 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. Best guess is he is 175-200 lbs. We both work off thefarm; therefore time is a commodity in short supply. I belong to a herding club in Hawaii. When selecting breeding stock, choose animals with good feet. At lower latitudes (down south), summer daylight periods are shorter, the temperature higher, grass growth is slower and is lower in protein and higher fiber. Like the Dorper, Dorset ewes are able to breed year-round and are not limited to a typical Fall/Winter breeding season. let me know! But the pasture littered with wool as I had feared just did not happen. 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. Breeding stock is selected under rigorous criteria, including parasite resistance, hair coat, growth characteristics on grass alone and general thriftiness. 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. Coat & Color: The coat can be reddish brown, tan or yellow. Due to its heavily muscled carcass, the Texel sheep is a very popular meat breed. Arguments exist concerning the exact origin of the Barbados Blackbelly evidence is shown for both Africa or Barbados. Dorper vs Katahdin sheep? | Homesteading Forum After slaughter, all thats left is hide, manure and stomach contents. I can only put this down to past genetics. Katahdins are a popular meat breed for sheep farmers. When the weathers hot and the pastures are dry, their wool animals will be under a tree while the hair animals are out grazing. Although they are one of the newest sheep breeds introduced in America, Katahdin sheep have quickly become a popular choice. Icelandic Sheep are another popular choice for meat, with ewes weighing an average of 150 pounds at maturity, and rams averaging 200 pounds. The leather from hair sheep grain is finer than the leather from wool breeds and brings in a larger amount of money. Some general information on hair sheep is found on the next page. Materials and methods Id recommend getting in touch with the author of this article- he might have some good insight for you. Looking forward to reply. While both breeds are exceptionally popular in the US, there are some differences between the two. This may or may not be the case in other states. They are excellent mothers. Many ethnic groups want a much different lamb or goat than has been marketed in the past. Good luck! . If this same time is spent building homestead fencing, watersystems, improving lambing or handling facilities, its improving an operation. Any of the sheep breeds thats considered to be one of the true hair sheep breeds has an advantage in that cockleburs, briars, stick-tights and so forth dont become entangled. Breed is mainly free of wool and do not normally require shearing. I have some St Croix and they are quite large. Shear force values were greatest, tougher, for Dorset-sired than Dorper-sired or Katahdin lambs. My customers are also distributors of various sizes who sell mainly at restaurants and their private customers. Ultimate Guide. There are a few characteristics you will want to look for when choosing a meat-producing sheep. Why Katahdin x Dorper Crosses. including sheepamong them an extra-special Dorper-Katahdin lamb named Mopple. Produce large amount of milk. Vigorous growers, the Icelandic produce lambs that are market-ready at 70-100 pounds in as little as 4-5 months. Secrets of Raising Katahdin Sheep - Countryside They can harbor significant worm populations, yet not suffer the same effects a wool animal would. Our spring lambs on pasture alone (17-20 percent protein and 65-72percentdigestible organic matter-DOM) will average 55-60 pounds. Your email address will not be published. i love the dorper sheep breed! Blackbellys often breed easily and well, usually birthing multiple lambs in one breeding. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. I had on occasion lambs butchered that exceeded 110 pounds. Cornell University is located on the traditional homelands of the Gayogoh:n (the Cayuga Nation). i do not want to cull her from the flock! As a result, the Katahdin is the most common hair sheep in America. In years past, 18-30 pound lambs sold well in Chicago for Jewish Passover. Considered to be the 2nd most popular breed of sheep in the US, the Dorset sheep is another solid meat-producer. 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 . Market Weight/Live/Age: 80 110 lbs / 5.5 6 months. Ewes will weigh an average of 190 pounds, with rams reaching up to 300 pounds. Lamb comes from a sheep under the age of 1 year old. Katahdin Pedigrees ~ Members List mantap ! You will always need to make compromises if you choose to have a purebred flock. What sheep breeds are best for meat? The Katahdin Sheep is a domestic breed developed in Maine in the United States and named after the highest peak in Maine, Mount Katahdin. Katahdin is probably the more economical choice, however, namely because they can produce both meat and milk. Ewes will weigh an average of 190 pounds, with rams reaching up to 300 pounds. Hair sheep dont bring as much on the slaughter market. Katahdin can be used for both meat and milk, whereas Dorper sheep are only good for meat production. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Ewe's Dorper/Katahdin Cross | Mysite Most hair sheep breeds will lamb out of season without resorting to hormone therapy. Subsequent generations with higher percentage shed better and better although shedding is not a black and white thing. I have no way of weighing him. Katatdin x Dorper . Average Birth Weight (Lbs): 7.5 lbs for single, 6.5 7 for twins, and less for triplets. And some shed one year but not totally the next for no apparent reason at all. He can be reached at 585-554-3313 or by e-mail at ulf@whitecloversheepfarm.com. Easy Care Hair Sheep: Is There Really Such A Thing? An older, fat sheep is likely where the reputation of nasty mutton comes from. Dorper lambs have amazing growth rates when young. Culling the genetic faults and only keeping the best rams for breeding will ensure a good future for any new hair sheep breeds. Hi Mary. The desire to climb mandates the use of a bale ring to prevent excessive waste. 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! This is a very good article to read and understand the secrets of Raising Katahdin Sheep. Good milkers, and is suggested not to wean lambs before three months. We saw their ad and went to look at their Dorper rams. Hairsheep breeds such as the Barbados Blackbelly and St.Croix are largely found in these tropical areas of the world. This information may be used to compare breeds of hair sheep. Your email address will not be published. Katahdin would adapt best under humid, warm conditions, while Dorper would be best suited for dry arid and semiarid rangeland conditions. "Shearing the wool was tough," he recalls, but the price paid for wool nearly covered feed costs. To showcase the commercial qualities of our animals, all breeding stock we sell comes directly from pasture, having received no special treatment. I cant speak to colder temperatures, taking zero degrees without a problem is good enough for me. We figured the combination would be a meatier sheep." They bought the ram in 1996 and some ewes the following spring. or you can contact me at- May-June lambs on pasture alone (10-13percentprotein and 60-65percent DOM) will average 45 pounds. Hi currently running flock of 600. An interesting study was done that showed the parasite resistance was higher in the purebred hair sheep over the crossbred shedding sheep. Animal Breeding Abstracts. They grow quickly and reach market weight early. 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. Some breeders have been working on crosses between traditional wool meat breeds and hair sheep breeds. Their main advantage is that they adapt well to hot humid climate where woolen breeds do not thrive well. 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. Many Greeks eat lamb for Easter, which is not always the same date as the traditional Easter. Disposition & Mothering Ability: Ewes are docile with good mothering ability. This is inconvenient since you must pasture ram lambs separately from ewes to prevent unplanned pregnancies. BREEDING DORPER SHEEP Although the breed was created in the 1930s, it is still fairly new to the US. Twice a year my friend with Polypays shows up at work doubled over as he shuffles around in pain. PDF Factors Affecting the Palatability of Lamb Meat 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. Tunis are solid breeders and excellent mothers. This, alongside their easy-going dietary needs, really cut down the cost of keeping them. To be successful, you must sell quality, and I stress quality animals; send anything else to slaughter. I have a black face ewe and she is very fat and is 7 months old, should I be worried about her having a lamb and is she old enough to get in lamb. There are black headed Dorpers (most common) and white Dorpers (harder to find). Sheep Breeds - UF/IFAS Extension Environmental Adaptability: Tolerant of both high and low temperatures. 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 saving grace are our Dorpers. The breeder from whom I purchased the lambs said she is breeding in dorper with the katahdins to "beef" them up a little. It should be kept in mind that performance varies greatly with genetic . Kt ewes under low-input semiarid conditions of northern Mxico. Because of their hair, like the Dorper they do not produce lanolin which will give their meat a milder taste. Dorper's are by far the closest hair sheep to the wool breed. Selling Price: $325.00 / Head. Katahdin Sheep: Low-Maintenance Meat and Milk Producer - MorningChores WHY I DON'T RAISE ST. CROIX SHEEP | DORPER vs. ST. CROIX as Meat Breeds east TX farm & garden "dorper sheep" - craigslist Vet. Effects of high heat load conditions on body weight, feed intake These breeds are called hair sheep because the coat consists of hair more like that of cattle and many goats rather than wool. The customers, including the many ethnic customers, caught up and appreciate the milder flavor of hairsheep. 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. Though large in size, Hampshire sheep tend to be a docile and easy-going breed. It was bred from West African hair sheep and is extremely well-adapted to hot, humid conditions. All Rights Reserved | Website by Maple Creative, buildwithmaple.com. Interested in raising sheep for wool? Effects of high heat load conditions on body weight, feed intake There are very few disadvantages of keeping Katahdin sheep. Its also possible that some pieces of wool or hair remain along the back or on the hind quarters or arm pits. At 90 days, weve had November-December lambs on pasture, hay and whole grain (corn or milo) average 75 pounds. 3 year old Dorper Katahdin Ram - farm & garden - by owner - sale Carefully breeding only the best stock will ensure that the extreme hardiness and good mothering ability remain. if any one would be interested in buying some good quality Dorpers check out my website MGDorpers.com it is comming out soon! Fourteen years ago my wife got into the sheep business when she purchased three registered Katahdin ewes, a ram, and later, three Romanov ewes. Dorset lambs, like the Suffolk and Dorper, mature quickly and are market-ready earlier than many other breeds. Dorper Sheep: Characteristics, Origin & Uses - ROYS FARM