We let them be sheep and just help them along. The bodybuilder of the sheep world, the Texel sheep is known for its heavily-muscled and sturdy frame. Best guess is he is 175-200 lbs. 3 year old Dorper Katahdin Ram. 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. 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. Katahdin Hair Sheep | Successful Farming Why they are Crossed - YouTube 0:00 / 4:43 Dorper Sheep vs. Katahdin Sheep. Updated: Monday, February 06, 2023 02:46 PM. Stoneheart Farm was established in 1994 by John and Doreen Simmons. if any one would be interested in buying some good quality Dorpers check out my website MGDorpers.com it is comming out soon! Because of their hair, they do not produce the lanolin that can lend gaminess to the meat, giving it a milder flavor. Thanks, I am considering starting a small Dorper and or Katahdin herd to raise meat for the Western New York market. A Katahdin ewe will average between 140-180 pounds, while Dorper ewes will average 160-200 pounds. 2022 Cornell Small Farms. Crossing these breeds with woolen breeds for efficient meat production does hold some potential. 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. As well as a hand full of peanuts every day. This site is owned and operated by Wild Wire Media, LLC. Katahdins are awesome and productive mothers plus they are a very hardy breed and the Dorper will put more size on the meat sheep. Breeding stock is selected under rigorous criteria, including parasite resistance, hair coat, growth characteristics on grass alone and general thriftiness. The Dorper originated in South Africa from crosses between the Dorset and the Blackhead Persian. I would also be interested in bred young ewes. These include: The fact Dorper sheep are easy to breed is a huge advantage. Sheep will eat woody vegetation but prefer grass and weeds on the ground. Dorset sheep have lean and muscular carcasses, making them excellent at producing meat. If you plan on raising lambs for meat, youll need to know everything that comes with taking care of baby sheep. Thirty percent of the ewes were first-time lambers, having an average of 1.2 lambs/ewe. The bodybuilder of the sheep world, the Texel sheep is known for its heavily-muscled and sturdy frame. Coat & Color: The coat can be reddish brown, tan or yellow. 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. Very interesting and informational! Fact: Katahdin sheep, at least, will thrive from hot, humid Florida to the western provinces of Canada. Have been buying in feed since the start of 2018. Relative resistance of Dorper crossbred ewes to gastrointestinal nematode infection compared with St. Croix and Katahdin ewes in the southeastern United States. Two varieties of Dorper Sheep were created: the black headed Dorper and an all white variety, the White Dorper sheep. Environmental Adaptability: Well adapted to hot, dry, humid and wet conditions. Average Birth Weight (Lbs): 7.5 lbs for single, 6.5 7 for twins, and less for triplets. Katahdins have generated a great deal of interest from all parts of North America. 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. Like most of the sheep listed here, Texel lambs reach market size quickly, by 5-6 months. His father Barley ( in picture behind him) is a full blooded Dorper. Royal White (Dorper x St.Croix) May-June lambs on pasture alone (10-13percentprotein and 60-65percent DOM) will average 45 pounds. Our paddocks are grazed for 5-7 days followed by 25-34 days of . When the weathers hot and the pastures are dry, their wool animals will be under a tree while the hair animals are out grazing. Disposition & Mothering Ability: Ewes have good mothering ability and lamb easily unassisted. These include: Dorper sheep dont produce much milk or wool, which means raising them for meat is your only option. The only problem with colesterol is that the big pharma found a new drug to sell. The first generation grows quite well due to the heterosis effect, but nearly always has a wool coat. Despite its origins in a cold northern climate, the Katahdin is remarkably well-suited to warm weather living. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. I recently purchased 4 ram lambs for meat. He can be reached at 585-554-3313 or by e-mail at ulf@whitecloversheepfarm.com. Dorper-sired. Ive spent my entire life around farm animals, and I created Savvy Farm Life to share the helpful information Ive learned over the years. This breed averages in maturity at around 175 220 pounds. 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. McKinney. I like the Dorper temperament, generally they are a pretty docile breed. We prefer using forage to produce lambs rather than wool. The Dorper sheep is a meat sheep breed. 109:265-275. Westexas. Although they are one of the newest sheep breeds introduced in America, Katahdin sheep have quickly become a popular choice. Photo courtesy of:Dr. Stephan A. Wildeus. All Rights Reserved | Website by Maple Creative, buildwithmaple.com. (Icelandic sheep grow a double coat.) Ewes weight approximately 200 pounds, and rams average out to around 260 pounds. Being aware of the pros and cons of each breed will help you to make a better-informed decision over which one is right for your setup. ( From Buckler Farms near Granville TN) His mom is at least 50% dorper and Katahdin. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. My customers are also distributors of various sizes who sell mainly at restaurants and their private customers. 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. Interested in raising sheep for wool? . They are hardy and do well in range. After slaughter, all thats left is hide, manure and stomach contents. This means that, theoretically, a Dorper ewe can produce a lamb (or 2 or 3) every 8 months. The mild and yet rich flavor of these culled ewes is remarkable and does not at all remind anyone of mutton. This increases the risk of falls and injury, which can be expensive to fix. Ewes typically reach sexual maturity by 7 months. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Our spring lambs require 4-5 pounds of dry matter forage to produce each pound of gain. Mating season for Suffolk sheep usually happens in the Autumn or Winter of each year, as it is for most sheep breeds. These White Dorper female replacement lambs already look very much like purebred White Dorpers Photographer: Ulf Kintzel. Id recommend getting in touch with the author of this article- he might have some good insight for you. Cheviots are easy to breed, meeting a 90% lambing average without assistance. But the pasture littered with wool as I had feared just did not happen. Generally, hair breeds are more heat tolerant than wool breeds. Ewes will weigh an average of 190 pounds, with rams reaching up to 300 pounds. Crossing with the Dorper led tothis larger hair breed. 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. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'savvyfarmlife_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_9',108,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-savvyfarmlife_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0');This breed is also exceptionally hardy, able to thrive in both the cold, and the hot, humid climates in which many farmers struggle to raise sheep, making it a good choice for almost any climate in the United States. Market Weight/Live/Age: 70 90 lbs / 7 8 months. Dorpers DO NOT shed their coats as well and consistently as katahdins. 199 Effects of high heat load conditions on Dorper, Katahdin, and St Icelandic Sheep are another popular choice for meat, with ewes weighing an average of 150 pounds at maturity, and rams averaging 200 pounds. The Katahdin breed was developed in the United States by Michael Piel. link to Are Llamas Dangerous? At Kettle Haven Ranch we specialize in Katahdin x Dorper crosses for exceptional market lambs and for replacement breeding stock. About. Lambing %: Given an average lambing percent of 150 and 3 lambing in 2 years, Dorper will produce 2.25 lambs on an annual basis. View Details. I have a question. The Dorpers get so quiet and even a little lazy that the dogs really have to work hard to make them move much. Mexicans prefer a larger lamb, and let nothing go to waste. Suffolk ewes have an excellent lambing rate of 180%, making them a solid choice for breeding. An interesting study was done that showed the parasite resistance was higher in the purebred hair sheep over the crossbred shedding sheep. (Allardt) "Spike" is a 3 year old ram. The shedding process may take some getting used to but will not litter your pasture with wool Photographer: Ulf Kintzel. Another goodproductfromhair sheep is leather. This is not a true hair sheep. Posted 11/18/2019 21:09 (#7854689) Subject: Dorper Sheep vs. Katahdin Sheep. As we train border collies for sheep and cattle trials and we need a few different types of sheep. (I know, Im not a good farmer) Breed is mainly free of wool and do not normally require shearing. daging domba sangat enak dan sangat kaya akan protein. Hair Sheep Breeds - The Right Choice for You? - Countryside Due to the high amount of red muscle fibers, the Icelandic sheep has a uniquely tender and fine texture. Although the breed was created in the 1930s, it is still fairly new to the US. or you can contact me at- I have a pet ram lamb, texel dorset cross I was told. Disposition & Mothering Ability: This breed is a bit flighty. Dorpers are well-known to mature early as well, with most lambs considered market-ready in as little as 4 months old. Katahdin Dorper cross ram lambs for Sale - Highnote Alabama More on that subject later. You can check my blog at Merino sheep for sale. 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. For us, the Katahdin sheep breed fits our operation and our philosophy quite well. They reach sexual maturity very early, with ewes able to breed between 7 to 9 months of age. Because of their hair, like the Dorper they do not produce lanolin which will give their meat a milder taste. 1. 46:131-143.. Making a Good Ewe Flock. For specific questions, please contact the author. Suffolk ewes reach between 180-250 pounds, while rams can top out at 350 pounds. Lambs can also take a little longer to reach their market weight than some other breeds of sheep. Katahdin Pedigrees ~ Members List However, they all shed around the belly, legs, head, and all the other places that would otherwise prolong shearing. How the breed carries fat is, I think, important when dealing with older sheep. They are the generally more fertile in hot humid regions and show greater tolerance to parasites than woolen breeds. The lighter weights are the result of hot weather reducing forage intake (occurs with all grazing animals) and lowered nutritional quality of cool-season forages. Hair Sheep: No Wooling Around - Hobby Farms 2 are Katahdin and 2 are katahdin/dorper crosses. Rather than stay in a group, they will scatter in all directions like a covey of quail. Mutton is meat that comes from mature sheep over the age of 1 year old. Thank you for stopping by, and best of luck with your farm! They were called Africans at the time. Since these breeds are so adaptable, when found in colder climates, the hair sheep adapt by growing a thicker undercoat. I have noticed that some lambs are showing caramel patches. I shear myself and since I wanted to increase the size of my flock I was not looking forward to shearing even more sheep. The shedding ability of this breed varies greatly. They have woolier coats and are slower to shed (most of them). If my product would be poorly finished or wouldnt taste good, I surely would lose customers. Check out my article Best Sheep for Wool: Top 8 Sheep Breeds for Wool. This may or may not be the case in other states. Hair sheep primer . 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. Its important to have an animal thats pure or unaltered for sacrifice in observance of many holidays. Katahdin Pedigrees Public Area Members List. 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. The Dorper is highly adaptable and does well in harsh conditions. Well, at least Katahdins, St Croix and barbs. I saw that the author is from Central Missouri, which is where we live. 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. As you can see in picture Spike has some tiny horn buds; they have never grown . Dorper's are by far the closest hair sheep to the wool breed. For a number of years, there has been a good export market for ewe lambs going to Mexico. Two varieties of Dorper Sheep were created: the black headed Dorper and an all white variety, the White Dorper sheep. Dorper Sheep - Sheep Breed Series - YouTube It is common to have ewes lambing twice per year. They are attentive, protective, and make excellent mothers. Have good flocking instinct. Docking tails is unnecessary, although you still see some old timers that dock just because they always have. Environmental Adaptability:They are adaptable to all climates. Subsequent generations with higher percentage shed better and better although shedding is not a black and white thing. $300. Mature Weight (Lb): Ewe = 70 -120, Ram = 110 140. However, if I consider the traits described in this article and add the easy lambing, good mothering and fertility as well as the calm disposition and eye appealing looks of these sheep to the mix, I have come very close to the ideal breed at least for my farming system and my market. Because of their hair and their low fat content, this breed is known to produce both flavorful and mild meat. http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/Accursed/Smileys/waiting-bored-waiting-boy-smiley-em.gif, Birthing, Weaning, and Raising Young Sheep. Why Katahdin Sheep - stoneheartfarm Ive seen Shropshire being used to keep weeds and grass down in Christmas tree plantations. Lambs are efficient producers of meat. The cross breeding results in the best of both breeds but also in the benefits of heterosis, commonly known as hybrid vigor. Dries Wiese, the owner and Studbreeder, was 9 years old when his father bought him his first . As a bit of trivia, the majority of cull ewes the U.S. exports go to the Mexico City area. 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. 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. JavaScript is disabled. Though size and time to mature are not the Blackbellys strongest points, there are many advantages to raising this hardy breed of sheep. Just a little more "stingy" than the Dorper (and I am talking more for working them with dogs). Lambing Interval:It ranges from 6 to 8 months. The St Croix are also quiet, but seem to be next on the ladder. However, in older hairsheep the flavor is still impressive due to the genetic factor. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Instead, I get raving reports back and I never seem to have enough market lambs to make everyone happy. Bred to produce less back fat, their meat is lean and flavorful. Unfortunately, Mr. Piel did not live long enough to see his breed reach having a registry and breed standards. Ultimate Guide. The entire belly is black including areas between the legs, nose and forehead. Its also possible that some pieces of wool or hair remain along the back or on the hind quarters or arm pits. As they say, the proof is in the pudding eating. Their main advantage is that they adapt well to hot humid climate where woolen breeds do not thrive well. The Katahdin sheep breed was developed in Maine to help clear brush in powerline corridors. . The other half needed shearing. My Texel and Dorset lambs that I used to have in the past didnt differ that much in flavor, although the WD lambs are indeed milder tasting. 7 year old Katahdin ewe . The Dorper grows more wool but self-sheds annually. Cornell University is located on the traditional homelands of the Gayogoh:n (the Cayuga Nation). Between their size and their courage, llamas may seem intimidating at first. Sheep and cattle have different grazing needs and preferences, and the sheep will clean up the growth that doesnt appeal to the cows. The Barbados Blackbelly got its name because of the characteristic black belly on an otherwise red brown coat. The number of feedings can be reduced over time to twice a day by 3-4 weeks of age. 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. WHY I DON'T RAISE ST. CROIX SHEEP | DORPER vs. ST. CROIX as Meat Breeds 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. Lamb meat is known to be more tender and tasty. We find its seldom necessary to trim hooves. And some shed one year but not totally the next for no apparent reason at all. FLAVOR Breeding Season: They breed throughout the year. 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. 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. 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. -. Several myths still surround hair sheep. 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. 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. They also benefit from a long productive life, giving you maximum bang for your buck. Kasteel Whitedorper Stud - Homepage Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment. 100 Dorper - Bred Ewes. I love lambs Does lambs has less cholesterol than goat? Looking forward to reply. The breed was created by crossing Dorset and Blackheaded Persian sheep. Im sure by now you have an answer. How often do dorpers have breeding problems and we will then have to pull the lambs? 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. Many ethnic groups want a much different lamb or goat than has been marketed in the past. Carcass Composition of Hair Sheep Breeds and Crosses - Virginia Tech The Royal White sheep shed their wool naturally, it saves the cost of shearing. There are a few characteristics you will want to look for when choosing a meat-producing sheep.