Dorpers are theoretically better muscled, meatier carcass, faster growing, but we haven't seen that to be true. Environmental Adaptability: Well adapted to hot, dry, humid and wet conditions. The Dorper grows more wool but self-sheds annually. Thank you for stopping by, and best of luck with your farm! They will stand on their hind feet like goats to strip any low hanging limbs of their leaves. I would also be interested in bred young ewes. 3 year old Dorper Katahdin Ram. Just remember that Dorpers do have multiple births.. we raise some dorpers and they start off with the first time lambing with twins then after that triplets. 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 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. You can even crossbreed them to develop unique varieties for your farm or homestead. 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. Their main advantage is that they adapt well to hot humid climate where woolen breeds do not thrive well. We normally worm our lambs 3-4 times a summer and the ewes not at all. Many Greeks eat lamb for Easter, which is not always the same date as the traditional Easter. its ok to wean the lamb as soon as possible. Selling Price: $325.00 / Head. 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. Materials and methods Katahdin sheep are one of several hair breeds, the most common of which includes Barbados Black Belly, St. Croix and Dorper sheep. He can be reached at 585-554-3313 or by e-mail at ulf@whitecloversheepfarm.com. Black color covers belly, inside legs and thighs and extends up to the neck. Dorper Sheep. As one of the most populous sheep breeds in America, the Suffolk is a popular choice for meat producers. Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment. This is a very old article and I do not have the contact info for John. Sure enough, hes been trimming hooves. Ive spent my entire life around farm animals, and I created Savvy Farm Life to share the helpful information Ive learned over the years. Flock owners with less than 50 animals have a difficult time getting someone to shear unless they pool their animals with neighbors. 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. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Four Barbados Blackbelly sheep arrived in the United States in 1904. Origin: Developed in the Virgin Islands for crosses of West African hair sheep and Wiltshire Horn. In lambs, grain feeding versus grass-fed has a greater influence on flavor than the differences in breeds. In terms of lambing, youll find Katahdins mostly give birth to multiple lambs. Ive seen Shropshire being used to keep weeds and grass down in Christmas tree plantations. I have noticed that some lambs are showing caramel patches. Can you advise on the availability of a good ram and 10-12 ewe lambs this Spring. Some European sheep genetics were incorporated into the African sheep to arrive at the existing hair breeds mentioned above. It is also exceptionally low-maintenance. Non selective grazers that perform well under both extensive and intensive production systems. Because of the wool, the Icelandic sheep do need to be sheared once to twice per year. Variance in RT in periods 3 and 4 ranked St. Croix < Dorper < Katahdin. Suffolk grow wool continuously, and will need to be sheared annually. Just like the Katahdin, you do not have to shear them as they shed their winter coat in the spring. Twice a year my friend with Polypays shows up at work doubled over as he shuffles around in pain. What sheep breeds are best for meat? Dorsets commonly produce twins and even triplets. As we disperse all our crossbreeds, weve found the crossbred cull ewes with a wool coat have sold for 50-75percentof what comparable weight hair ewes bring. Vigorous growers, the Icelandic produce lambs that are market-ready at 70-100 pounds in as little as 4-5 months. Crossbred individuals tend to be more vigorous, more fertile . As a result, about 50 percent of the first generation of White Dorper cross bred sheep shed partially or mostly. Hampshire sheep have a muscular and stocky build, and are comparative to the Suffolk in size. Do you have to go around picking it up out of the pasture? The Dorper carcass has a good conformation and fat distribution. Katahdins often breeding out of season. Staking livestock to a rope and expecting them to clear vegetation is ineffective and can result in . take it from me, you dont have to worry about anyone getting too fat. This breed was developed after 20 years of breeding and selection. 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. Mutton is meat that comes from mature sheep over the age of 1 year old. Ewes weight approximately 200 pounds, and rams average out to around 260 pounds. It was bred from West African hair sheep and is extremely well-adapted to hot, humid conditions. FLAVOR Thirty percent of the ewes were first-time lambers, having an average of 1.2 lambs/ewe. His father Barley ( in picture behind him) is a full blooded Dorper. When youre raising sheep for meat, the wool is a by-product. i do not want to cull her from the flock! 2022 Cornell Small Farms. A year and many dollars later, they cant understand why the rams offspring doesnt grow any faster than the rest of their animals. Blackbellys often breed easily and well, usually birthing multiple lambs in one breeding. Dorper and Katahdin are medium size breeds. 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. With an annual rainfall of approximately 175mm (7 inches), the grazing is mainly scrubland with a stocking rate of 1 LSU per 32 hectare. Mature Weight (Lb): Ewe = 120 - 160, Ram = 180 250. Are Llamas Dangerous? As they say, the proof is in the pudding eating. Dorper lambs tolerated the infection more so than Suffolk (wool) lambs when fecal egg counts were low. They are easy care sheep that divert most of their energy into producing meat instead of wool. Hi just wondering it may be a silly question anyways can you milk Dorper sheep. For several years weve had Romanov/Katahdin crosses. Icelandic Sheep are excellent and reliable breeders, breeding seasonally in the Fall to Winter. Sold all our cattle. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. They started with an idle, tired farm and through years of blood, sweat and tears have transformed it into a vibrant . However, they all shed around the belly, legs, head, and all the other places that would otherwise prolong shearing. 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. They shed their winter coats during spring and early summer. This breed is also exceptionally hardy, able to thrive in both the cold, and the hot, humid climates in which many farmers struggle to. Origin: This breed is sometimes referred to as Barbados Blackbelly, but it is different from the polled Barbados as a result of crosses with European breeds. Subsequent generations with higher percentage shed better and better although shedding is not a black and white thing. Lamb chops from Barbados Blackbelly x St. Croix lambs were similar to those from Dorset-sired, Dorper-sired, or Katahdin. BREEDING DORPER SHEEP As well as a hand full of peanuts every day. Dorset ewes weigh approximately 150-200 pounds, with the rams weighing on average 275 pounds. I have bought a dorper lamb an intend to serve mountain horny ewes with him has it ever being tried out, hi, . Market Weight/Live/Age: 80 110 lbs / 5.5 6 months. 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. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. I really like all three breeds. 1. The breeder from whom I purchased the lambs said she is breeding in dorper with the katahdins to "beef" them up a little. They will definitely get too fat. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. or you can contact me at- 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 ? 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.. Crossing with the Dorper led tothis larger hair breed. For us, the Katahdin sheep breed fits our operation and our philosophy quite well. They do produce wool, and will need to be shorn annually. Cheviots produce alert, strong lambs who are efficient foragers. He is a native of Germany and lives in the US since 1995. Hi Joanne. I have no way of weighing him. Dorper Sheep vs. Katahdin Sheep. If my product would be poorly finished or wouldnt taste good, I surely would lose customers. 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. Culling the genetic faults and only keeping the best rams for breeding will ensure a good future for any new hair sheep breeds. 2 are Katahdin and 2 are katahdin/dorper crosses. The flavor of the market lambs is in my opinion mostly influenced by the fact that these lambs are grass-fed. Very tolerant of the humid hot conditions in the Carribean andSomolia, Blackhead Persians have a white body and black head. No Need to Shear One of the most obvious benefits of raising Katahdin sheep is that they do not need to be sheared on an annual or twice-per-year basis. For example, we consider time spent worming, shearing, docking and trimming hooves as merely maintaining an operation. Market Weight/Live/Age: 70 90 lbs / 7 8 months. Your email address will not be published. This breed is adaptable and can live in many different climates. we really enjoy that black baby lamb and she is 9 months old now. There was only the body fleece that needed shearing. The second reason I chose Dorper over St. Croix is desirability. The Katahdin breed was developed in the United States by Michael Piel. Ewes will breed back before the lambs are weaned. To appeal to ethnic buyers, it often requires a change in flock management. Consider the pros and cons featured above before making your decision. Typically, the 75 percent Dorper crosses will exhibit the Dorper coloration and conformation. Owning Goats vs. Sheep As mentioned earlier, theres no price discount for Katahdin sheep or Dorper sheep in central Missouri. Manage Settings Plainview, Tx. In our city the sheep are raised very much because the grass is still fertile, Kita wajib menjaga kesuburan tanaman agar domba bisa makan dengan cukup dan bisa berkembang biak dengan baik oleh peternak, In addition to the delicious meat, lamb can also be made of skin for a high-value jacket material, Dorper Sheep: Truths and Myths Tempat jasa sablon kaos murah Kaos sablon Bandung Pusat tempat Pembuatan Kaos sablon Baju Distro di Bandung Konveksi Buat Kaos Kelas Reuni Polo Bandung kawasan Jakarta pusat Berkualitas cetak Screen Printing sablon Digital Custom manual Rubber Plastisol komunitas Reuni Jaket satuan grosiran Kemeja ~ Alamat Tempat Sablon Kaos. Market Weight/Live/Age: 110 lbs / 7 8 months, Professional Horticulture and Pest Services, Breed Directory- American Sheep Industry Association, Hair Sheep Production and Marketing Including Some Breeds, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, 1010 N. McDuff Avenue 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. I direct sell a great number of lambs. The breed was developed in the mid-1950s by crossing imported St. Croix Sheep and several other breeds, including the Suffolk Sheep. To learn more about how you can make money off of sheep, read my article What Do Sheep Produce? 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 example, cold wind and warm sun quickly result in herd finding shelter under conditions when woolen sheep remain in the open. 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. 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. "Shearing the wool was tough," he recalls, but the price paid for wool nearly covered feed costs. 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 . Weight Gain/Daily: 0.57 lbs under intensive production. This breed produces rapid-growing lambs, with most lambs being considered ready for market at 12 weeks of age. 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. When the pastures are poor, hair animals hold their body condition much better. I shear myself and since I wanted to increase the size of my flock I was not looking forward to shearing even more sheep. This makes them one of the more profitable breeds to specialize in. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This is inconvenient since you must pasture ram lambs separately from ewes to prevent unplanned pregnancies. 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. Your email address will not be published. While I cant speak for other hair breeds, Katahdin sheep are tough, hardy animals with eating habits more like that of a goat. Compared to other breeds, these sheep are relatively new, dating back to the 1950s. Its also possible that some pieces of wool or hair remain along the back or on the hind quarters or arm pits. Most hair sheep breeds will lamb out of season without resorting to hormone therapy. To learn more about baby sheep, check out my article Baby Sheep: What a Baby Sheep is Called & Other Fun Facts. While Hampshire sheep are seasonal breeders, they tend to have a longer breeding season than others. Some general information on hair sheep is found on the next page. They are excellent foragers. Hello! Id recommend getting in touch with the author of this article- he might have some good insight for you. The Katahdins in the study had a consistently less barber pole worm infestation rate compared to the Dorper and Dorset crosses. They still dont take a huge amount of time to reach it, but it is something to be aware of if you are looking for fast production. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. In fact, when we have pot roast from a culled ewe I can still fool my wife into thinking we had lamb for dinner. I could always pick out the dorper/katahdin crosses. J. Anim Sci 77:215-222. Early maturing Terminal cross lambs. Katahdin can be used for both meat and milk, whereas Dorper sheep are only good for meat production. Unfortunately, Mr. Piel did not live long enough to see his breed reach having a registry and breed standards. There are lots of Dorper breeders in NC also, as well as "commercial" crossbreeds: You can search this site by States to find Scrapie-free certified breeders of sheep and goats: Wondering What to Feed Sheep? He is 8 months old. The first generation grows quite well due to the heterosis effect, but nearly always has a wool coat. 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. In addition, there is almost no incidence of flystrike with hair sheep breeds. The trend is now reversed. The Dorper originated in South Africa from crosses between the Dorset and the Blackhead Persian. We figured the combination would be a meatier sheep." They bought the ram in 1996 and some ewes the following spring. 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. I think this is where the good reputation of hair sheep comes in. One in particular is more like a paint horse. 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 . Rams generally have horns. You will always need to make compromises if you choose to have a purebred flock. The percentage of 15/16 is considered purebred. We prefer using forage to produce lambs rather than wool. It should be kept in mind that performance varies greatly with genetic, management, climate, etc. They can provide you with information pertaining to regulations, health requirements and local export brokers. Interested in raising sheep for wool? Ultimate Guide. Weight Gain/Daily: 0.4 lbs daily with good nutrition. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. However, in older hairsheep the flavor is still impressive due to the genetic factor. Are you interested in raising sheep for meat? Our flock is content to sleep outside in the coldest weather and will have unmelted snow on their backs like a wool animal. Crossing these breeds with woolen breeds for efficient meat production does hold some potential. The entire belly is black including areas between the legs, nose and forehead. (A friend with Polypay and Katahdin sheep has had the same experience. Cole, N.A. Other than a few lambs for Hispanic weddings, we sell our slaughter animals through the local auction barn. Research has shown Dorper have good parasite tolerance or resilience rather than resistance. The major disadvantage is that they grow slower and produce a lighter weight carcass than most breeds of European origin. Katahdins are awesome and productive mothers plus they are a very hardy breed and the Dorper will put more size on the meat sheep. Disposition & Mothering Ability: Extremely reactive to dogs and cats usually as though they wish to flee. Lambing Interval:It ranges from 6 to 8 months.