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Lambing %: Approximately 125%, exceeding 200% with subsequent lambing. Katahdins have generated a great deal of interest from all parts of North America. This breed is also exceptionally hardy, able to thrive in both the cold, and the hot, humid climates in which many farmers struggle to. At that weight there are no problems with too much fat cover whatsoever. Dorper Sheep Breed - Everything You Need to Know - Domestic Animal Breeds This composite "easy-care" breed was developed from crosses of African hair sheep and a variety of wool breeds with selection for a hair coat, prolificacy, and conformation. That's interesting! They dont need to be sheared, they have a docile temperament making them easy to handle, and they are resistant to disease. In Canada, Katahdin sheep commonly gain well over a pound per day. Unfortunately, as the percentage of Dorper increases, more wool is found in their coat and some animals lose some of their shedding ability. Animals dont grow as fastbut dont need to with milder winters and longer growing season. We also sell breeding stock locally. Black color covers belly, inside legs and thighs and extends up to the neck. Hair sheep have some attributes that make them admirably suited to fill market niches or fit varying production systems in Florida. Hair sheep breeds (Katahdin, St. Croix, Barbados) generally have much greater parasite resistance than wooled breeds, especially after one year of age. You must log in or register to reply here. He is a native of Germany and lives in the US since 1995. Hairbreeds have many positive traits that make them an ideal animal for small farms, homesteads, and of course, larger commercial farms. As one of the most populous sheep breeds in America, the Suffolk is a popular choice for meat producers. Get Shipping Quotes Opens in a new tab. Stoneheart Farm was established in 1994 by John and Doreen Simmons. Sheep and cattle have different grazing needs and preferences, and the sheep will clean up the growth that doesnt appeal to the cows. More on that subject later. The Dorper have a black head extending in the neck, with a white body. Hair Sheep: No Wooling Around - Hobby Farms I saw that the author is from Central Missouri, which is where we live. Resistance to Internal Parasites in Lambs of Hair Sheep Composite Breeds There are a few characteristics you will want to look for when choosing a meat-producing sheep. Fact: Katahdin sheep, at least, will thrive from hot, humid Florida to the western provinces of Canada. Texel sheep do best in colder climates, as they are exceptionally cold-hardy and have been known to be sensitive to the heat. They were called Africans at the time. They are attentive, protective, and make excellent mothers. Despite its origins in a cold northern climate, the Katahdin is remarkably well-suited to warm weather living. Weight Gain/Daily: 0.57 lbs under intensive production. Thirty percent of the ewes were first-time lambers, having an average of 1.2 lambs/ewe. Consider the pros and cons featured above before making your decision. This behavior causes problems with maintaining desirable trees unless protection is provided. (Allardt) "Spike" is a 3 year old ram. Benefits of This Breed The Dorper are preferred for their excellent feed utilisation and conversion: they don't need shearing, crutching and mulesing, and they are disease resistant. Icelandic Sheep are another popular choice for meat, with ewes weighing an average of 150 pounds at maturity, and rams averaging 200 pounds. Mature Weight (Lb): Ewe = 120 - 160, Ram = 180 250. Tunis sheep are known to have an excellent flavor of meat. 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. While you can make a great profit selling meat, if you are looking for multiple income streams from your flock then the Dorper may not be the right breed for you. 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. This breed is adaptable and can live in many different climates. marina@mgdorpers.com. Some breeders have been working on crosses between traditional wool meat breeds and hair sheep breeds. Our flock is content to sleep outside in the coldest weather and will have unmelted snow on their backs like a wool animal. Dorper Sheep. When it comes down to it, the choice of whether to add Dorper sheep or Katahdin sheep to your homestead is more about personal preference. Just like the Katahdin, you do not have to shear them as they shed their winter coat in the spring. Typically, the 75 percent Dorper crosses will exhibit the Dorper coloration and conformation. If this same time is spent building homestead fencing, watersystems, improving lambing or handling facilities, its improving an operation. Best Meat Cross-Breed with Katahdin Ram - Permies Crossing these breeds with woolen breeds for efficient meat production does hold some potential. In South Africa, the Dorper is likewise most commonly found in arid and semi . Katahdin ewes weigh around 125-185 pounds, and rams average around 200 pounds. 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. Do you have to go around picking it up out of the pasture? Lambing %: Lambing rates vary from 150% to 250% with 3 lambing every 2 years not uncommon. How do you decide which breed is right for your needs? For specific questions, please contact the author. A common lamb on good pasture will perform better than Super Lamb on poor pasture. In fact, when we have pot roast from a culled ewe I can still fool my wife into thinking we had lamb for dinner. Why Katahdin x Dorper Crosses. 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.. They require less worming medications as a general rule. We have all three breeds. Katatdin x Dorper . 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. Required fields are marked *. Sales of sheep meat and sheep breeding stock are on the rise in the United States and Canada. Most hair sheep breeds will lamb out of season without resorting to hormone therapy. We currently have about 100 ewes. In general they have low maintenance requirements. It should be kept in mind that performance varies greatly with genetic, management, climate, etc. Weight Gain/Daily: 0.4 lbs daily with good nutrition. It is common to have ewes lambing twice per year. 100 Dorper - Bred Ewes. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. He can be reached by e-mail at ulf@whitecloversheepfarm.com or by phoneduring calling hour specified on his answering machineat 585-554-3313. This makes them one of the more profitable breeds to specialize in. I would never go back to merinos & do not intend having cattle again, My dorper sheep have been lambing only male lambs..i do not know why there are no females being born9males so far..no females. Consider the pros and cons featured above before making your decision. So, what about littering the pasture with wool? I'll be using my Barbados Blackbelly ram on my BB ewes and also a few Kathadin ewes. The breed is actually very good for meat production, and it produce more meat than Dorper and Katahdin sheep. About - stoneheartfarm While Dorper sheep are considered a hair breed, Ive found a large number have quite a bit of wool or curly fibers in their coat. Fact: In central Missouri, raising sheep for wool has been a losing proposition for a number of years. Posted 11/18/2019 21:09 (#7854689) Subject: Dorper Sheep vs. Katahdin Sheep. It is raised mainly for meat production. Katahdin meat tends to be leaner than many other breeds. They are easy care sheep that divert most of their energy into producing meat instead of wool. There are very few disadvantages of keeping Katahdin sheep. (Grabbing a Romanov thats been walking through cockleburs is like wrestling with a 130-pound cocklebur.). 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. mantap ! The other half needed shearing. But the pasture littered with wool as I had feared just did not happen. 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. I like the Dorper temperament, generally they are a pretty docile breed. They are hardy and do well in range. The Dorper and the Katahdin were derived from very different types of hair sheep. Most Muslims prefer intact ram lambs without tails being docked. Sheep: Dorper, White Dorper and Australian White Sheep Exports To properly flush a ewe, she should be on an upward nutritional plane and gaining weight. To be successful, you must sell quality, and I stress quality animals; send anything else to slaughter. 1. Unsave Save. 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. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Since hair sheep dont have a heavy wool coat, they cant take the cold. Plans for the future include a larger lambing/working shed-currently under construction, later lambing to reduce cold weather losses (10percentdeath loss for everything combined, stillborn, drowning in water tank, mashed, runts, etc. Im sure by now you have an answer. Baby Sheep: What a Baby Sheep is Called & Other Fun Facts. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. 109:265-275. After slaughter, all thats left is hide, manure and stomach contents. Non selective grazers that perform well under both extensive and intensive production systems. 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. As well as a hand full of peanuts every day. They do produce wool, and will need to be shorn annually. I dont want him to get unhealthily fat. I would say try the dorpers.. we only raise a few for there is only us out here. Difference in color is a matter of preference. The low maintenance qualities of Katahdins allow us the time to do so. Why they are Crossed - YouTube 0:00 / 4:43 Dorper Sheep vs. Katahdin Sheep.