marina@mgdorpers.com. No wool to deal with makes perfect economic sense. Later on I found out that this was the faster route to accomplish shedding in the offspring. They do produce wool, and need to be shorn on a regular basis. Is there any way to contact him? Lambing %: Given an average lambing percent of 150 and 3 lambing in 2 years, Dorper will produce 2.25 lambs on an annual basis. May 23, 2011 #3 Beekissed Herd Master Joined Aug 3, 2008 Messages 3,634 Reaction score 5,536 Points 453 Location mountains of WV I have a question. . I used to want a Dorper cross over Katahdin but finally got to see the results of this cross and was not very impressed with the results. There is a growing market demand for high-quality, naturally-fed lamb. Feed conversion is good since these sheep fatten easily on less than ideal pasture and forage. Thank you for stopping by, and best of luck with your farm! They also tend to be highly mobile, which means they will climb on top of anything. The lambing rate is not as high as other hair breeds. Did you know that Dorper sheep dont need to be sheared? After 13 years of medical education and military service they landed in Maine to put down roots. The Katahdin hair sheep is the fastest growing breed in the United States. Despite being a hairsheep, White Dorpers do not lack winter hardiness Photographer: Ulf Kintzel. The ancestry is believed to be of both African hair sheep and European breeds. In terms of lambing, youll find Katahdins mostly give birth to multiple lambs. At that weight the fat cover did indeed get too much. Best guess is he is 175-200 lbs. Katahdins tend to birth twins, with triplets and quadruplets occurring often with good flock management. Lambing %: Approximately 125%, exceeding 200% with subsequent lambing. Hi just wondering it may be a silly question anyways can you milk Dorper sheep. 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. Unsave Save. Last but not least on our list is the Cheviot breed. Thanks for the belly shaking laugh! What Needle Felting Supplies Do You Use for Sculpting? Half of the group thinks it is okay to feed hot sheep, the other half disagrees. 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. Most hair sheep breeds will lamb out of season without resorting to hormone therapy. Nitrogen retention by lambs fed oscillating dietary protein concentrations. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'savvyfarmlife_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_11',105,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-savvyfarmlife_com-large-leaderboard-2-0');Considered to be the 2nd most popular breed of sheep in the US, the Dorset sheep is another solid meat-producer. In our operation, that sheep breed is the Katahdin sheep. Katahdins often breeding out of season. An interesting study was done that showed the parasite resistance was higher in the purebred hair sheep over the crossbred shedding sheep. The main differences between these two breeds are the colors available, and what they can be used for. The Katahdin breed was developed in the United States by Michael Piel. Produce large amount of milk. The Dorper is a South African breed of domestic sheep developed by crossing Dorset Horn and the Blackhead Persian sheep.The breed was created through the efforts of the South African Department of Agriculture to breed a meat sheep suitable to the more arid regions of the country. Jacksonville, FL 32254. Good milkers, and is suggested not to wean lambs before three months. He is 8 months old. One in particular is more like a paint horse. Dorper sheep are exceptionally popular amongst both hobbyists and commercial homesteads. ( From Buckler Farms near Granville TN) His mom is at least 50% dorper and Katahdin. However, Texel sheep breed strongly seasonal, are heat sensitive, have at times problems lambing due to the broad head and shoulders, and they need shearing. 2022 Cornell Small Farms. We figured the combination would be a meatier sheep." They bought the ram in 1996 and some ewes the following spring. Katahdins are medium size, hardy, low-maintenance, and have a high-quality carcass weight. Today I have 1/2, 3/4, 7/8th, and 15/16th White Dorper sheep. Fact: In central Missouri, raising sheep for wool has been a losing proposition for a number of years. Coat & Color: Has a variety of color ranging from black and tan through yellow with variegated mottled pattern. 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. Q. What happens if you leave the ram out all year round? Dorper's are by far the closest hair sheep to the wool breed. If this same time is spent building homestead fencing, watersystems, improving lambing or handling facilities, its improving an operation. Technical Abstract: I direct sell a great number of lambs. Blackbellys are often left unvaccinated due to their disease and parasite resistance (though of course, we recommend you do your research on the breed and talk to a vet about what they recommend for vaccinating). 100 Dorper - Bred Ewes. We began our Katahdin Sheep herd with non-registered sheep but have added registered Katahdin ewes to our farm. take it from me, you dont have to worry about anyone getting too fat. Do you have to go around picking it up out of the pasture? His information is given at the conclusion of the article, pasted below. Thank so much for this information. Between their size and their courage, llamas may seem intimidating at first. 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. 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. They have woolier coats and are slower to shed (most of them). This breed is medium-sized and is hardy with a high-quality carcass. (Allardt) "Spike" is a 3 year old ram. These slaughter lambs sell comparable to pure Katahdin sheep per pound unless theyre full of cockleburs and briars. Originally, the established buyers at auctions resisted hairsheep in general and they fetched lower prices in places like New Holland. These breeds are called hair sheep because the coat consists of hair more like that of cattle and many goats rather than wool. They are hardy and do well in range. A qualityregistered lamb will bring triple the fat lamb price. One of the first breeds to be recognized for its commercial production, the rams can reach more than 250 lbs. When comparing weights, keep in mind we live in north central Missouri. Hairsheep breeds such as the Barbados Blackbelly and St.Croix are largely found in these tropical areas of the world. LMAO!!!! History tells us our present-day sheep are derived from the wild Mouflon sheep, among others, that grew coarse hair with a downy undercoat. Its also possible that some pieces of wool or hair remain along the back or on the hind quarters or arm pits. We currently have about 100 ewes. Katahdins are awesome and productive mothers plus they are a very hardy breed and the Dorper will put more size on the meat sheep. After slaughter, all thats left is hide, manure and stomach contents. Anymore (at least in Missouri) its the carcass quality that sets the price. Considered to be the 2nd most popular breed of sheep in the US, the Dorset sheep is another solid meat-producer. Some European sheep genetics were incorporated into the African sheep to arrive at the existing hair breeds mentioned above. 2 are Katahdin and 2 are katahdin/dorper crosses. Lamb chops from Barbados Blackbelly x St. Croix lambs were similar to those from Dorset-sired, Dorper-sired, or Katahdin. After 22 years they are well rooted in South Paris. I really like all three breeds. His website address is www.whitecloversheepfarm.com. But the pasture littered with wool as I had feared just did not happen. Sheep for sale: young grass-fed butcher ram lambs (Dorper & Katahdin) Although the breed was created in the 1930s, it is still fairly new to the US. Of the ewe lambs exposed, 95 percent gave birth at the age of 11-13 months. The majority of ewe lambs are sold as registered breeding stock; the majority of ram lambs are sold for slaughter. 80 pounds at 90 days can be expected. I think this is where the good reputation of hair sheep comes in. (A friend with Polypay and Katahdin sheep has had the same experience. Hair sheep have some attributes that make them admirably suited to fill market niches or fit varying production systems in Florida. One needs to do a detail review of the information related to the hair breed one wishes to raise. Sold all our cattle. They naturally shed their wool throughout the seasons. Our young Katahdins can be difficult to move. His father Barley ( in picture behind him) is a full blooded Dorper. 1999. 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. A ewes wool will pay her winter feed bill. Unfortunately, Mr. Piel did not live long enough to see his breed reach having a registry and breed standards. However, in older hairsheep the flavor is still impressive due to the genetic factor. They are also well suited to survive in the arid extensive regions of South Africa. While I cant speak for other hair breeds, Katahdin sheep are tough, hardy animals with eating habits more like that of a goat. Photo courtesy of:Dr. Stephan A. Wildeus. This breed was imported in the US in 1904 and was crossed with Mouflon (wild sheep), Rambouillet and other European breeds to produce what is known as American Blackbelly. Weight Gain/Daily: 0.4 lbs daily with good nutrition. Your email address will not be published. Hello! 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. I could always pick out the dorper/katahdin crosses. Mature Weight (Lb): Ewe = 130 140 (Average is 136), Ram = 170 - 200. We let them be sheep and just help them along. You can even crossbreed them to develop unique varieties for your farm or homestead. Katahdin ewes weigh around 125-185 pounds, and rams average around 200 pounds. It should be kept in mind that performance varies greatly with genetic . How the breed carries fat is, I think, important when dealing with older sheep. The Royal White sheep shed their wool naturally, it saves the cost of shearing. Get Shipping Quotes Opens in a new tab. Manage Settings You have to pay to have it sheared once a year. 2. Animal Breeding Abstracts. Thank you. To learn more about baby sheep, check out my article Baby Sheep: What a Baby Sheep is Called & Other Fun Facts. let me know! Just a little more "stingy" than the Dorper (and I am talking more for working them with dogs). Tunis are solid breeders and excellent mothers. They are the generally more fertile in hot humid regions and show greater tolerance to parasites than woolen breeds. The Blackhead Persian is a fat-rumped hair breed from the arid lands of the Middle East. FLAVOR 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. We are interested purchasing Katahdin sheep and found this article very helpful. Animals dont grow as fastbut dont need to with milder winters and longer growing season. so so far we are separating her and letting the pus drain About. 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. Fact: While its true that Barbados and St. Croix are small animals (ewes 80-110 pounds), few commercial breeders raise them. The best genetics wont keep an animal from starving to death. Origin: Developed in the Virgin Islands for crosses of West African hair sheep and Wiltshire Horn. Vigorous growers, the Icelandic produce lambs that are market-ready at 70-100 pounds in as little as 4-5 months. Because of the wool, the Icelandic sheep do need to be sheared once to twice per year. We currently manage between 45-60 ewes per year with about 70% of our flock being registered. 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. I have noticed that some lambs are showing caramel patches. $300. The flavor of the market lambs is in my opinion mostly influenced by the fact that these lambs are grass-fed. I can only put this down to past genetics. We are in the process of installing another 10,000 feet of electric fence on 25 acres that will result in another nine paddocks. Weight Gain/Daily: 0.57 lbs under intensive production. The cross breeding results in the best of both breeds but also in the benefits of heterosis, commonly known as hybrid vigor. Hairbreeds have many positive traits that make them an ideal animal for small farms, homesteads, and of course, larger commercial farms. 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: Blackbellys have hair and not wool, making them a low-maintenance breed. Though large in size, Hampshire sheep tend to be a docile and easy-going breed. I like the Dorper temperament, generally they are a pretty docile breed. Bred sheep/ewes (Dorper and Katahdin), bred to a show ram. There was only the body fleece that needed shearing. To properly flush a ewe, she should be on an upward nutritional plane and gaining weight. However, they all shed around the belly, legs, head, and all the other places that would otherwise prolong shearing. Disposition & Mothering Ability: Ewes are docile with good mothering ability. "Dorper sheep are barrel-shaped with a well-muscled back end. 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. Ewes will breed back before the lambs are weaned. Some are calling these shedding sheep. The Cheviot sheep is best suited for northern, colder climates, and does not tolerate heat as well. If you consider hairsheep like White Dorpers in the future dont forget to ask the breeder about the shedding ability of their flock! They also benefit from a long productive life, giving you maximum bang for your buck. Required fields are marked *. Suffolk ewes reach between 180-250 pounds, while rams can top out at 350 pounds. while letting some lambs reach weights up to 100+ lbs. Average weight for the Cheviot is 130 175 pounds. Breed utilization for meat production in sheep. Lambing Interval:It ranges from 6 to 8 months. Myth #2: Hair sheep don't bring as much on the slaughter market. I cant speak to colder temperatures, taking zero degrees without a problem is good enough for me. Unlike meat goats, hair sheep are resistant to many of the parasites shed by cattle. And does anyone have experience with katahdin ewes on dorper bucks . At Kettle Haven Ranch we specialize in Katahdin x Dorper crosses for exceptional market lambs and for replacement breeding stock. This breed was developed after 20 years of breeding and selection. Are you interested in raising sheep for meat? 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. They have incredible growth of lambs at butcher weight within 6-8 months with carcass weights in the 45-60 lb range. Future importations to university breeding flocks led to the development of the American Blackbelly sheep breed. The Dorper is a mutton breed of hair sheep developed in the 1930s. Thirty percent of the ewes were first-time lambers, having an average of 1.2 lambs/ewe. Mature Weight (Lb): Ewe = 170 200 (can be less than 170lb), Ram = 220 250. Though not year-round breeders, Tunis often breed out of season, with the occasional lamb (or two) born in late Summer / Fall. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. This is inconvenient since you must pasture ram lambs separately from ewes to prevent unplanned pregnancies. Crossbred individuals tend to be more vigorous, more fertile . In South Africa, the Dorper is likewise most commonly found in arid and semi . The SNPs in NOS2, TGFB2, and IL2RA genes were also observed with high genetic differentiation in the Katahdin and St. Croix vs Dorper analysis. Market Weight/Live/Age: 70 90 lbs / 7 8 months. Your email address will not be published. As a result, about 50 percent of the first generation of White Dorper cross bred sheep shed partially or mostly. At 90 days, weve had November-December lambs on pasture, hay and whole grain (corn or milo) average 75 pounds. Because of their hair and their low fat content, this breed is known to produce both flavorful and mild meat. Many of the Dorper you see have been crossed with Katahdin sheep for several reasons. A maternal breed, Katahdin ewes breed well with the Dorper rams to produce a meaty but feminine lamb. Crossing these breeds with woolen breeds for efficient meat production does hold some potential. The Gayogoh:n are members of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, an alliance of six sovereign Nations with a historic and contemporary presence on this land. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. 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. When youre raising sheep for meat, the wool is a by-product. Since Missouri has more Katahdin sheep than any other state, the majority of export animals come from here. All Rights Reserved | Website by Maple Creative, buildwithmaple.com. It should be kept in mind that performance varies greatly with genetic, management, climate, etc. In addition to being a smaller breed, the lambs tend to mature slowly, not reaching ideal market weight until around 2 years of age. The first generation grows quite well due to the heterosis effect, but nearly always has a wool coat. Its important to have an animal thats pure or unaltered for sacrifice in observance of many holidays. Katahdin is probably the more economical choice, however, namely because they can produce both meat and milk. This breed is adaptable and can live in many different climates. Plainview, Tx. . The outside temp is above 85* sheep are heaving and panting rapidly. 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. However, as the challenge escalated, parasite resistance was greatest in St. Croix lambs, followed by Katahdin and Dorper lambs. The hair sheep breeds lamb easily in the pasture and the lambs gain weight rapidly and develop to maturity quickly. A caution when breeding is to choose the right size ram for the ewe. Hi currently running flock of 600. Lambing %: Lambing rates vary from 150% to 250% with 3 lambing every 2 years not uncommon. 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 ? There are many great options for meat-producing sheep. Posted 11/18/2019 21:09 (#7854689) Subject: Dorper Sheep vs. Katahdin Sheep. As we said in the introduction, if youre looking to earn multiple income streams from your sheep, youll probably find Katahdins to be the better option. You can check my blog at Merino sheep for sale. Choosing breeding stock with this in mind can avoid this problem. Coat & Color: Solid white or white with black head. Photo courtesy of: Dr. Stephan A. Wildeus. Why Katahdin x Dorper Crosses. Dorper sheep originated in South Africa and were the result of crossing Dorset Horn with Blackheaded Persian sheep. The only problem with colesterol is that the big pharma found a new drug to sell. I have some St Croix and they are quite large. Katahdins have hair and not wool, which means they are a low-maintenance breed that will shed their hair naturally. However, if thats what you are looking for then this breed might not be for you. Since hair sheep dont have a heavy wool coat, they cant take the cold. My friend also mentioned his Katahdin-Dorper lambs are much fatter when born than Polypays. I forgot to ask for notification via e-mail, so I am reposting my questions. Disposition & Mothering Ability: Extremely reactive to dogs and cats usually as though they wish to flee. Now meat sheep producers are lucky if wool prices cover . Libyans prefer old worn out buck goats for their stronger flavor. 3 year old Dorper Katahdin Ram. I used purebred as opposed to full blood White Dorper rams to upgrade my flock. Generally, hair breeds are more heat tolerant than wool breeds. -. The customers, including the many ethnic customers, caught up and appreciate the milder flavor of hairsheep. http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/Accursed/Smileys/waiting-bored-waiting-boy-smiley-em.gif, Birthing, Weaning, and Raising Young Sheep. . Ive spent my entire life around farm animals, and I created Savvy Farm Life to share the helpful information Ive learned over the years. 7 year old Katahdin ewe . That's interesting! 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. J. Anim Sci 77:215-222. This breed tolerates both heat and cold making them a good choice for most climates. Dorset sheep thrive in a wide variety of climates, and being wool-producers, they will need to be sheared annually. Subsequent generations with higher percentage shed better and better although shedding is not a black and white thing. We normally worm our lambs 3-4 times a summer and the ewes not at all. In 2001, my friend with Polypay paid $2 to shear $.50 worth of wool per animal. link to Are Llamas Dangerous? Some general information on hair sheep is found on the next page. 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. for info and videos along with books and much more! In lambs, grain feeding versus grass-fed has a greater influence on flavor than the differences in breeds. 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. They were an excellent choice for this as they seldom bothered the pine trees. So, what about littering the pasture with wool? I sell a lot of culled ewes as roasts, ground meat, stew meat and various sausages. In Canada, Katahdin sheep commonly gain well over a pound per day. Bred to produce less back fat, their meat is lean and flavorful. its ok to wean the lamb as soon as possible. Grading up to Dorper. There are three main reasons to raise hair sheep. The number of feedings can be reduced over time to twice a day by 3-4 weeks of age. They can provide you with information pertaining to regulations, health requirements and local export brokers. Coat & Color: The coat can be reddish brown, tan or yellow. Yes, you can milk Dorper sheep! keep checking it out! Variance in RT in periods 3 and 4 ranked St. Croix < Dorper < Katahdin. Can you advise on the availability of a good ram and 10-12 ewe lambs this Spring. Sheep and cattle have different grazing needs and preferences, and the sheep will clean up the growth that doesnt appeal to the cows. As mentioned earlier, hair sheep breeds are considerably more heat-tolerant than wool breeds. This increases the risk of falls and injury, which can be expensive to fix. 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. Dries Wiese, the owner and Studbreeder, was 9 years old when his father bought him his first . Dorset ewes weigh approximately 150-200 pounds, with the rams weighing on average 275 pounds. The breed was created by crossing Dorset and Blackheaded Persian sheep. In fact, when we have pot roast from a culled ewe I can still fool my wife into thinking we had lamb for dinner. Good luck! 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. This information may be used to compare breeds of hair sheep. These White Dorper female replacement lambs already look very much like purebred White Dorpers Photographer: Ulf Kintzel. Katahdins are awesome and productive mothers plus they are a very hardy breed and the Dorper will put more size on the meat sheep. 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. November/December 2003 and regularly vetted for accuracy. Early maturing Terminal cross lambs. 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. There is the wool type and the hairtype with the hairtype being slightly less meaty but far better shedding. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Contact | About Us | Sitemap, As one of the most populous sheep breeds in America, the. 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. Environmental Adaptability:They are adaptable to all climates. Ulf owns and operates White Clover Sheep Farm and breeds and raises grass-fed White Dorper sheep and Kiko goats without any grain feeding and offers breeding stock suitable for grazing. Katahdin ewes weigh around 125-185 pounds, and rams average around 200 pounds. To be successful, you must sell quality, and I stress quality animals; send anything else to slaughter. They will definitely get too fat. My wife and I feel theres no best breed, but rather which breed best fits your operation. The Dorper sheep has gained popularity in the last decade for meat production, with ewes reaching a weight of 170-250 pounds, and rams up to 250 pounds. 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.