A large-framed, late-maturing breed will not have the necessary carcass quality at these weights, whereas Katahdin sheep or Dorpers will. Though size and time to mature are not the Blackbellys strongest points, there are many advantages to raising this hardy breed of sheep. This, alongside their easy-going dietary needs, really cut down the cost of keeping them. This breed is adaptable and can live in many different climates. This breed tolerates both heat and cold making them a good choice for most climates. 109:265-275. Choosing breeding stock with this in mind can avoid this problem. In conclusion, based on RT and RR, resilience to high HLI conditions ranked St. Croix > Katahdin > Dorper, with lowest . 2. Dorper and Katahdin are medium size breeds. I belong to a herding club in Hawaii. "We liked their look," Ruby puts in. What Needle Felting Supplies Do You Use for Sculpting? 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. Coat & Color: Most of the individuals are white, but tan and spotted ones exist. ), In fall 2000, we grazed our flock on cocklebur and waterhemp that followed an oat crop. What You Need To Know, link to Goats vs Sheep: Profit, Care & Behavioral Differences, Best Sheep for Wool: Top 8 Sheep Breeds for Wool. Breeders often use less-expensive Katahdin ewes to initiate an upgrading program with registered Dorper as the final goal. The number of feedings can be reduced over time to twice a day by 3-4 weeks of age. Required fields are marked *. They naturally shed their wool throughout the seasons. Wondering whether to add Dorper or Katahdin sheep to your homestead? Dorset ewes weigh approximately 150-200 pounds, with the rams weighing on average 275 pounds. Interested in raising sheep for wool? Technical Abstract: Katahdins are awesome and productive mothers plus they are a very hardy breed and the Dorper will put more size on the meat sheep. Some Ewes shed coats after second lambing. Im Carmella. For specific questions, please contact the author. FLAVOR As a result, the Katahdin is the most common hair sheep in America. Stoneheart Farm was established in 1994 by John and Doreen Simmons. Ewes will weigh an average of 190 pounds, with rams reaching up to 300 pounds. Origin: Developed in the Virgin Islands for crosses of West African hair sheep and Wiltshire Horn. The entire belly is black including areas between the legs, nose and forehead. Looking forward to reply. Disposition & Mothering Ability: Ewes are docile with good mothering ability. About. All Rights Reserved | Website by Maple Creative, buildwithmaple.com. It was a fairly bold move at the time since it meant giving up on the customers who bought breeding stock from me, and since I also didnt know how well my market lambs would sell. Hair sheep breeds are growing in popularity as consumers look for economical ways to raise homestead meat animals. The low maintenance qualities of Katahdins allow us the time to do so. 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. Disposition & Mothering Ability: Breed is docile and calm with good flocking instinct. Vigorous growers, the Icelandic produce lambs that are market-ready at 70-100 pounds in as little as 4-5 months. If ewes are fed well, lambing rate approaches the higher end. They grow quickly and reach market weight early. Some breeders have been working on crosses between traditional wool meat breeds and hair sheep breeds. 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 breed is also exceptionally hardy, able to thrive in both the cold, and the hot, humid climates in which many farmers struggle to. If youre grazing crop-field aftermath, their coat will pick up trash where a Katahdin wont. Relative resistance of Dorper crossbred ewes to gastrointestinal nematode infection compared with St. Croix and Katahdin ewes in the southeastern United States. Despite being a hairsheep, White Dorpers do not lack winter hardiness Photographer: Ulf Kintzel. Lambing Interval:It ranges from 6 to 8 months. In this area, hair sheep often sell higher than wool sheep. Katahdins have generated a great deal of interest from all parts of North America. This is a very old article and I do not have the contact info for John. Many Greeks eat lamb for Easter, which is not always the same date as the traditional Easter. so so far we are separating her and letting the pus drain 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. Dorper-sired. This is a very good article to read and understand the secrets of Raising Katahdin 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. 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. If you are interested in bringing a herd of small livestock to your homestead, you will want to look into both sheep and goats. Not only do they suffer fewer complications during birthing compared to some other breeds, but they also give birth to multiple lambs. 3 year old Dorper Katahdin Ram. My question is, how much should he weigh. Photo courtesy of:Dr. Stephan A. Wildeus. When youre raising sheep for meat, the wool is a by-product. They are the generally more fertile in hot humid regions and show greater tolerance to parasites than woolen breeds. Katahdin Pedigrees Public Area Members List. They were significantly more reasonably priced and for practical matters were the same. 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. Lambing %: Approximately 125%, exceeding 200% with subsequent lambing. Breed utilization for meat production in sheep. The Katahdin sheep is listed as a Recovering heritage breed on the ALBC Conservation Priority List. Thanks, Noela. Sales at the 2022 mid America Dorper Show nearly broke $1 MILLION with the top Dorper ewe bringing $20,000 and ram $12,800. There is no such thing as an ideal breed. In winter puts on coat that is shed as temperatures increase. 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. Reaching maturity earlier than many breeds, the Suffolk lamb will reach an average of 116 pounds by 100 days of age. Purebred Dorper rams can reach a live-weight of 90-120 kg and ewes 50-80kg. Demand for Dorper breed, and specifically the black head Dorper, is experiencing an unprecedented surge here in the USA. There are a few characteristics you will want to look for when choosing a meat-producing sheep. ( From Buckler Farms near Granville TN) His mom is at least 50% dorper and Katahdin. While they always have access to a wind break when the wind howls, they are not being housed with the exception of those that lamb during the winter. The Barbados Blackbelly got its name because of the characteristic black belly on an otherwise red brown coat. They do produce wool, and will need to be shorn annually. Katahdins are alert, protective mothers. The first rams I purchased were of outstanding shedding ability. I used purebred as opposed to full blood White Dorper rams to upgrade my flock. A caution when breeding is to choose the right size ram for the ewe. Dorset lambs, like the Suffolk and Dorper, mature quickly and are market-ready earlier than many other breeds. 7/8th exhibit all the traits of purebreds like out-of-season breeding and even many 3/4 look like purebred and shed as well. We live in central NSW ( Australia ) our usual rainfall is 30 inchs, temp range from -7 deg to 45 deg C ( yes 115 F ) but over the past 3 years we have been experiencing a huge drought. Generally, hair breeds are more heat tolerant than wool breeds. As a bit of trivia, the majority of cull ewes the U.S. exports go to the Mexico City area. A ewes wool will pay her winter feed bill. They are best raised on pasture and finishing these breeds on feedlots can lead to less desirable meat products as the ethnic market prefers a leaner lamb. The Blackbelly is a smaller breed of sheep, with ewes maturing at around 100 pounds, and rams weighing on average 120 pounds. American Blackbelly Half of the group thinks it is okay to feed hot sheep, the other half disagrees. The bodybuilder of the sheep world, the Texel sheep is known for its heavily-muscled and sturdy frame. Dorper sheep have a distinctive appearance: black heads and white bodies. Crossing these breeds with woolen breeds for efficient meat production does hold some potential. They have incredible growth of lambs at butcher weight within 6-8 months with carcass weights in the 45-60 lb range. I have a question. I sell a lot of culled ewes as roasts, ground meat, stew meat and various sausages. We currently manage between 45-60 ewes per year with about 70% of our flock being registered. 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. Another goodproductfromhair sheep is leather. They are easy care sheep that divert most of their energy into producing meat instead of wool. They are excellent mothers. Animal Breeding Abstracts. Icelandic Sheep are excellent and reliable breeders, breeding seasonally in the Fall to Winter. Hampshire sheep have a muscular and stocky build, and are comparative to the Suffolk in size. The Katahdin and the St Croix give the dogs a little more run for their money, but they are not silly and bounce off fences like some other breeds can even with a lot of handling. They will definitely get too fat. Coat & Color: Coat can be any color or color pattern. Fencing. Fact: Katahdin sheep, at least, will thrive from hot, humid Florida to the western provinces of Canada. 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. Question is this common? let me know! This may or may not be the case in other states. Thirdly how long after separation to market. 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 ? Dorper fullbloods, Katahdin fullbloods and St Croix fullbloods, We have a nice big fullblood dorper ram that we are putting over the St Croix and the Katahdin. How the breed carries fat is, I think, important when dealing with older sheep. Well, at least Katahdins, St Croix and barbs. I had on occasion lambs butchered that exceeded 110 pounds. Research has shown Dorper have good parasite tolerance or resilience rather than resistance. Did you know that Dorper sheep dont need to be sheared? 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. 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 am new to the sheep business so I am concerned that she will never be large enough to breed. Feed conversion is good since these sheep fatten easily on less than ideal pasture and forage. Westexas. daging domba sangat enak dan sangat kaya akan protein. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Shear force values were greatest, tougher, for Dorset-sired than Dorper-sired or Katahdin lambs. I would also be interested in bred young ewes. That's interesting! Royal White (Dorper x St.Croix) As hair sheep breeds become more popular, it will be important for breeders to ensure the future integrity of the breeds. Dorper Sheep vs. Katahdin Sheep. Just weaned 530 lambs .If we can get some weight on them worth $200+ in current market. There are without a doubt breeds that surpass White Dorper sheep in one or the other trait. Katahdins have hair and not wool, which means they are a low-maintenance breed that will shed their hair naturally. Can someone tell me a few of the pros and cons for both dorper sand katahdin. In another study conducted by Gamble and Zajac for the Agricultural Research Service of the USDA and Virginia Tech, the scientists found that St. Croix "demonstrated high levels of acquired resistance to Haemonchus contortus under conditions of experimental or natural infection." 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. Unlike meat goats, hair sheep are resistant to many of the parasites shed by cattle. Baby Sheep: What a Baby Sheep is Called & Other Fun Facts. 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. Fourteen years ago my wife got into the sheep business when she purchased three registered Katahdin ewes, a ram, and later, three Romanov ewes. Special Notes The Dorper sheep are very hardy animals. 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. Cole, N.A. Good milkers, and is suggested not to wean lambs before three months. The flavor of the market lambs is in my opinion mostly influenced by the fact that these lambs are grass-fed. Its also possible that some pieces of wool or hair remain along the back or on the hind quarters or arm pits. We are in the process of installing another 10,000 feet of electric fence on 25 acres that will result in another nine paddocks. We also sell breeding stock locally. Some of the main pros of keeping Katahdin sheep include: Katahdin sheep are one of the easiest breeds of sheep to care for. The Kasteel White Dorper Stud farm lies in an arid area of the Republic of South Africa, called the Great Karoo. Unfortunately, as the percentage of Dorper increases, more wool is found in their coat and some animals lose some of their shedding ability. But what about the market lambs getting too fat? 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. my ewe with CL has had her first batch of lambs last month and she is a really good mother! Ewes weight approximately 200 pounds, and rams average out to around 260 pounds. My customers are also distributors of various sizes who sell mainly at restaurants and their private customers. Hi currently running flock of 600. Dorsets commonly produce twins and even triplets. How often do dorpers have breeding problems and we will then have to pull the lambs? or you can contact me at- Hampshire sheep can live in almost any climate, making them a hardy breed. Hair sheep have some attributes that make them admirably suited to fill market niches or fit varying production systems in Florida. My Dorper ram is not really large but he is bigger than her. Plainview, Tx. Thanks, I am considering starting a small Dorper and or Katahdin herd to raise meat for the Western New York market. I'd go with Dorper ram on Katahdin ewes. Just like the Katahdin, you do not have to shear them as they shed their winter coat in the spring. We have a dispute between the members about feeding sheep after working them. Most lambs are considered market-ready by 9-12 weeks. The Dorper carcass has a good conformation and fat distribution. They are also well suited to survive in the arid extensive regions of South Africa. Bosnians want 60-pound animals while Muslims often prefer 60-80 pound animals. BREEDING DORPER SHEEP Parasite resistance and reproductive efficiency is very high, making the Katahdin a valued breed in the hair sheep industry. The Katahdins in the study had a consistently less barber pole worm infestation rate compared to the Dorper and Dorset crosses. 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. There are many great options for meat-producing sheep. The main differences between these two breeds are the colors available, and what they can be used for. The breed is famous in the United States for its high performance and low maintenance. Icelandic Sheep are another popular choice for meat, with ewes weighing an average of 150 pounds at maturity, and rams averaging 200 pounds. They can harbor significant worm populations, yet not suffer the same effects a wool animal would. They do produce wool, and need to be shorn on a regular basis. http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/Accursed/Smileys/waiting-bored-waiting-boy-smiley-em.gif, Birthing, Weaning, and Raising Young Sheep. Katahdins are awesome and productive mothers plus they are a very hardy breed and the Dorper will put more size on the meat sheep. 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. We are currently running 130 registered ewes with 10 commercial ewes that will be dispersed this year. I would love to get in touch with the author personally. . Its important to have an animal thats pure or unaltered for sacrifice in observance of many holidays. I usually harvest my lambs between 80 and 90 lbs. Consider the pros and cons featured above before making your decision. At 90 days, weve had November-December lambs on pasture, hay and whole grain (corn or milo) average 75 pounds. The Dorpers get so quiet and even a little lazy that the dogs really have to work hard to make them move much.