However, in older hairsheep the flavor is still impressive due to the genetic factor. Between their size and their courage, llamas may seem intimidating at first. Katahdin Sheep work very well in a variety of production situations as a low-maintenance, easy care sheep. We have just over 1200 breeding ewes & aim for around 2000 when things get better. 7 year old Katahdin ewe . I belong to a herding club in Hawaii. Best guess is he is 175-200 lbs. In terms of lambing, youll find Katahdins mostly give birth to multiple lambs. The mild and yet rich flavor of these culled ewes is remarkable and does not at all remind anyone of mutton. Though the breed produces wool (and lanolin), it is known to have a particularly mild taste. I like the Dorper temperament, generally they are a pretty docile breed. Mature Weight (Lb): Ewe = 130 140 (Average is 136), Ram = 170 - 200. Originating in South Africa, these lovable and attractive sheep tend to come with a lot more pros than cons. Why they are Crossed - YouTube 0:00 / 4:43 Dorper Sheep vs. Katahdin Sheep. Ron remembers raising wool sheep as a teenager. They have incredible growth of lambs at butcher weight within 6-8 months with carcass weights in the 45-60 lb range. While I cant speak for other hair sheep breeds, Katahdin sheep are often more flighty than many other breeds: Several producers of both hair and wool animals have found coyote losses are considerably lower with Katahdins. 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. The breed was created by crossing Dorset and Blackheaded Persian sheep. This breed produces rapid-growing lambs, with most lambs being considered ready for market at 12 weeks of age. They reach sexual maturity early, and will remain fertile for a longer period of time than many other breeds. At Kettle Haven Ranch we specialize in Katahdin x Dorper crosses for exceptional market lambs and for replacement breeding stock. Good luck! Secondly at what age are you removing lambs from mothers . Very interesting and informational! As a bit of trivia, the majority of cull ewes the U.S. exports go to the Mexico City area. 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. In many cases, farmers are adding hair sheep to pastures with cattle to maximize efficiency and for parasite control. What is worse, however, is the fact that there are breeders who do not select for shedding ability and for the show ring instead. Some of the ancestors of these breeds originated in Africa and were brought to the Caribbean Islands, Central America and northern South America during the 18th and 19th century. Katahdin Dorper cross ram lambs for Sale - Highnote Alabama How to Use Goats and Sheep to Clear Brush - Modern Farmer if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'savvyfarmlife_com-leader-1','ezslot_7',106,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-savvyfarmlife_com-leader-1-0');Katahdins are a popular meat breed for sheep farmers. For registered breeding stock, permanent wooly fibers are a no-no. While many of the characteristics hair animals possess appeal to the hobby flock owner, we expect an animal to make us money; if it doesnt, its gone. 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. Why Choose St. Croix Hair Sheep? Katahdin is probably the more economical choice, however, namely because they can produce both meat and milk. Check out my article Best Sheep for Wool: Top 8 Sheep Breeds for Wool. Hair sheep primer . Katahdin would adapt best under humid, warm conditions, while Dorper would be best suited for dry arid and semiarid rangeland conditions. Later on I found out that this was the faster route to accomplish shedding in the offspring. Katahdin x Lacaune. 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 . Mating season for Suffolk sheep usually happens in the Autumn or Winter of each year, as it is for most sheep breeds. Kt ewes under low-input semiarid conditions of northern Mxico. As a result, about 50 percent of the first generation of White Dorper cross bred sheep shed partially or mostly. Most lambs are considered market-ready by 9-12 weeks. Updated: Monday, February 06, 2023 02:46 PM. He is 8 months old. Sheep for Meat: 10 Best Sheep Breeds for Meat - Savvy Farm Life Thirdly how long after separation to market. A list of the breeds of sheep that are thought of as being good ewe breeds would start with (1) Rambouillet sheep such as there are in Texas (2) several kinds of Whitefaced Western sheep, (3) the Dorset breed, which is a white-faced meat breed . marina@mgdorpers.com. Average Birth Weight (Lbs): 7 lbs for small lambs, 4-5 lbs for twin lambs. 4 1. Carcass Composition of Hair Sheep Breeds and Crosses - Virginia Tech Characteristics - St Croix Hair Sheep Breeders Mature Weight (Lb): Ewe = 170 200 (can be less than 170lb), Ram = 220 250. Dorpers DO NOT shed their coats as well and consistently as katahdins. Fact: In central Missouri, raising sheep for wool has been a losing proposition for a number of years. Market Weight/Live/Age: 70 90 lbs / 7 8 months. This behavior causes problems with maintaining desirable trees unless protection is provided. But the dorpers always have say ten % that need shearing still. How often do dorpers have breeding problems and we will then have to pull the lambs? 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. The breed was developed in the mid-1950s by crossing imported St. Croix Sheep and several other breeds, including the Suffolk Sheep. Animal Breeding Abstracts. Not only do they suffer fewer complications during birthing compared to some other breeds, but they also give birth to multiple lambs. The low maintenance qualities of Katahdins allow us the time to do so. Hair sheep have some attributes that make them admirably suited to fill market niches or fit varying production systems in Florida. Im sure by now you have an answer. Disposition & Mothering Ability: Ewes have good mothering ability and lamb easily unassisted. 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. The Kasteel White Dorper Stud farm lies in an arid area of the Republic of South Africa, called the Great Karoo. History tells us our present-day sheep are derived from the wild Mouflon sheep, among others, that grew coarse hair with a downy undercoat. Katahdin sheep and Dorper are bred as meat sheep breeds. A unique characteristic about the Dorper is that they do not breed seasonally, instead they are able to breed year-around. For specific questions, please contact the author. 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. 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. Katahdin x Texel. A maternal breed, Katahdin ewes breed well with the Dorper rams to produce a meaty but feminine lamb. In this area, hair sheep often sell higher than wool sheep. We figured the combination would be a meatier sheep." They bought the ram in 1996 and some ewes the following spring. There are three main reasons to raise hair sheep. This is a very old article and I do not have the contact info for John. As one of the most populous sheep breeds in America, the Suffolk is a popular choice for meat producers. Lamb chops from Barbados Blackbelly x St. Croix lambs were similar to those from Dorset-sired, Dorper-sired, or Katahdin. When selecting breeding stock, choose animals with good feet. mantap ! Easy Care Hair Sheep: Is There Really Such A Thing? The SNPs in NOS2, TGFB2, and IL2RA genes were also observed with high genetic differentiation in the Katahdin and St. Croix vs Dorper analysis. What is the point of getting hairsheep when you end up shearing them? I am trying to locate a couple of nice ewe lambs now. Im very new here currently living in Virginia. Environmental Adaptability: Withstand higher heat and humidity than British sheep breeds. When comparing weights, keep in mind we live in north central Missouri. Our paddocks are grazed for 5-7 days followed by 25-34 days of . This makes them one of the more profitable breeds to specialize in. 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. 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. In lambs, grain feeding versus grass-fed has a greater influence on flavor than the differences in breeds. Coat & Color: Has a variety of color ranging from black and tan through yellow with variegated mottled pattern. Will they settle into a seasonal pattern or will they breed continually? Hair sheep dont bring as much on the slaughter market. Unsave Save. We are interested purchasing Katahdin sheep and found this article very helpful. My friend also mentioned his Katahdin-Dorper lambs are much fatter when born than Polypays. 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. To learn more about baby sheep, check out my article Baby Sheep: What a Baby Sheep is Called & Other Fun Facts. Our young Katahdins can be difficult to move. Lambing %: Lambing rates vary from 150% to 250% with 3 lambing every 2 years not uncommon. Required fields are marked *. As mentioned earlier, hair sheep breeds are considerably more heat-tolerant than wool breeds. 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. Another goodproductfromhair sheep is leather. Just like the Katahdin, you do not have to shear them as they shed their winter coat in the spring. Katahdin ewes weigh around 125-185 pounds, and rams average around 200 pounds. my ewe with CL has had her first batch of lambs last month and she is a really good mother! I am new to the sheep business so I am concerned that she will never be large enough to breed. Ulf, We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Crossing these breeds with woolen breeds for efficient meat production does hold some potential. They started with an idle, tired farm and through years of blood, sweat and tears have transformed it into a vibrant . Can someone tell me a few of the pros and cons for both dorper sand katahdin. Mostly Katahdin hair ewes exposed to Dorper and Katahdin bucks. Dorper's are by far the closest hair sheep to the wool breed. HARDINESS We currently have about 100 ewes. Suffolk ewes reach between 180-250 pounds, while rams can top out at 350 pounds. Some Ideas About Crossbreeding Sheep | Oklahoma State University Currently have a friend running dorper but was looking at katahdins since they are a little bigger. Required fields are marked *. It is more flighty than Dorper, Kathadin and St. Croix breeds. My customers are also distributors of various sizes who sell mainly at restaurants and their private customers. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to compare productive performance of F 1 Dp vs . Like the Dorper, Dorset ewes are able to breed year-round and are not limited to a typical Fall/Winter breeding season. Katahdins are awesome and productive mothers plus they are a very hardy breed and the Dorper will put more size on the meat sheep. JavaScript is disabled. Yes, you can milk Dorper sheep! FLAVOR However, they all shed around the belly, legs, head, and all the other places that would otherwise prolong shearing. It is now farmed in other areas as well, and is the second most common sheep breed in South Africa.