For registered breeding stock, permanent wooly fibers are a no-no. Kt ewes under low-input semiarid conditions of northern Mxico. Katahdin meat tends to be leaner than many other breeds. We figured the combination would be a meatier sheep." They bought the ram in 1996 and some ewes the following spring. Coat & Color: Coat can be any color or color pattern. We find its seldom necessary to trim hooves. and, as such, the data are estimates. Lambs are efficient producers of meat. . 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. Yes, you can milk Dorper sheep! Origin: This breed was developed or evolved on the Eastern Caribbean Island of Barbados. For specific questions, please contact the author. The Dorper grows more wool but self-sheds annually. In terms of temperament, cost, and maintenance, they are both excellent options. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. We just started raising Katahdins this year. Dorper lambs have amazing growth rates when young. 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. Theyre too small to be of commercial value. I had a Texel flock of 100 breeding ewes at the time when I bought my first White Dorper rams. Very interesting and informational! The breed is actually very good for meat production, and it produce more meat than Dorper and Katahdin sheep. And some shed one year but not totally the next for no apparent reason at all. 80 pounds at 90 days can be expected. I cant speak to colder temperatures, taking zero degrees without a problem is good enough for me. Some general information on hair sheep is found on the next page. My Texel and Dorset lambs that I used to have in the past didnt differ that much in flavor, although the WD lambs are indeed milder tasting. 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 sheep will strip the bark from cedars, pines and any deciduous tree that has smooth, immature bark. 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. The cross breeding results in the best of both breeds but also in the benefits of heterosis, commonly known as hybrid vigor. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. A Katahdin ewe will average between 140-180 pounds, while Dorper ewes will average 160-200 pounds. They grow quickly and reach market weight early. 2022 Cornell Small Farms. Posted 11/18/2019 21:09 (#7854689) Subject: Dorper Sheep vs. Katahdin Sheep. Hope this helps! 2. You can even crossbreed them to develop unique varieties for your farm or homestead. Technical Abstract: . Dorper's are by far the closest hair sheep to the wool breed. Your email address will not be published. Tunis are solid breeders and excellent mothers. The Dorper has a high rate of lambing and is tolerant of the arid conditions it was developed for in South Africa. For example, we consider time spent worming, shearing, docking and trimming hooves as merely maintaining an operation. Katahdin Dorper The Dorper is a mutton breed of hair sheep developed in the 1930s. Dorpersare known for their fast weight gains as lambs. He is 8 months old. Good luck! ), more intense selection for increased body length and a ewe flock of around 160-175 ewes. Any sheep can technically produce meat, but if youre looking to raise sheep for commercial meat production, youll want to make sure you get a good return on investment. Get Shipping Quotes Opens in a new tab. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. As far as winter hardiness is concerned, I have my sheep out in zero degree weather. Katahdin sheep and Dorper are bred as meat sheep breeds. While it is estimated that hair sheep comprise only 10 percent of the world's sheep population, their numbers are growing, especially in temperate climates like the United States. They dont need to be sheared, they have a docile temperament making them easy to handle, and they are resistant to disease. Have good flocking instinct. (Allardt) "Spike" is a 3 year old ram. Looking forward to reply. Katahdins tend to birth twins, with triplets and quadruplets occurring often with good flock management. If ewes are fed well, lambing rate approaches the higher end. Secondly at what age are you removing lambs from mothers . 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.. 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. A maternal breed, Katahdin ewes breed well with the Dorper rams to produce a meaty but feminine lamb. As a bit of trivia, the majority of cull ewes the U.S. exports go to the Mexico City area. McKinney. This information may be used to compare breeds of hair sheep. This means that, theoretically, a Dorper ewe can produce a lamb (or 2 or 3) every 8 months. The low maintenance qualities of Katahdins allow us the time to do so. Photo courtesy of:Dr. Stephan A. Wildeus. We have just over 1200 breeding ewes & aim for around 2000 when things get better. 46:131-143.. Making a Good Ewe Flock. i want buy texel sheep unit so please tell how can buy it this breed. Wondering What to Feed Sheep? Jacksonville, FL 32254. I'd go with Dorper ram on Katahdin ewes. Unlike meat goats, hair sheep are resistant to many of the parasites shed by cattle. Forty-six Dorper, 46 Katahdin, and 43 St. Croix female sheep (initial BW of 58, 59, and 46 kg, respectively, SEM = 1.75; 3.3 0.18 yr of age, 2.6 - 3.7) from 45 commercial farms in four regions of the USA (Midwest, Northwest, Southeast, and central Texas) were used to evaluate responses to high heat load index (HLI) conditions in a central . 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. When the price of raw wool fleece is below the cost of shearing the animal, this is not cost effective. Originally bred for their meat, the Katahdin tends to have a wider variation of milk production - some ewes producing significantly more (or significantly less) than the average. I sell a lot of culled ewes as roasts, ground meat, stew meat and various sausages. 1. As we train border collies for sheep and cattle trials and we need a few different types of sheep. Hi Qazi, My wife and I feel theres no best breed, but rather which breed best fits your operation. Dorper sheep originated in South Africa and were the result of crossing Dorset Horn with Blackheaded Persian sheep. In many cases, farmers are adding hair sheep to pastures with cattle to maximize efficiency and for parasite control. Im sorry I cannot help you. Dorper sheep do well in warm, arid climates, but can tolerate cold as well. Environmental Adaptability: Withstand heat and cold well, and part of this adjustment to extremes is behavioral. They have less subcutaneous fat on average and are a bit leaner because there is less feathering in the muscles. The entire belly is black including areas between the legs, nose and forehead. How about Field Corn! He is a native of Germany and lives in the US since 1995. Choosing breeding stock with this in mind can avoid this problem. If you have space to corral a few sheep, you can fill the freezer with a healthy alternative to beef and chicken. We prefer using forage to produce lambs rather than wool. Why Katahdin x Dorper Crosses. Is there any way to contact him? Ewes will weigh an average of 190 pounds, with rams reaching up to 300 pounds. I can only put this down to past genetics. When I look out in the paddock it looks like hell on earth but at the same time beautiful. A common lamb on good pasture will perform better than Super Lamb on poor pasture. What You Need To Know. Katahdins are awesome and productive mothers plus they are a very hardy breed and the Dorper will put more size on the meat sheep. Lambing %: Lambing rates vary from 150% to 250% with 3 lambing every 2 years not uncommon. J. Anim Sci 77:215-222. Can you advise on the availability of a good ram and 10-12 ewe lambs this Spring. As mentioned earlier, hair sheep breeds are considerably more heat-tolerant than wool breeds. A ewes wool will pay her winter feed bill. As with any young growing animal, the weight gains of a Katahdin lamb increase as the protein and digestibility of the forage increases. This ancient breed has thrived in warm climates, continued to produce twins and good carcass weights. (Icelandic sheep grow a double coat.) To avoid the coloring and spots that come along with first and second generation cross breeding with Dorper sheep, I decided to go with White Dorper sheep (WD). daging domba sangat enak dan sangat kaya akan protein. i love the dorper sheep breed! This site is owned and operated by Wild Wire Media, LLC. They are also well suited to survive in the arid extensive regions of South Africa. The breed is famous in the United States for its high performance and low maintenance. Also, much of the flavor ( good or bad) comes from the fat. They will definitely get too fat. Ewes will weigh an average of 190 pounds, with rams reaching up to 300 pounds. One of the first breeds to be recognized for its commercial production, the rams can reach more than 250 lbs. The Kasteel White Dorper Stud farm lies in an arid area of the Republic of South Africa, called the Great Karoo. Typically, the 75 percent Dorper crosses will exhibit the Dorper coloration and conformation. We are in the process of installing another 10,000 feet of electric fence on 25 acres that will result in another nine paddocks. Are Llamas Dangerous? Ulf, All Rights Reserved | Website by Maple Creative, buildwithmaple.com. . Ta Paul.5. 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. This breed is adaptable and can live in many different climates. In terms of lambing, youll find Katahdins mostly give birth to multiple lambs. 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. Three ewes needed assistance lambing (one got it, the other two didnt and lost their lambs), one of which was 8 years old. I have no way of weighing him. Hampshire sheep can live in almost any climate, making them a hardy breed. Some hair breed rams are long-bodied which can create a lengthy birthing scenario for the ewe. These are some of the best reasons to raise Katahdin sheep - though the list is by no means exhaustive! Its important to have an animal thats pure or unaltered for sacrifice in observance of many holidays. 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. Difference in color is a matter of preference. To appeal to ethnic buyers, it often requires a change in flock management. Some Ewes shed coats after second lambing. Katahdin is probably the more economical choice, however, namely because they can produce both meat and milk. . Twice a year my friend with Polypays shows up at work doubled over as he shuffles around in pain. Two varieties of Dorper Sheep were created: the black headed Dorper and an all white variety, the White Dorper sheep. 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. Some of the main pros of keeping Katahdin sheep include: Katahdin sheep are one of the easiest breeds of sheep to care for. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. The Katahdin is another great dual-purpose breed, producing on average 210 liters of milk per 210 day cycle. Lambing Interval:It ranges from 6 to 8 months. The Dorper originated in South Africa from crosses between the Dorset and the Blackhead Persian. We have all three breeds. The mild and yet rich flavor of these culled ewes is remarkable and does not at all remind anyone of mutton. In our operation, that sheep breed is the Katahdin sheep. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Contact | About Us | Sitemap, As one of the most populous sheep breeds in America, the. 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. Katahdin Pedigrees Public Area Members List. At that weight there are no problems with too much fat cover whatsoever. Hi currently running flock of 600. Some are calling these shedding sheep. This is true for Barbados Blackbelly and St. Croix in particular, because they have not been subjected to selection for size and growth rate of the woolen breeds. "We liked their look," Ruby puts in. Carefully breeding only the best stock will ensure that the extreme hardiness and good mothering ability remain. If breeding your own sheep for sustainable meat production, you will also want to know the breeding habits of each breed, and whether the sheep produces wool or grows hair this is helpful to know when it comes to maintenance. Parasitol. There is a growing market demand for high-quality, naturally-fed lamb. Though the breed produces wool (and lanolin), it is known to have a particularly mild taste. That's interesting! Sheds coat as temperature and day length increase. 2023, Countryside - All Rights Reserved, Raising Sheep For Profit: Milking Sheep Offer a Small Farm Alternative, Raising Sheep: Buying and Caring for Your First Flock, Raising Sheep For Profit: How to Sell Raw Fleece, Raising Sheep For Profit: A Cattle Man's View. Parasite resistance and reproductive efficiency is very high, making the Katahdin a valued breed in the hair sheep industry. 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. Fact: In central Missouri, raising sheep for wool has been a losing proposition for a number of years. They reach sexual maturity very early, with ewes able to breed between 7 to 9 months of age. Dorpers grow a combination of hair and wool, and shed naturally meaning no shearing is required. Thirdly how long after separation to market. 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 . Coat & Color: Most of the individuals are white, but tan and spotted ones exist. High latitudes (up north) have a short growing season with long daylight periods and fast grass growth that is high in protein and low in fiber. However, as the challenge escalated, parasite resistance was greatest in St. Croix lambs, followed by Katahdin and Dorper lambs. or you can contact me at- Early maturing Terminal cross lambs. best beef in the word is lamb,i like lamb beef spesialis sate.. Amazing sheep, been breeding the Dorper for sometime now and i must say their adaptability is really outstanding. LMAO!!!! In addition, shearing is not a requirement thereby reducing operational cost. They are excellent foragers. Environmental Adaptability: Withstand higher heat and humidity than British sheep breeds. The Dorper sheep is a meat sheep breed. 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. These include: Dorper sheep dont produce much milk or wool, which means raising them for meat is your only option. for info and videos along with books and much more! Our flock is managed through pasture rotation from April until late December. The ancestry is believed to be of both African hair sheep and European breeds. We may be partial to the breed, but were not raising a hobby flock. So, what about littering the pasture with wool? study was done that showed the parasite resistance. Because of their hair and their low fat content, this breed is known to produce both flavorful and mild meat. With an annual rainfall of approximately 175mm (7 inches), the grazing is mainly scrubland with a stocking rate of 1 LSU per 32 hectare. This breed averages in maturity at around 175 220 pounds. There is no such thing as an ideal breed. Lambing %: Approximately 125%, exceeding 200% with subsequent lambing. There are a lot of advantages to keeping Dorper sheep in the US. They do produce wool, and will need to be shorn annually. They also have a fat rump, short legs, and a compact body. The breed has a thick, well muscled carcass and extended period of fertility. take it from me, you dont have to worry about anyone getting too fat. In winter puts on coat that is shed as temperatures increase. A unique characteristic about the Dorper is that they do not breed seasonally, instead they are able to breed year-around. I would love to get in touch with the author personally. Mature Weight (Lb): Ewe = 70 -120, Ram = 110 140. I saw that the author is from Central Missouri, which is where we live. 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. Myth #2: Hair sheep don't bring as much on the slaughter market. Mutton is meat that comes from mature sheep over the age of 1 year old. This matters up here as our point of having hair sheep is to eliminate useless shearing. Market Weight/Live/Age: 80 110 lbs / 5.5 6 months. Instead, I get raving reports back and I never seem to have enough market lambs to make everyone happy. This makes them one of the more profitable breeds to specialize in. As you can see in picture Spike has some tiny horn buds; they have never grown . The Confederacy precedes the establishment of Cornell University, New York state, and the United States of America. Katahdins often breeding out of season. St. Croix Sheep have been used to develop other breeds such as the Royal White. Keeping Boer Goats: 5 Biggest Disadvantages, 4 Best Places with Sheep for Sale in Missouri, They are easy to breed and commonly give birth to multiple lambs, They arent great for milk or wool production, They dont require shearing, tail docking, or crutching, Lambs take a little longer than some breeds to reach market weight. 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. Hairsheep breeds such as the Barbados Blackbelly and St.Croix are largely found in these tropical areas of the world. Dorpers DO NOT shed their coats as well and consistently as katahdins. And does anyone have experience with katahdin ewes on dorper bucks . Relative resistance of Dorper crossbred ewes to gastrointestinal nematode infection compared with St. Croix and Katahdin ewes in the southeastern United States. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Did you know that Dorper sheep dont need to be sheared? BREEDING DORPER SHEEP The major disadvantage is that they grow slower and produce a lighter weight carcass than most breeds of European origin. Some general information on hair sheep is found on the next page. We are currently using rams with high shedding scores, while culling heavily on production traits. This market presented difficulties such as lambing in the dead of winter, having lambs large enough (especially when Passover comes early) and pooling with your neighbors to find enough lambs for a truckload. Dorset sheep thrive in a wide variety of climates, and being wool-producers, they will need to be sheared annually. In lambs, grain feeding versus grass-fed has a greater influence on flavor than the differences in breeds. Tunis sheep are able to thrive in a variety of climates, and tolerate both heat and cold well. Market Weight/Live/Age: 60 80 lbs / 9 month. Dorper and Katahdin are medium size breeds. Moreover, RT was slightly less for Katahdin vs. Dorper in period 4 at 13:00 and 17:00 however, RR was less for Katahdin than for Dorper in periods 3 and 4. This increases the risk of falls and injury, which can be expensive to fix. Katahdin ewes weigh around 125-185 pounds, and rams average around 200 pounds. Featured Listing. After 22 years they are well rooted in South Paris. This is a very old article and I do not have the contact info for John. It is also exceptionally low-maintenance. Of the ewe lambs exposed, 95 percent gave birth at the age of 11-13 months. Today I have 1/2, 3/4, 7/8th, and 15/16th White Dorper 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. He is a native of Germany and lives in the US since 1995. They are attentive, protective, and make excellent mothers. This breed is medium-sized and is hardy with a high-quality carcass. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to compare productive performance of F 1 Dp vs . The Dorpers get so quiet and even a little lazy that the dogs really have to work hard to make them move much. In colder zones they produce a very heavy winter coat that is shed in spring. Sales at the 2022 mid America Dorper Show nearly broke $1 MILLION with the top Dorper ewe bringing $20,000 and ram $12,800. Breed utilization for meat production in sheep. Two weeks later, the ewes hadnt lost any body condition. Average Birth Weight (Lbs): 7.5 lbs for single, 6.5 7 for twins, and less for triplets. Since hair sheep dont have a heavy wool coat, they cant take the cold. Katahdins tend to birth twins, with triplets and quadruplets occurring often with good flock management. I forgot to ask for notification via e-mail, so I am reposting my questions. Dorset sheep have lean and muscular carcasses, making them excellent at producing meat. People converting to hair sheep breeds all notice certain things. Grazing animals put on weight quickly in preparation for the long winters. Docking tails is unnecessary, although you still see some old timers that dock just because they always have. Katahdins have generated a great deal of interest from all parts of North America. Mature Weight (Lb): Ewe = 120 - 160, Ram = 180 250. This spring we had an overall lambing average of 1.9 lambs/ewe born with 1.7 lambs weaned. Vigorous growers, the Icelandic produce lambs that are market-ready at 70-100 pounds in as little as 4-5 months. When youre raising sheep for meat, the wool is a by-product. The Dorper and the Katahdin were derived from very different types of hair sheep. 1999. $300. I no longer sell at livestock auctions mainly because I dont have to. My customers are also distributors of various sizes who sell mainly at restaurants and their private customers. They are seasonal breeders, conceiving in the Fall and Winter. Katahdins are alert, protective mothers. Thank you for stopping by, and best of luck with your farm! The American Sheep Industry recognizes 47 different sheep breeds in the US, with hundreds more recognized internationally. 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 . Katahdin x Texel. Im Carmella. I am new to the sheep business so I am concerned that she will never be large enough to breed. HARDINESS Lambs can also take a little longer to reach their market weight than some other breeds of sheep. Breed is mainly free of wool and do not normally require shearing. Half of the group thinks it is okay to feed hot sheep, the other half disagrees. I usually harvest my lambs between 80 and 90 lbs. Because of their hair, like the Dorper they do not produce lanolin which will give their meat a milder taste. Two varieties of Dorper Sheep were created: the black headed Dorper and an all white variety, the White Dorper sheep. Do you have to go around picking it up out of the pasture? Blackbellys often breed easily and well, usually birthing multiple lambs in one breeding. But the pasture littered with wool as I had feared just did not happen. The Dorper has been very effective in increasing the growth rate, carcass size and quality of all the typical hair-type breeds such a the Barbados, Katahdin, St. Croix, the Mexican Pelibuey and other breeds that are considered exotic types. Sheep will eat woody vegetation but prefer grass and weeds on the ground. They are also highly resistant to many parasites that can become bothersome to other breeds of sheep. But what about the market lambs getting too fat? As wild sheep were domesticated, breeding for increased wool came into practice. They have incredible growth of lambs at butcher weight within 6-8 months with carcass weights in the 45-60 lb range. What You Need To Know, link to Goats vs Sheep: Profit, Care & Behavioral Differences, Best Sheep for Wool: Top 8 Sheep Breeds for Wool. Very tolerant of the humid hot conditions in the Carribean andSomolia, Blackhead Persians have a white body and black head. The Dorper carcass has a good conformation and fat distribution. You can also use them for multiple income streams thanks to their excellent meat and milk production. Katatdin x Dorper . Fact: Eight or ten years ago you could expect a 5-10 cents/pound discount for hair animals. Mostly Katahdin hair ewes exposed to Dorper and Katahdin bucks. Lambing %: Given an average lambing percent of 150 and 3 lambing in 2 years, Dorper will produce 2.25 lambs on an annual basis. The shedding process may take some getting used to but will not litter your pasture with wool Photographer: Ulf Kintzel. ~Ann, Your email address will not be published. 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. The Cornell Small Farms Program is housed at Cornell University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) in Ithaca, NY, and works in partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension across New York State. This breed was developed after 20 years of breeding and selection. Reaching maturity earlier than many breeds, the Suffolk lamb will reach an average of 116 pounds by 100 days of age. How do you decide which breed is right for your needs? Breeders often use less-expensive Katahdin ewes to initiate an upgrading program with registered Dorper as the final goal. if any one would be interested in buying some good quality Dorpers check out my website MGDorpers.com it is comming out soon! 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. While there are far fewer cons than there are pros for keeping Dorper sheep, you do need to consider the potential downsides. Mating season for Suffolk sheep usually happens in the Autumn or Winter of each year, as it is for most sheep breeds. This article first appeared in the May/June 2010 Hobby Farms. Katahdin can be used for both meat and milk, whereas Dorper sheep are only good for meat production.
