dorper vs katahdin

We currently manage between 45-60 ewes per year with about 70% of our flock being registered. We are interested purchasing Katahdin sheep and found this article very helpful. Dorper Sheep - Sheep Breed Series - YouTube Updated: Monday, February 06, 2023 02:46 PM. I belong to a herding club in Hawaii. The breed has a thick, well muscled carcass and extended period of fertility. The lighter weights are the result of hot weather reducing forage intake (occurs with all grazing animals) and lowered nutritional quality of cool-season forages. has anyone had CL in Dorper sheep one of my fav ewes has CL and we are trying to find a way to maybe stop it! The Blackbelly is a smaller breed of sheep, with ewes maturing at around 100 pounds, and rams weighing on average 120 pounds. While mutton and lamb may seem like more of a rarity in America, it is more popular as a main dish in other parts of the world. 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. Some breeders have been working on crosses between traditional wool meat breeds and hair sheep breeds. It is now farmed in other areas as well, and is the second most common sheep breed in South Africa. Instead, I get raving reports back and I never seem to have enough market lambs to make everyone happy. Hairsheep breeds such as the Barbados Blackbelly and St.Croix are largely found in these tropical areas of the world. 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. This is a very good article to read and understand the secrets of Raising Katahdin Sheep. This article first appeared in the May/June 2010 Hobby Farms. There is a growing market demand for high-quality, naturally-fed lamb. We figured the combination would be a meatier sheep." They bought the ram in 1996 and some ewes the following spring. Often, when a new breed or type is rising in popularity, careful breeding can fall to the wayside in the haste to have stock to sell. In conclusion, based on RT and RR, resilience to high HLI conditions ranked St. Croix > Katahdin > Dorper, with lowest . However, they all shed around the belly, legs, head, and all the other places that would otherwise prolong shearing. No wool to deal with makes perfect economic sense. In many cases, farmers are adding hair sheep to pastures with cattle to maximize efficiency and for parasite control. Its important to have an animal thats pure or unaltered for sacrifice in observance of many holidays. Ultimate Guide. Compared to other breeds, these sheep are relatively new, dating back to the 1950s. Hair sheep primer . Question is this common? They also are not limited to a breeding season, conceiving year round. It was bred from West African hair sheep and is extremely well-adapted to hot, humid conditions. Crossing these breeds with woolen breeds for efficient meat production does hold some potential. Average Birth Weight (Lbs): 7 lbs for small lambs, 4-5 lbs for twin lambs. The ewes are also heavy milkers with excellent maternal instincts. Cornell University is located on the traditional homelands of the Gayogoh:n (the Cayuga Nation). ), In fall 2000, we grazed our flock on cocklebur and waterhemp that followed an oat crop. Dries Wiese, the owner and Studbreeder, was 9 years old when his father bought him his first . You must log in or register to reply here. Katahdins are alert, protective mothers. Next Page: Flock ID Last Name First Name Farm Name Address City State . We find its seldom necessary to trim hooves. Katahdin Dorper cross ram lambs for Sale - Highnote Alabama Just like to make a comment. Texel sheep do best in colder climates, as they are exceptionally cold-hardy and have been known to be sensitive to the heat. Between their size and their courage, llamas may seem intimidating at first. Looking forward to reply. I dont want him to get unhealthily fat. The Dorper carcass has a good conformation and fat distribution. Fact: Katahdin sheep, at least, will thrive from hot, humid Florida to the western provinces of Canada. Required fields are marked *. This, alongside their easy-going dietary needs, really cut down the cost of keeping them. Most Muslims prefer intact ram lambs without tails being docked. This has nothing to do with genetics and everything to do with the latitude in which the animal lives: Things being equal, our weights will be lower than the weights of similar Katahdins raised in Canada, but higher than ones raised in Florida. Best guess is he is 175-200 lbs. The ewes produce vigorous, healthy, robust lambs that have a high survivability. Katahdin Pedigrees Public Area Members List. Mature Weight (Lb): Ewe = 100 130, Ram = 120 150. Environmental Adaptability: Withstand higher heat and humidity than British sheep breeds. If you plan on going into the meat production business, its important to know the difference between types of sheep meat. The majority of ewe lambs are sold as registered breeding stock; the majority of ram lambs are sold for slaughter. These include: Dorper sheep dont produce much milk or wool, which means raising them for meat is your only option. Fact: While its true that Barbados and St. Croix are small animals (ewes 80-110 pounds), few commercial breeders raise them. But the pasture littered with wool as I had feared just did not happen. This is down to the fantastic range of benefits they deliver. if any one would be interested in buying some good quality Dorpers check out my website MGDorpers.com it is comming out soon! As well as a hand full of peanuts every day. They have less subcutaneous fat on average and are a bit leaner because there is less feathering in the muscles. They can harbor significant worm populations, yet not suffer the same effects a wool animal would. 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 . Weight Gain/Daily: 1 pound under intensive production. Sales of sheep meat and sheep breeding stock are on the rise in the United States and Canada. As hair sheep breeds become more popular, it will be important for breeders to ensure the future integrity of the breeds. The ancestry is believed to be of both African hair sheep and European breeds. It is raised mainly for meat production. Suffolk ewes have an excellent lambing rate of 180%, making them a solid choice for breeding. Our young Katahdins can be difficult to move. American Blackbelly Why Katahdin Sheep - stoneheartfarm Although they are one of the newest sheep breeds introduced in America, Katahdin sheep have quickly become a popular choice. Another goodproductfromhair sheep is leather. Katahdins are awesome and productive mothers plus they are a very hardy breed and the Dorper will put more size on the meat sheep. A large-framed, late-maturing breed will not have the necessary carcass quality at these weights, whereas Katahdin sheep or Dorpers will. These are some of the best reasons to raise Katahdin sheep - though the list is by no means exhaustive! You can even crossbreed them to develop unique varieties for your farm or homestead. I have a pet ram lamb, texel dorset cross I was told. Katahdin Pedigrees ~ Members List We have all three breeds. The Dorpers get so quiet and even a little lazy that the dogs really have to work hard to make them move much. It is a very hardy breed and is disease resistant. Your email address will not be published. Four Barbados Blackbelly sheep arrived in the United States in 1904. However, if I consider the traits described in this article and add the easy lambing, good mothering and fertility as well as the calm disposition and eye appealing looks of these sheep to the mix, I have come very close to the ideal breed at least for my farming system and my market. The St Croix are also quiet, but seem to be next on the ladder. 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. Ewes with young lambs show protective behavior and may raise front feet to strike dogs and cats when confronted. Two varieties of Dorper Sheep were created: the black headed Dorper and an all white variety, the White Dorper sheep. May 23, 2011 #3 Beekissed Herd Master Joined Aug 3, 2008 Messages 3,634 Reaction score 5,536 Points 453 Location mountains of WV Hampshire sheep can live in almost any climate, making them a hardy breed. With an annual rainfall of approximately 175mm (7 inches), the grazing is mainly scrubland with a stocking rate of 1 LSU per 32 hectare. Originally, the established buyers at auctions resisted hairsheep in general and they fetched lower prices in places like New Holland. Weight Gain/Daily: 0.4 lbs daily with good nutrition. Flock owners with less than 50 animals have a difficult time getting someone to shear unless they pool their animals with neighbors. Dorper and Katahdin are medium size breeds. east TX farm & garden "dorper sheep" - craigslist Since hair sheep dont have a heavy wool coat, they cant take the cold. I've seen some really nice Dorper/Katahdin crosses. This information may be used to compare breeds of hair sheep. Later on I found out that this was the faster route to accomplish shedding in the offspring. Bred Ewes Commercial - Market 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. Katahdin sheep will strip the bark from cedars, pines and any deciduous tree that has smooth, immature bark. The Dorper Sheep is a hardy resilient South African breed of sheep that can withstand various harsh climates, environments and intensive operations. Though the breed produces wool (and lanolin), it is known to have a particularly mild taste. Stoneheart Farm was established in 1994 by John and Doreen Simmons. Have good flocking instinct. We had the idea of crossing a Dorper with their 60 Katahdin ewes. i do not want to cull her from the flock! The other half needed shearing. Ewes typically reach sexual maturity by 7 months. If you consider hairsheep like White Dorpers in the future dont forget to ask the breeder about the shedding ability of their flock! It should be kept in mind that performance varies greatly with genetic . Two varieties of Dorper Sheep were created: the black headed Dorper and an all white variety, the White Dorper sheep. Katahdins are medium size, hardy, low-maintenance, and have a high-quality carcass weight. But what about the market lambs getting too fat? 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. 4 1. 199 Effects of high heat load conditions on Dorper, Katahdin, and St 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. Glenn Land Farm Dexter Cattle & Dorper Sheep My Texel sheep had served me well with their ability to finish on pasture, with their excellent meaty carcasses and with their lambing percentage of over 200 percent. Katahdin x Lacaune. Although the breed was created in the 1930s, it is still fairly new to the US. He can be reached at 585-554-3313 or by e-mail at ulf@whitecloversheepfarm.com. But the dorpers always have say ten % that need shearing still. My Dorper ram is not really large but he is bigger than her. Cheviots produce alert, strong lambs who are efficient foragers. They are seasonal breeders, conceiving in the Fall and Winter. The flavor of the market lambs is in my opinion mostly influenced by the fact that these lambs are grass-fed. For a number of years, there has been a good export market for ewe lambs going to Mexico. For specific questions, please contact the author. 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. 80 pounds at 90 days can be expected. How often do dorpers have breeding problems and we will then have to pull the lambs? We are currently using rams with high shedding scores, while culling heavily on production traits. Secrets of Raising Katahdin Sheep - Countryside They reach sexual maturity early, and will remain fertile for a longer period of time than many other breeds. I'll be using my Barbados Blackbelly ram on my BB ewes and also a few Kathadin ewes. Katahdin sheep and Dorper are bred as meat sheep breeds. The bodybuilder of the sheep world, the Texel sheep is known for its heavily-muscled and sturdy frame. 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. Hair Sheep Breeds - The Right Choice for You? - Countryside 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. Though large in size, Hampshire sheep tend to be a docile and easy-going breed. Baby Sheep: What a Baby Sheep is Called & Other Fun Facts. The first rams I purchased were of outstanding shedding ability. The main differences between these two breeds are the colors available, and what they can be used for. Can someone tell me a few of the pros and cons for both dorper sand katahdin. The only problem with colesterol is that the big pharma found a new drug to sell. Its also common to see animals of up to a year old climbing to the top of a big bale of hay. Ulf, We prefer using forage to produce lambs rather than wool. 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. It is also well established that heavy grain feeding does not suit these medium sized sheep since they thrive on so little. Dorper Sheep Breed Information, History & Facts - RaisingSheep.net Im sorry I cannot help you. Katatdin x Dorper . Twinning is common and triplets and quadruplets are not rare. I had heard all the negatives about them such as The lambs get too fat, The lambs sell for less money at auctions, The pasture will be littered with wool as these sheep shed, and They get too cold in the winter. Dorset ewes weigh approximately 150-200 pounds, with the rams weighing on average 275 pounds. I recently purchased 4 ram lambs for meat. Im sure by now you have an answer. a From the review: Notter, g. 1978. We have just over 1200 breeding ewes & aim for around 2000 when things get better. The Dorper has a high rate of lambing and is tolerant of the arid conditions it was developed for in South Africa. The Dorper grows more wool but self-sheds annually. Q. Suffolk grow wool continuously, and will need to be sheared annually. The Barbados Blackbelly got its name because of the characteristic black belly on an otherwise red brown coat. In fact, when we have pot roast from a culled ewe I can still fool my wife into thinking we had lamb for dinner. Tunis are solid breeders and excellent mothers. Dorpers DO NOT shed their coats as well and consistently as katahdins. Newbie trying to decide (Katahdin, Dorper, or St. Croix) 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. The breed was created by crossing Dorset and Blackheaded Persian sheep. Dorper and Katahdin are medium size breeds. Mostly Katahdin hair ewes exposed to Dorper and Katahdin bucks. 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. In 1975 Utah State University imported a small flock of Virgin Island White which is the basis for the present St. Croix breed in North America. Our spring lambs require 4-5 pounds of dry matter forage to produce each pound of gain. Royal White (Dorper x St.Croix) We currently have about 100 ewes. Hair sheep dont bring as much on the slaughter market. Mature Weight (Lb): Ewe = 130 140 (Average is 136), Ram = 170 - 200. The SNPs in NOS2, TGFB2, and IL2RA genes were also observed with high genetic differentiation in the Katahdin and St. Croix vs Dorper analysis. Wondering whether to add Dorper or Katahdin sheep to your homestead? They dont need to be sheared, they have a docile temperament making them easy to handle, and they are resistant to disease. Its also possible that some pieces of wool or hair remain along the back or on the hind quarters or arm pits. They will stand on their hind feet like goats to strip any low hanging limbs of their leaves. No difference was noted between the purebred breeds of hair sheep. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Reaching maturity earlier than many breeds, the Suffolk lamb will reach an average of 116 pounds by 100 days of age. The only things to consider include: The fact Katahdin sheep dont produce wool isnt necessarily a disadvantage. 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." A type of hair breed, Katahdin sheep originate in the United States. marina@mgdorpers.com. Hair sheep breeds (Katahdin, St. Croix, Barbados) generally have much greater parasite resistance than wooled breeds, especially after one year of age. Suffolk ewes are excellent mothers and prolific breeders. Best Sheep Breeds For the Extreme Heat and Cold - J&R Pierce Family Signatures of selection for resistance to - BMC Genomics The Royal White sheep shed their wool naturally, it saves the cost of shearing. As mentioned earlier, the Katahdin breed has served us well. 13 Hair Sheep Breeds You Should Know About - The Homesteading Hippy The Katahdin sheep is listed as a Recovering heritage breed on the ALBC Conservation Priority List. Several myths still surround hair sheep. Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment. Theyre too small to be of commercial value. Their hair falls off naturally during the year, making them an easy breed to care for. Due to their superior conformation and shedding characteristics, they have become one of the most popular breeds of sheep in the U.S. This makes them one of the more profitable breeds to specialize in. Because of the wool, the Icelandic sheep do need to be sheared once to twice per year. (Grabbing a Romanov thats been walking through cockleburs is like wrestling with a 130-pound cocklebur.). Some hair breed rams are long-bodied which can create a lengthy birthing scenario for the ewe. Crossing these breeds with woolen breeds for efficient meat production does hold some potential. This means that, theoretically, a Dorper ewe can produce a lamb (or 2 or 3) every 8 months. I'd go with Dorper ram on Katahdin ewes. Beginning in the mid-1950s, Piel imported three St.Croix sheep. Libyans prefer old worn out buck goats for their stronger flavor. 2. keep checking it out! In Canada, Katahdin sheep commonly gain well over a pound per day. (A friend with Polypay and Katahdin sheep has had the same experience. Lambs can also take a little longer to reach their market weight than some other breeds of sheep. A unique characteristic about the Dorper is that they do not breed seasonally, instead they are able to breed year-around. One needs to do a detail review of the information related to the hair breed one wishes to raise. We are currently running 130 registered ewes with 10 commercial ewes that will be dispersed this year. Dorper Sheep: Truths and Myths - Cornell Small Farms Four years ago we began converting all our cropland into pasture and expanded the flock. The American Sheep Industry recognizes 47 different sheep breeds in the US, with hundreds more recognized internationally. Generally, hair breeds are more heat tolerant than wool breeds. We both work off thefarm; therefore time is a commodity in short supply. These breeds are called hair sheep because the coat consists of hair more like that of cattle and many goats rather than wool. This is inconvenient since you must pasture ram lambs separately from ewes to prevent unplanned pregnancies. Two weeks later, the ewes hadnt lost any body condition. $300. 1. Everything You Need to Know About Hair Sheep - Cross S Ranch Katahdins tend to birth twins, with triplets and quadruplets occurring often with good flock management. 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. Origin: This mutton breed was developed in South Africa in the 1930s from Dorset Horn and Blackheaded Persia for the extensive regions of South Africa. Ewes will breed back before the lambs are weaned. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. There are a lot of advantages to keeping Dorper sheep in the US. St. Croix Sheep have been used to develop other breeds such as the Royal White. Have been buying in feed since the start of 2018. Just a little more "stingy" than the Dorper (and I am talking more for working them with dogs). While Hampshire sheep are seasonal breeders, they tend to have a longer breeding season than others. People in the Midwest or southern states see this and make a trip to Alberta to purchase a super ram. 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. As with any young growing animal, the weight gains of a Katahdin lamb increase as the protein and digestibility of the forage increases.

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