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. If you plan on going into the meat production business, its important to know the difference between types of sheep meat. Research has shown Dorper have good parasite tolerance or resilience rather than resistance. One of the oldest breeds of sheep, the Tunis is still a favorite breed for meat production. A ewes wool will pay her winter feed bill. Best Sheep for Milk: 7 Best Sheep Breeds for Milk - Savvy Farm Life Breeders often use less-expensive Katahdin ewes to initiate an upgrading program with registered Dorper as the final goal. Average weight for the Cheviot is 130 175 pounds. Katahdin Hair Sheep International Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Thanks, Noela. My wife and I feel theres no best breed, but rather which breed best fits your operation. The Dorper has a high rate of lambing and is tolerant of the arid conditions it was developed for in South Africa. Youll find these sheep to have an easy-going temperament, and they tend to produce leaner meat with even fat distribution. We have an 18-cell planned grazing system with 10,000 feet of electric fence and 5,000 feet of underground waterline on 35 acres. Dorper ram purchased from Juan Navarro of J.N. To learn more about how you can make money off of sheep, read my article What Do Sheep Produce? 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). Just like the Katahdin, you do not have to shear them as they shed their winter coat in the spring. A unique characteristic about the Dorper is that they do not breed seasonally, instead they are able to breed year-around. It is also exceptionally low-maintenance. An older, fat sheep is likely where the reputation of nasty mutton comes from. 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. We had the idea of crossing a Dorper with their 60 Katahdin ewes. Is there any way to contact him? They are excellent mothers. For example, we consider time spent worming, shearing, docking and trimming hooves as merely maintaining an operation. The carcass of the Cheviot tends to be plump and meaty, with just enough fat to produce a succulent meat. 7 year old Katahdin ewe . (I know, Im not a good farmer) Required fields are marked *. Question is this common? As hair sheep breeds become more popular, it will be important for breeders to ensure the future integrity of the breeds. The Dorper grows more wool but self-sheds annually. The first rams I purchased were of outstanding shedding ability. After 22 years they are well rooted in South Paris. This site is owned and operated by Wild Wire Media, LLC. Sure enough, hes been trimming hooves. I have no way of weighing him. Subsequent generations with higher percentage shed better and better although shedding is not a black and white thing. Your email address will not be published. The Katahdin breed was developed in the United States by Michael Piel. This breed is medium-sized and is hardy with a high-quality carcass. 2022 Cornell Small Farms. LMAO!!!! There was only the body fleece that needed shearing. Hair sheep dont bring as much on the slaughter market. He farms in the Finger Lakes area in upstate New York. Everything You Need to Know About Hair Sheep - Cross S Ranch They naturally shed their wool throughout the seasons. 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. However, since Dorpers can also be found further North in colder climates, I am sure that a lack of winter hardiness is not a trait applying to Dorper sheep. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to compare productive performance of F 1 Dp vs . The entire belly is black including areas between the legs, nose and forehead. They are also well suited to survive in the arid extensive regions of South Africa. Consider the pros and cons featured above before making your decision. Katahdin ewes weigh around 125-185 pounds, and rams average around 200 pounds. Carcass Composition of Hair Sheep Breeds and Crosses - Virginia Tech I could always pick out the dorper/katahdin crosses. May 23, 2011 #3 Beekissed Herd Master Joined Aug 3, 2008 Messages 3,634 Reaction score 5,536 Points 453 Location mountains of WV In fact, when we have pot roast from a culled ewe I can still fool my wife into thinking we had lamb for dinner. In a second study, Dorper or Dorset sired lambs were compared to Barbados Blackbelly x St. Croix or Katahdin lambs. Lamb comes from a sheep under the age of 1 year old. Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment. its ok to wean the lamb as soon as possible. In terms of temperament, cost, and maintenance, they are both excellent options. Mutton is meat that comes from mature sheep over the age of 1 year old. $300. Since these breeds are so adaptable, when found in colder climates, the hair sheep adapt by growing a thicker undercoat. I saw that the author is from Central Missouri, which is where we live. Parasite resistance and reproductive efficiency is very high, making the Katahdin a valued breed in the hair sheep industry. Hello! Ewes with young lambs show protective behavior and may raise front feet to strike dogs and cats when confronted. A common lamb on good pasture will perform better than Super Lamb on poor pasture. However, if thats what you are looking for then this breed might not be for you. In this area, hair sheep often sell higher than wool sheep. Hairbreeds have many positive traits that make them an ideal animal for small farms, homesteads, and of course, larger commercial farms. 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 . As mentioned earlier, the Katahdin breed has served us well. Ewes will weigh an average of 190 pounds, with rams reaching up to 300 pounds. Lambing %: Average lambing rate is between 150 and 250%. Get Shipping Quotes Opens in a new tab. Some European sheep genetics were incorporated into the African sheep to arrive at the existing hair breeds mentioned above. The SNPs in NOS2, TGFB2, and IL2RA genes were also observed with high genetic differentiation in the Katahdin and St. Croix vs Dorper analysis. JavaScript is disabled. Blackbellys often breed easily and well, usually birthing multiple lambs in one breeding. Most hair sheep breeds will lamb out of season without resorting to hormone therapy. 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. The lambing rate is not as high as other hair breeds. Lambing %: Lambing rates vary from 150% to 250% with 3 lambing every 2 years not uncommon. Thank you. As they say, the proof is in the pudding eating. 3 year old Dorper Katahdin Ram. Although they are one of the newest sheep breeds introduced in America, Katahdin sheep have quickly become a popular choice. mantap ! 1. His website address is www.whitecloversheepfarm.com. Well, at least Katahdins, St Croix and barbs. Coat & Color: Most of the individuals are white, but tan and spotted ones exist. Lambing Interval:It ranges from 6 to 8 months. As far as winter hardiness is concerned, I have my sheep out in zero degree weather. The flavor of the market lambs is in my opinion mostly influenced by the fact that these lambs are grass-fed. Ten percent of sheep breeds are hair breeds but ninety percent of these are found in tropical areas. Two varieties of Dorper Sheep were created: the black headed Dorper and an all white variety, the White Dorper sheep. The Dorper is a good example of this interbreeding. Nick. 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. Dorper lambs have amazing growth rates when young. Technical Abstract: We have members from Mexico to Northern Canada and have exported to Ecuador, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, United Kingdom, Chile, and Central America. Later on I found out that this was the faster route to accomplish shedding in the offspring. http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/Accursed/Smileys/waiting-bored-waiting-boy-smiley-em.gif, Birthing, Weaning, and Raising Young Sheep. All Rights Reserved | Website by Maple Creative, buildwithmaple.com. Plans for the future include a larger lambing/working shed-currently under construction, later lambing to reduce cold weather losses (10percentdeath loss for everything combined, stillborn, drowning in water tank, mashed, runts, etc. I have noticed that some lambs are showing caramel patches. Resistance to Internal Parasites in Lambs of Hair Sheep Composite Breeds Now you have a good idea of the pros and cons of both Dorper and Katahdin sheep, which one is right for your homestead? The Royal White produces more mea t than Katahdin sheep and Dorper sheep. or you can contact me at- He is 8 months old. Katahdins often breeding out of season. Dorper-sired. You have to pay to have it sheared once a year. This is a very old article and I do not have the contact info for John. It is a very hardy breed and is disease resistant. 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. 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. Breeding Season: They breed throughout the year. The mild and yet rich flavor of these culled ewes is remarkable and does not at all remind anyone of mutton. Reaching maturity earlier than many breeds, the Suffolk lamb will reach an average of 116 pounds by 100 days of age. I no longer sell at livestock auctions mainly because I dont have to. Being aware of the pros and cons of each breed will help you to make a better-informed decision over which one is right for your setup. Vigorous growers, the Icelandic produce lambs that are market-ready at 70-100 pounds in as little as 4-5 months. -. For example, cold wind and warm sun quickly result in herd finding shelter under conditions when woolen sheep remain in the open. This breed averages in maturity at around 175 220 pounds. Despite being a hairsheep, White Dorpers do not lack winter hardiness Photographer: Ulf Kintzel. They require less worming medications as a general rule. Suffolk ewes reach between 180-250 pounds, while rams can top out at 350 pounds. Some are calling these shedding sheep. Anymore (at least in Missouri) its the carcass quality that sets the price. 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. Originally publishedin sheep! I'll be using my Barbados Blackbelly ram on my BB ewes and also a few Kathadin ewes. The Katahdin hair sheep is the fastest growing breed in the United States. Average Birth Weight (Lbs): 7 lbs for small lambs, 4-5 lbs for twin lambs. oklahoma city farm & garden "dorper" - craigslist 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. However, they are suitable for markets requiring smaller carcass size. Hair coat becomes thick and long as cold weather sets in and the length decreases. Origin: This breed is sometimes referred to as Barbados Blackbelly, but it is different from the polled Barbados as a result of crosses with European breeds. Dorper Sheep vs. Katahdin Sheep. Why they are Crossed Most lambs are considered market-ready by 9-12 weeks. History tells us our present-day sheep are derived from the wild Mouflon sheep, among others, that grew coarse hair with a downy undercoat. Dorper vs Katahdin sheep? | Homesteading Forum Sheep: Dorper, White Dorper and Australian White Sheep Exports Signatures of selection in sheep and goats infected with Haemonchus He seems pretty big to me, but since he is my first sheep, I dont know what he should weigh. 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. At Kettle Haven Ranch we specialize in Katahdin x Dorper crosses for exceptional market lambs and for replacement breeding stock. Work with your states department of agriculture if youre interested in export sales. There are many great options for meat-producing sheep. When the price of raw wool fleece is below the cost of shearing the animal, this is not cost effective. These White Dorper female replacement lambs already look very much like purebred White Dorpers Photographer: Ulf Kintzel. They dont need to be sheared, they have a docile temperament making them easy to handle, and they are resistant to disease. It is now farmed in other areas as well, and is the second most common sheep breed in South Africa. Lambs can also take a little longer to reach their market weight than some other breeds of 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. He can be reached at 585-554-3313 or by e-mail at [email protected]. If I took the chance and had her bred would she be able to carry her lamb/s? In addition, shearing is not a requirement thereby reducing operational cost. In lambs, grain feeding versus grass-fed has a greater influence on flavor than the differences in breeds. 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. Our first lamb - Katahdin Dorper Cross - Farm Homestead About. i do not want to cull her from the flock! They are hardy and do well in range. Photo courtesy of:Dr. Stephan A. Wildeus. Today I have 1/2, 3/4, 7/8th, and 15/16th White Dorper sheep. University of South Dakota research found it requires 250-300 pounds of dry matter forage to produce each pound of wool. Dorper sheep Revolutionizing the meat sheep industry Making Natural Clothing Dye From Vegetables. Owning Goats vs. Sheep When selecting breeding stock, choose animals with good feet. Hi Joanne. 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. The Dorper has a high rate of lambing and is tolerant of the arid conditions it was developed for in South Africa. But the pasture littered with wool as I had feared just did not happen. This matters up here as our point of having hair sheep is to eliminate useless shearing. What You Need To Know, link to Goats vs Sheep: Profit, Care & Behavioral Differences, Best Sheep for Wool: Top 8 Sheep Breeds for Wool. Our spring lambs on pasture alone (17-20 percent protein and 65-72percentdigestible organic matter-DOM) will average 55-60 pounds. (Grabbing a Romanov thats been walking through cockleburs is like wrestling with a 130-pound cocklebur.). In winter puts on coat that is shed as temperatures increase. They are easy care sheep that divert most of their energy into producing meat instead of wool. Dorsets commonly produce twins and even triplets. The Katahdin is another great dual-purpose breed, producing on average 210 liters of milk per 210 day cycle. Many of the Dorper you see have been crossed with Katahdin sheep for several reasons. The breed was created by crossing Dorset and Blackheaded Persian sheep. Environmental Adaptability: Well adapted to hot, dry, humid and wet conditions. We normally worm our lambs 3-4 times a summer and the ewes not at all. Due to its heavily muscled carcass, the Texel sheep is a very popular meat breed. Some general information on hair sheep is found on the next page. Carefully breeding only the best stock will ensure that the extreme hardiness and good mothering ability remain. I have a question. Crossing with the Dorper led tothis larger hair breed. Sheep for sale: young grass-fed butcher ram lambs (Dorper & Katahdin) We let them be sheep and just help them along. Disposition & Mothering Ability: Breed is docile and calm with good flocking instinct. The majority of ewe lambs are sold as registered breeding stock; the majority of ram lambs are sold for slaughter. . Lambing %: Given an average lambing percent of 150 and 3 lambing in 2 years, Dorper will produce 2.25 lambs on an annual basis. These slaughter lambs sell comparable to pure Katahdin sheep per pound unless theyre full of cockleburs and briars. Posted 11/18/2019 21:09 (#7854689) Subject: Dorper Sheep vs. Katahdin Sheep. Katahdins tend to birth twins, with triplets and quadruplets occurring often with good flock management. Hi Qazi, These breeds are called hair sheep because the coat consists of hair more like that of cattle and many goats rather than wool. Market Weight/Live/Age: 110 lbs / 7 8 months, Professional Horticulture and Pest Services, Breed Directory- American Sheep Industry Association, Hair Sheep Production and Marketing Including Some Breeds, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, 1010 N. McDuff Avenue For us, the Katahdin sheep breed fits our operation and our philosophy quite well. In many cases, farmers are adding hair sheep to pastures with cattle to maximize efficiency and for parasite control. Katahdin x Texel. People in the Midwest or southern states see this and make a trip to Alberta to purchase a super ram. Myth #2: Hair sheep don't bring as much on the slaughter market. Are Llamas Dangerous? How about Field Corn! Many ethnic groups want a much different lamb or goat than has been marketed in the past. Weight Gain/Daily: 0.4 lbs daily with good nutrition. Ta Paul.5. No wool to deal with makes perfect economic sense. Coat & Color: Coat can be any color or color pattern. The Dorper carcass has a good conformation and fat distribution. Lamb meat is known to be more tender and tasty. Baby Sheep: What a Baby Sheep is Called & Other Fun Facts. 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. But what about the market lambs getting too fat? Royal White Sheep Breed - Learn Natural Farming Ewe's Dorper/Katahdin Cross | Mysite If this same time is spent building homestead fencing, watersystems, improving lambing or handling facilities, its improving an operation. They were called Africans at the time. So, what about littering the pasture with wool? In addition to being a smaller breed, the lambs tend to mature slowly, not reaching ideal market weight until around 2 years of age. What is the point of getting hairsheep when you end up shearing them? Feed conversion is good since these sheep fatten easily on less than ideal pasture and forage. Required fields are marked *. They were an excellent choice for this as they seldom bothered the pine trees. Dorper Sheep. 2022 Cornell Small Farms. Characteristics - St Croix Hair Sheep Breeders But the dorpers always have say ten % that need shearing still. This makes them one of the more profitable breeds to specialize in. Best guess is he is 175-200 lbs. We are currently using rams with high shedding scores, while culling heavily on production traits. Flock owners with less than 50 animals have a difficult time getting someone to shear unless they pool their animals with neighbors. Katahdins have hair and not wool, which means they are a low-maintenance breed that will shed their hair naturally. Check out my article Best Sheep for Wool: Top 8 Sheep Breeds for Wool. Environmental Adaptability: Withstand heat and cold well, and part of this adjustment to extremes is behavioral. Featured Listing. I think that we are asking for bloat. Dorpers grow a combination of hair and wool, and shed naturally meaning no shearing is required. After slaughter, all thats left is hide, manure and stomach contents. 109:265-275. They have woolier coats and are slower to shed (most of them). Katahdins tend to birth twins, with triplets and quadruplets occurring often with good flock management. The wool and hair comes mainly off in such small pieces that it is like a cow or a goat shedding you dont worry about their hair littering the pasture either. Instead, I get raving reports back and I never seem to have enough market lambs to make everyone happy. Bred sheep/ewes (Dorper and Katahdin), bred to a show ram. including sheepamong them an extra-special Dorper-Katahdin lamb named Mopple. 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 last time the ewe had triplets she would not take care of the tiny black one but at first she did.. but my husband ended up bottle feeding the last one born. If you combine all traits I have not found a better breed for a farming system based on pasture and direct marketing. Vet. Stoneheart Farm was established in 1994 by John and Doreen Simmons. Katahdin sheep and Dorper are bred as meat sheep breeds. The Confederacy precedes the establishment of Cornell University, New York state, and the United States of America. In our operation, that sheep breed is the Katahdin sheep. Your email address will not be published. HARDINESS Their main advantage is that they adapt well to hot humid climate where woolen breeds do not thrive well. He is a native of Germany and lives in the US since 1995. As well as a hand full of peanuts every day. Selling Price: $325.00 / Head. I have found that the Katahdin can be a little taller than many of the Dorper but then it will also depend on what bloodlines. Also, much of the flavor ( good or bad) comes from the fat. Non selective grazers that perform well under both extensive and intensive production systems. Dorper Sheep - Sheep Breed Series - YouTube We are in the process of installing another 10,000 feet of electric fence on 25 acres that will result in another nine paddocks. (A friend with Polypay and Katahdin sheep has had the same experience. Docking tails is unnecessary, although you still see some old timers that dock just because they always have. The Katahdin Sheep is a domestic breed developed in Maine in the United States and named after the highest peak in Maine, Mount Katahdin. Sheep are one of the most versatile producers when it comes to livestock animals. It should be kept in mind that performance varies greatly with genetic . ByBasil Bactawar, UF/IFAS Duval County Extension Service. While Hampshire sheep are seasonal breeders, they tend to have a longer breeding season than others. Dorper sheep do well in warm, arid climates, but can tolerate cold as well. Animal Breeding Abstracts. If you plan on raising lambs for meat, youll need to know everything that comes with taking care of baby sheep. Jacksonville, FL 32254. Tunis are solid breeders and excellent mothers. Thirty percent of the ewes were first-time lambers, having an average of 1.2 lambs/ewe. His information is given at the conclusion of the article, pasted below. The shedding process may take some getting used to but will not litter your pasture with wool Photographer: Ulf Kintzel. Half of the group thinks it is okay to feed hot sheep, the other half disagrees. Staking livestock to a rope and expecting them to clear vegetation is ineffective and can result in . Royal White Sheep: Characteristics, Uses, Origin - ROYS FARM Our experienced ewes averaged 2.1 lambs/ewe born with 1.9 weaned. You must log in or register to reply here. Dorpersare known for their fast weight gains as lambs. Several myths still surround hair sheep. 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. Dries Wiese, the owner and Studbreeder, was 9 years old when his father bought him his first . let me know! (Allardt) "Spike" is a 3 year old ram. Bred to produce less back fat, their meat is lean and flavorful. I really like all three breeds. Although the breed was created in the 1930s, it is still fairly new to the US. 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. ), more intense selection for increased body length and a ewe flock of around 160-175 ewes. Wondering What to Feed Sheep? The trend is now reversed. Sold all our cattle. Very interesting and informational! Coat & Color: Solid white or white with black head. 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. There were sequential 2-wk. We currently manage between 45-60 ewes per year with about 70% of our flock being registered. Demand for Dorper breed, and specifically the black head Dorper, is experiencing an unprecedented surge here in the USA. Ewes will weigh an average of 190 pounds, with rams reaching up to 300 pounds. The number of feedings can be reduced over time to twice a day by 3-4 weeks of age. If you are interested in bringing a herd of small livestock to your homestead, you will want to look into both sheep and goats. Dorper Vs Katadhin Sheep: Which Is Better For Your Farm? To showcase the commercial qualities of our animals, all breeding stock we sell comes directly from pasture, having received no special treatment. Kt ewes under low-input semiarid conditions of northern Mxico. daging domba sangat enak dan sangat kaya akan protein. Our paddocks are grazed for 5-7 days followed by 25-34 days of . 100 Dorper - Bred Ewes. The breed was created by crossing Dorset and Blackheaded Persian sheep. Special Notes The Dorper sheep are very hardy animals. The second reason I chose Dorper over St. Croix is desirability. 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. Effects of high heat load conditions on body weight, feed intake They like large groups of lambs on each farm, prefer solid colors, registered and must be enrolled in the scrapie program. Ewes typically reach sexual maturity by 7 months. Originating in South Africa, these lovable and attractive sheep tend to come with a lot more pros than cons. At that weight the fat cover did indeed get too much.