Did you know that Dorper sheep dont need to be sheared? Market Weight/Live/Age: 60 80 lbs / 9 month. I used to want a Dorper cross over Katahdin but finally got to see the results of this cross and was not very impressed with the results. Dorper - Wikipedia 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 ? The Kasteel White Dorper Stud farm lies in an arid area of the Republic of South Africa, called the Great Karoo. Environmental Adaptability: Withstand higher heat and humidity than British sheep breeds. However, in older hairsheep the flavor is still impressive due to the genetic factor. To learn more about how you can make money off of sheep, read my article What Do Sheep Produce? It is raised mainly for meat production. This site is owned and operated by Wild Wire Media, LLC. Due to its heavily muscled carcass, the Texel sheep is a very popular meat breed. A ewes wool will pay her winter feed bill. Half of the group thinks it is okay to feed hot sheep, the other half disagrees. It is a very hardy breed and is disease resistant. Required fields are marked *. About - stoneheartfarm The Dorper is a good example of this interbreeding. 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. Hair sheep breeds simply shed their hair covering and fleecy undercoat when the weather warms. They require less worming medications as a general rule. Ewes with young lambs show protective behavior and may raise front feet to strike dogs and cats when confronted. As mentioned earlier, theres no price discount for Katahdin sheep or Dorper sheep in central Missouri. Thank you. They are prolific breeders as well, often producing twins. These are some of the best reasons to raise Katahdin sheep - though the list is by no means exhaustive! This information is important to producers and extension agents with an interest in hair sheep. The breeder from whom I purchased the lambs said she is breeding in dorper with the katahdins to "beef" them up a little. I have a very small Dorper ewe, she is 7 months old but very small. They will definitely get too fat. 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. This behavior causes problems with maintaining desirable trees unless protection is provided. ), In fall 2000, we grazed our flock on cocklebur and waterhemp that followed an oat crop. I love lambs Does lambs has less cholesterol than goat? Most hair sheep breeds will lamb out of season without resorting to hormone therapy. We are in the process of installing another 10,000 feet of electric fence on 25 acres that will result in another nine paddocks. However, they have been cross-bred with other breeds over the years to develop the modern breed we see today. Though not year-round breeders, Tunis often breed out of season, with the occasional lamb (or two) born in late Summer / Fall. Check out my article Best Sheep for Wool: Top 8 Sheep Breeds for Wool. If I took the chance and had her bred would she be able to carry her lamb/s? 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. I think that we are asking for bloat. Sheep and cattle have different grazing needs and preferences, and the sheep will clean up the growth that doesnt appeal to the cows. Choosing breeding stock with this in mind can avoid this problem. What is the point of getting hairsheep when you end up shearing them? Like most of the sheep listed here, Texel lambs reach market size quickly, by 5-6 months. The trend is now reversed. Dorper sheep originated in South Africa and were the result of crossing Dorset Horn with Blackheaded Persian sheep. In addition, there is almost no incidence of flystrike with hair sheep breeds. For the Katahdin vs Dorper analysis (Table 1), 8 SNPs under selection were observed in SOCS2, NOS2, TGFB2 and IL2RA genes within OAR3, 11, 12 and 13, respectively. Katahdin x Texel. Have been buying in feed since the start of 2018. Crossing these breeds with woolen breeds for efficient meat production does hold some potential. i want buy texel sheep unit so please tell how can buy it this breed. This breed was imported in the US in 1904 and was crossed with Mouflon (wild sheep), Rambouillet and other European breeds to produce what is known as American Blackbelly. Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment. In this area, hair sheep often sell higher than wool sheep. They can harbor significant worm populations, yet not suffer the same effects a wool animal would. When the price of raw wool fleece is below the cost of shearing the animal, this is not cost effective. The major disadvantage is that they grow slower and produce a lighter weight carcass than most breeds of European origin. 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. (Grabbing a Romanov thats been walking through cockleburs is like wrestling with a 130-pound cocklebur.). Average Birth Weight (Lbs): 7 lbs for small lambs, 4-5 lbs for twin lambs. (Allardt) "Spike" is a 3 year old ram. 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. Environmental Adaptability: Tolerant of both high and low temperatures. Breed ideal for pasture lambing and grass/forage based management systems. Continue with Recommended Cookies. its ok to wean the lamb as soon as possible. Originally publishedin sheep! Research has shown Dorper have good parasite tolerance or resilience rather than resistance. I dont want him to get unhealthily fat. He can be reached by e-mail at ulf@whitecloversheepfarm.com or by phoneduring calling hour specified on his answering machineat 585-554-3313. The Katahdins in the study had a consistently less barber pole worm infestation rate compared to the Dorper and Dorset crosses. Since Missouri has more Katahdin sheep than any other state, the majority of export animals come from here. I saw that the author is from Central Missouri, which is where we live. Katahdin x Lacaune. Hope this helps! Many Greeks eat lamb for Easter, which is not always the same date as the traditional Easter. 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. Good set of ewes. HARDINESS 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. The customers, including the many ethnic customers, caught up and appreciate the milder flavor of hairsheep. The Dorper carcass has a good conformation and fat distribution. The low maintenance qualities of Katahdins allow us the time to do so. As a result, the Katahdin is the most common hair sheep in America. Dorpersare known for their fast weight gains as lambs. His information is given at the conclusion of the article, pasted below. Because of the wool, the Icelandic sheep do need to be sheared once to twice per year. It is now farmed in other areas as well, and is the second most common sheep breed in South Africa. They are the generally more fertile in hot humid regions and show greater tolerance to parasites than woolen breeds. Bred sheep/ewes (Dorper and Katahdin), bred to a show ram. Katahdin Sheep work very well in a variety of production situations as a low-maintenance, easy care sheep. You can also use them for multiple income streams thanks to their excellent meat and milk production. Just like to make a comment. Work with your states department of agriculture if youre interested in export sales. Dorper Sheep Breed - Everything You Need to Know - Domestic Animal Breeds Some Ideas About Crossbreeding Sheep | Oklahoma State University May 23, 2011 #3 Beekissed Herd Master Joined Aug 3, 2008 Messages 3,634 Reaction score 5,536 Points 453 Location mountains of WV Flock owners with less than 50 animals have a difficult time getting someone to shear unless they pool their animals with neighbors. Typically, the 75 percent Dorper crosses will exhibit the Dorper coloration and conformation. FAQs - American Dorper Sheep Breeders' Society The Katahdin sheep breed was developed in Maine to help clear brush in powerline corridors. Katahdin Dorper The Dorper is a mutton breed of hair sheep developed in the 1930s. Environmental Adaptability: Withstand heat and cold well, and part of this adjustment to extremes is behavioral. Disposition & Mothering Ability: Breed is docile and calm with good flocking instinct. We are currently running 130 registered ewes with 10 commercial ewes that will be dispersed this year. 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. Some European sheep genetics were incorporated into the African sheep to arrive at the existing hair breeds mentioned above. Good luck! 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. We had the idea of crossing a Dorper with their 60 Katahdin ewes. The ewes produce vigorous, healthy, robust lambs that have a high survivability. Everything You Need to Know About Hair Sheep - Cross S Ranch Dorset lambs, like the Suffolk and Dorper, mature quickly and are market-ready earlier than many other breeds. Anymore (at least in Missouri) its the carcass quality that sets the price. Westexas. 3 year old Dorper Katahdin Ram. Ewes will breed back before the lambs are weaned. Today I have 1/2, 3/4, 7/8th, and 15/16th White Dorper sheep. We are fortunate that buyers for the large ethnic market in St. Louis often attend sales. Dorset lambs, like the Suffolk and Dorper, mature quickly and are market-ready earlier than many other breeds. Dorper Vs Katadhin Sheep: Which Is Better For Your Farm? Are Llamas Dangerous? Of the ewe lambs exposed, 95 percent gave birth at the age of 11-13 months. Can you advise on the availability of a good ram and 10-12 ewe lambs this Spring. Sure enough, hes been trimming hooves. In South Africa, the Dorper is likewise most commonly found in arid and semi . 13 Hair Sheep Breeds You Should Know About - The Homesteading Hippy 3 year old Dorper Katahdin Ram - farm & garden - by owner - sale 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. The Dorpers get so quiet and even a little lazy that the dogs really have to work hard to make them move much. These slaughter lambs sell comparable to pure Katahdin sheep per pound unless theyre full of cockleburs and briars. 2022 Cornell Small Farms. Our spring lambs on pasture alone (17-20 percent protein and 65-72percentdigestible organic matter-DOM) will average 55-60 pounds. Other than a few lambs for Hispanic weddings, we sell our slaughter animals through the local auction barn. In our operation, that sheep breed is the Katahdin sheep. What is worse, however, is the fact that there are breeders who do not select for shedding ability and for the show ring instead. Tunis sheep are able to thrive in a variety of climates, and tolerate both heat and cold well. 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. or you can contact me at- There are three main reasons to raise hair sheep. Katahdin Sheep - Kiko and Boer Goats 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. Nick. Reaching maturity earlier than many breeds, the Suffolk lamb will reach an average of 116 pounds by 100 days of age. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. The Dorper and the Katahdin were derived from very different types of hair sheep. In addition to being a smaller breed, the lambs tend to mature slowly, not reaching ideal market weight until around 2 years of age. Twinning is common and triplets and quadruplets are not rare. As far as winter hardiness is concerned, I have my sheep out in zero degree weather. You will want to take into account the mature size of the animal (you can expect to yield 40% of an animals live weight in meat), the quality of meat, and whether it will tolerate your climate. Interested in raising sheep for wool? The Dorper has a high rate of lambing and is tolerant of the arid conditions it was developed for in South Africa. 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. Relative resistance of Dorper crossbred ewes to gastrointestinal nematode infection compared with St. Croix and Katahdin ewes in the southeastern United States. Demand for Dorper breed, and specifically the black head Dorper, is experiencing an unprecedented surge here in the USA. Thanks for the belly shaking laugh! 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. Tunis are solid breeders and excellent mothers. Hair Sheep Breeds - The Right Choice for You? - Countryside The leather from hair sheep grain is finer than the leather from wool breeds and brings in a larger amount of money. Originally, the established buyers at auctions resisted hairsheep in general and they fetched lower prices in places like New Holland. 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. Best Meat Cross-Breed with Katahdin Ram - Permies Breed is mainly free of wool and do not normally require shearing. Despite being a hairsheep, White Dorpers do not lack winter hardiness Photographer: Ulf Kintzel. Early maturing Terminal cross lambs. They are attentive, protective, and make excellent mothers. (I know, Im not a good farmer) That is normal. The carcass of the Cheviot tends to be plump and meaty, with just enough fat to produce a succulent meat. Parasite resistance and reproductive efficiency is very high, making the Katahdin a valued breed in the hair sheep industry. 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. Katahdin Hair Sheep | Successful Farming In this useful guide, youll discover the pros and cons of both Dorper and Katahdin sheep, alongside advice on choosing the best type for your farm or homestead. Sheep are one of the most versatile producers when it comes to livestock animals. The best genetics wont keep an animal from starving to death. He seems pretty big to me, but since he is my first sheep, I dont know what he should weigh. Katahdins tend to birth twins, with triplets and quadruplets occurring often with good flock management. This article first appeared in the May/June 2010 Hobby Farms. Crossbred individuals tend to be more vigorous, more fertile . Therefore, the aim of the present study was to compare productive performance of F 1 Dp vs .