dorper vs katahdin
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. What You Need To Know, link to Goats vs Sheep: Profit, Care & Behavioral Differences, Best Sheep for Wool: Top 8 Sheep Breeds for Wool. The St. Croix breed is descended from the original West African hair sheep although some believe they are a cross breed of Criollo and Wiltshire White sheep. As a bit of trivia, the majority of cull ewes the U.S. exports go to the Mexico City area. Due to its heavily muscled carcass, the Texel sheep is a very popular meat breed. Bred to produce less back fat, their meat is lean and flavorful. A qualityregistered lamb will bring triple the fat lamb price. Hampshire sheep have a muscular and stocky build, and are comparative to the Suffolk in size. 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. 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. Some general information on hair sheep is found on the next page. Lambs can also take a little longer to reach their market weight than some other breeds of sheep. This, alongside their easy-going dietary needs, really cut down the cost of keeping them. Also, much of the flavor ( good or bad) comes from the fat. 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. As we train border collies for sheep and cattle trials and we need a few different types of sheep. Some of the ancestors of these breeds originated in Africa and were brought to the Caribbean Islands, Central America and northern South America during the 18th and 19th century. McKinney. 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. You can find out more about lambing Dorper sheep through the American Dorper Sheep Breeders Society. 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. Our spring lambs require 4-5 pounds of dry matter forage to produce each pound of gain. Since hair sheep dont have a heavy wool coat, they cant take the cold. This matters up here as our point of having hair sheep is to eliminate useless shearing. A Katahdin ewe will average between 140-180 pounds, while Dorper ewes will average 160-200 pounds. There are a few characteristics you will want to look for when choosing a meat-producing sheep. There are black headed Dorpers (most common) and white Dorpers (harder to find). When comparing weights, keep in mind we live in north central Missouri. Ron remembers raising wool sheep as a teenager. The St Croix are also quiet, but seem to be next on the ladder. In addition to being a smaller breed, the lambs tend to mature slowly, not reaching ideal market weight until around 2 years of age. Choosing breeding stock with this in mind can avoid this problem. Theyre too small to be of commercial value. While I cant speak for other hair breeds, Katahdin sheep are tough, hardy animals with eating habits more like that of a goat. There are three main reasons to raise hair sheep. They are also well suited to survive in the arid extensive regions of South Africa. Katahdin is probably the more economical choice, however, namely because they can produce both meat and milk. The Dorpers get so quiet and even a little lazy that the dogs really have to work hard to make them move much. Can you advise on the availability of a good ram and 10-12 ewe lambs this Spring. Katahdin can be used for both meat and milk, whereas Dorper sheep are only good for meat production. Looking forward to reply. The breed has a thick, well muscled carcass and extended period of fertility. Like the Dorper, Dorset ewes are able to breed year-round and are not limited to a typical Fall/Winter breeding season. That applies to purebred WD market lambs as well. That is normal. 4 1. However, they have been cross-bred with other breeds over the years to develop the modern breed we see today. 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. Good luck! 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. St. Croix Sheep have been used to develop other breeds such as the Royal White. This breed is also exceptionally hardy, able to thrive in both the cold, and the hot, humid climates in which many farmers struggle to. There was only the body fleece that needed shearing. Bred sheep/ewes (Dorper and Katahdin), bred to a show ram. What is worse, however, is the fact that there are breeders who do not select for shedding ability and for the show ring instead. American Blackbelly Breeders often use less-expensive Katahdin ewes to initiate an upgrading program with registered Dorper as the final goal. 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 ? Farmersville. A unique characteristic about the Dorper is that they do not breed seasonally, instead they are able to breed year-around. Did you know that Dorper sheep dont need to be sheared? If ewes are fed well, lambing rate approaches the higher end. Secondly at what age are you removing lambs from mothers . Feed conversion is good since these sheep fatten easily on less than ideal pasture and forage. The Katahdin hair sheep is the fastest growing breed in the United States. I have seen many Dorper X Katahdins which are small and the only sign they have Dorper in them is the fact that they have black heads, if they had been crossed with a white Dorper, one would assume that there was no Dorper in there at all. The only problem with colesterol is that the big pharma found a new drug to sell. The Dorper has a high rate of lambing and is tolerant of the arid conditions it was developed for in South Africa. As one of the most populous sheep breeds in America, the Suffolk is a popular choice for meat producers. Ewes will breed back before the lambs are weaned. The only things to consider include: The fact Katahdin sheep dont produce wool isnt necessarily a disadvantage. Do you have to go around picking it up out of the pasture? if any one would be interested in buying some good quality Dorpers check out my website MGDorpers.com it is comming out soon! This breed tolerates both heat and cold making them a good choice for most climates. Whether youre looking to be more self-sufficient or to make some income selling meat to local restaurants, raising sheep for meat can enable you to do both. We are interested purchasing Katahdin sheep and found this article very helpful. We may be partial to the breed, but were not raising a hobby flock. This is not a true hair sheep. Featured Listing. A type of hair breed, Katahdin sheep originate in the United States. Im sorry I cannot help you. These White Dorper female replacement lambs already look very much like purebred White Dorpers Photographer: Ulf Kintzel. This increases the risk of falls and injury, which can be expensive to fix. Three ewes needed assistance lambing (one got it, the other two didnt and lost their lambs), one of which was 8 years old. The Dorper has a high rate of lambing and is tolerant of the arid conditions it was developed for in South Africa. If you combine all traits I have not found a better breed for a farming system based on pasture and direct marketing. Though large in size, Hampshire sheep tend to be a docile and easy-going breed. The Blackhead Persian is a fat-rumped hair breed from the arid lands of the Middle East. I recently purchased 4 ram lambs for meat. Kt ewes under low-input semiarid conditions of northern Mxico. ), In fall 2000, we grazed our flock on cocklebur and waterhemp that followed an oat crop. If you plan on going into the meat production business, its important to know the difference between types of sheep meat. To appeal to ethnic buyers, it often requires a change in flock management. Hair sheep dont bring as much on the slaughter market. Average Birth Weight (Lbs): 7.5 lbs for single, 6.5 7 for twins, and less for triplets. 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.. However, as the challenge escalated, parasite resistance was greatest in St. Croix lambs, followed by Katahdin and Dorper lambs. Animal Breeding Abstracts. Origin: Developed in the Virgin Islands for crosses of West African hair sheep and Wiltshire Horn. The main questions to ask yourself to determine the answer are: Katahdin sheep come in multiple color varieties, whereas Dorper sheep are white and black. They reach sexual maturity early, and will remain fertile for a longer period of time than many other breeds. Demand for Dorper breed, and specifically the black head Dorper, is experiencing an unprecedented surge here in the USA. Katahdins tend to birth twins, with triplets and quadruplets occurring often with good flock management. 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. He farms in the Finger Lakes area in upstate New York. a From the review: Notter, g. 1978. Keep reading to learn more about the best sheep breeds for meat. Im very new here currently living in Virginia. Hi Qazi, The ewes produce vigorous, healthy, robust lambs that have a high survivability. The Confederacy precedes the establishment of Cornell University, New York state, and the United States of America. Due to their superior conformation and shedding characteristics, they have become one of the most popular breeds of sheep in the U.S. Later on I found out that this was the faster route to accomplish shedding in the offspring. 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. Updated: Monday, February 06, 2023 02:46 PM. Dorper's are by far the closest hair sheep to the wool breed. A large-framed, late-maturing breed will not have the necessary carcass quality at these weights, whereas Katahdin sheep or Dorpers will. Shear force values were greatest, tougher, for Dorset-sired than Dorper-sired or Katahdin lambs. The katahdin//dorper crosses are noticeably bigger than the pure katahdins. The outside temp is above 85* sheep are heaving and panting rapidly. Consider the pros and cons featured above before making your decision. I'd go with Dorper ram on Katahdin ewes. They are also highly resistant to many parasites that can become bothersome to other breeds of sheep. Suffolk ewes reach between 180-250 pounds, while rams can top out at 350 pounds. We also sell breeding stock locally. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. 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. They grow quickly and reach market weight early. However, if thats what you are looking for then this breed might not be for you. The Dorper sheep is a meat sheep breed. Icelandic Sheep are another popular choice for meat, with ewes weighing an average of 150 pounds at maturity, and rams averaging 200 pounds. Hairsheep breeds such as the Barbados Blackbelly and St.Croix are largely found in these tropical areas of the world. People in the Midwest or southern states see this and make a trip to Alberta to purchase a super ram. Mutton is meat that comes from mature sheep over the age of 1 year old. Lambing Interval:It ranges from 6 to 8 months. Dorpers DO NOT shed their coats as well and consistently as katahdins. All Rights Reserved | Website by Maple Creative, buildwithmaple.com. Blackbellys are often left unvaccinated due to their disease and parasite resistance (though of course, we recommend you do your research on the breed and talk to a vet about what they recommend for vaccinating). Lamb chops from Barbados Blackbelly x St. Croix lambs were similar to those from Dorset-sired, Dorper-sired, or Katahdin. 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." Thanks for the belly shaking laugh! Tunis are solid breeders and excellent mothers. Originally, the established buyers at auctions resisted hairsheep in general and they fetched lower prices in places like New Holland. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. daging domba sangat enak dan sangat kaya akan protein. One of the first breeds to be recognized for its commercial production, the rams can reach more than 250 lbs. You must log in or register to reply here. Suffolk grow wool continuously, and will need to be sheared annually. They are the generally more fertile in hot humid regions and show greater tolerance to parasites than woolen breeds. These are some of the best reasons to raise Katahdin sheep - though the list is by no means exhaustive! Twinning is common and triplets and quadruplets are not rare. It is more flighty than Dorper, Kathadin and St. Croix breeds. They grow quickly and reach market weight early. (Icelandic sheep grow a double coat.) Katahdins have hair and not wool, which means they are a low-maintenance breed that will shed their hair naturally. Two weeks later, the ewes hadnt lost any body condition. In 2001, my friend with Polypay paid $2 to shear $.50 worth of wool per animal. Westexas. I forgot to ask for notification via e-mail, so I am reposting my questions. I am trying to locate a couple of nice ewe lambs now. The second reason I chose Dorper over St. Croix is desirability. Do you want to earn multiple income streams from your flock. Katatdin x Dorper . The Dorper is a breed of sheep that originated in the south of Africa in the 1940's. It is the product of cross-breeding between the Dorset Horn and Blackhead Persian breeds. Sheep are one of the most versatile producers when it comes to livestock animals. Quite a few meat producers are finding better success with the hair breeds of meat sheep than with meat goats. Dorper lambs tolerated the infection more so than Suffolk (wool) lambs when fecal egg counts were low. There were sequential 2-wk. Origin: This breed originated from Maine, U.S. from crosses of woolen breeds mainly Suffolk and later Wiltshire Horn with hair sheep from the Virgin Islands. His father Barley ( in picture behind him) is a full blooded Dorper. Sure enough, hes been trimming hooves. Currently have a friend running dorper but was looking at katahdins since they are a little bigger. This information may be used to compare breeds of hair sheep. To be successful, you must sell quality, and I stress quality animals; send anything else to slaughter. This is inconvenient since you must pasture ram lambs separately from ewes to prevent unplanned pregnancies. They are hardy and do well in range. Katahdins tend to birth twins, with triplets and quadruplets occurring often with good flock management. The first rams I purchased were of outstanding shedding ability. When the price of raw wool fleece is below the cost of shearing the animal, this is not cost effective. Katahdin would adapt best under humid, warm conditions, while Dorper would be best suited for dry arid and semiarid rangeland conditions. i do not want to cull her from the flock! This ancient breed has thrived in warm climates, continued to produce twins and good carcass weights. November/December 2003 and regularly vetted for accuracy. keep checking it out! Katahdins often breeding out of season. Hair sheep breeds are growing in popularity as consumers look for economical ways to raise homestead meat animals. I have noticed that some lambs are showing caramel patches. In years past, 18-30 pound lambs sold well in Chicago for Jewish Passover. so so far we are separating her and letting the pus drain Most hair sheep breeds will lamb out of season without resorting to hormone therapy. Originally publishedin sheep! Some are calling these shedding sheep. Environmental Adaptability:They are adaptable to all climates. The breed is famous in the United States for its high performance and low maintenance. "Dorper sheep are barrel-shaped with a well-muscled back end. It is now farmed in other areas as well, and is the second most common sheep breed in South Africa. Get Shipping Quotes Opens in a new tab. The Dorper have a black head extending in the neck, with a white body. They require less worming medications as a general rule. We have all three breeds. Blackbellys have hair and not wool, making them a low-maintenance breed. including sheepamong them an extra-special Dorper-Katahdin lamb named Mopple. The Dorper sheep has gained popularity in the last decade for meat production, with ewes reaching a weight of 170-250 pounds, and rams up to 250 pounds. 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. The hair sheep breeds lamb easily in the pasture and the lambs gain weight rapidly and develop to maturity quickly. The first generation grows quite well due to the heterosis effect, but nearly always has a wool coat. They are easy care sheep that divert most of their energy into producing meat instead of wool. Hair sheep primer . Dorper ram purchased from Juan Navarro of J.N. Parasite resistance and reproductive efficiency is very high, making the Katahdin a valued breed in the hair sheep industry. Katahdin can be used for both meat and milk, whereas Dorper sheep are only good for meat production. Any of the sheep breeds thats considered to be one of the true hair sheep breeds has an advantage in that cockleburs, briars, stick-tights and so forth dont become entangled. We have a dispute between the members about feeding sheep after working them. Origin: This breed was developed or evolved on the Eastern Caribbean Island of Barbados. Breed is mainly free of wool and do not normally require shearing. They will stand on their hind feet like goats to strip any low hanging limbs of their leaves. Half of the group thinks it is okay to feed hot sheep, the other half disagrees. The Royal White produces more mea t than Katahdin sheep and Dorper sheep. Ulf, We saw their ad and went to look at their Dorper rams. 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. for info and videos along with books and much more! Stoneheart Farm was established in 1994 by John and Doreen Simmons. Arguments exist concerning the exact origin of the Barbados Blackbelly evidence is shown for both Africa or Barbados. ( From Buckler Farms near Granville TN) His mom is at least 50% dorper and Katahdin. I dont want him to get unhealthily fat. The Dorper carcass has a good conformation and fat distribution. This is a very good article to read and understand the secrets of Raising Katahdin Sheep. The cross breeding results in the best of both breeds but also in the benefits of heterosis, commonly known as hybrid vigor. There is no such thing as an ideal breed. They have woolier coats and are slower to shed (most of them). Dorper sheep do well in warm, arid climates, but can tolerate cold as well. . 46:131-143.. Making a Good Ewe Flock. You will find the occasional larger patch of wool in your pasture and you will definitely find wool and hair on the trees where the sheep rub. 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. 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. For more on the differences, plus potential pros and cons between the breeds, read on. Some Ewes shed coats after second lambing. Katahdins have generated a great deal of interest from all parts of North America. If you consider hairsheep like White Dorpers in the future dont forget to ask the breeder about the shedding ability of their flock! Mexicans prefer a larger lamb, and let nothing go to waste. He seems pretty big to me, but since he is my first sheep, I dont know what he should weigh. Dorset lambs, like the Suffolk and Dorper, mature quickly and are market-ready earlier than many other breeds. Fact: While its true that Barbados and St. Croix are small animals (ewes 80-110 pounds), few commercial breeders raise them. 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. He can be reached at 585-554-3313 or by e-mail at ulf@whitecloversheepfarm.com. I direct sell a great number of lambs. 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. its ok to wean the lamb as soon as possible. We just started raising Katahdins this year. $300. Compared to other breeds, these sheep are relatively new, dating back to the 1950s. The Katahdan tend to be a little more "active", in general not quite as docile, though many would disagree but they are still quiet. Sheep are like lawnmowers, while goats are more like Bush Hogs (for the uninitiated, that's the brand name for a machine designed to clear heavy brush). Dorper sheep have a distinctive appearance: black heads and white bodies. (Grabbing a Romanov thats been walking through cockleburs is like wrestling with a 130-pound cocklebur.). Crossing with the Dorper led tothis larger hair breed. Myth #2: Hair sheep don't bring as much on the slaughter market. Our flock is content to sleep outside in the coldest weather and will have unmelted snow on their backs like a wool animal. The Katahdin Sheep is a domestic breed developed in Maine in the United States and named after the highest peak in Maine, Mount Katahdin. 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, Cornell University is located on the traditional homelands of the Gayogoh:n. A caution when breeding is to choose the right size ram for the ewe. This article first appeared in the May/June 2010 Hobby Farms. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Suffolk ewes are excellent mothers and prolific breeders. Its also possible that some pieces of wool or hair remain along the back or on the hind quarters or arm pits. Weight Gain/Daily: 0.57 lbs under intensive production. Although they are one of the newest sheep breeds introduced in America, Katahdin sheep have quickly become a popular choice. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Market Weight/Live/Age: 80 110 lbs / 5.5 6 months. How do you collect wool from self-shearing sheep? The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Disposition & Mothering Ability: Breed is docile and calm with good flocking instinct. 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 sheep are exceptionally popular amongst both hobbyists and commercial homesteads. Dorper Sheep - Sheep Breed Series 22,946 views Mar 15, 2020 417 Dislike Share The Grass-fed Homestead 75.8K subscribers Shepherdess Tess talks about her Dorper sheep breeding program and how. 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. Katahdin x Lacaune. If youre grazing crop-field aftermath, their coat will pick up trash where a Katahdin wont. Your email address will not be published. Its also common to see animals of up to a year old climbing to the top of a big bale of hay. It improves from year one to year two of age but can again be reduced by external factors like disease or weight loss. Though the breed produces wool (and lanolin), it is known to have a particularly mild taste. Cheviots are easy to breed, meeting a 90% lambing average without assistance. 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. For example, cold wind and warm sun quickly result in herd finding shelter under conditions when woolen sheep remain in the open. Average weight for the Cheviot is 130 175 pounds. Hair sheep have some attributes that make them admirably suited to fill market niches or fit varying production systems in Florida. It is common to have ewes lambing twice per year. A year and many dollars later, they cant understand why the rams offspring doesnt grow any faster than the rest of their animals. The carcass of the Cheviot tends to be plump and meaty, with just enough fat to produce a succulent meat. Thank you. Like most of the sheep listed here, Texel lambs reach market size quickly, by 5-6 months.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'savvyfarmlife_com-leader-2','ezslot_10',109,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-savvyfarmlife_com-leader-2-0'); With an extended breeding season of nearly 5 months, Texel sheep are prolific breeders. They started with an idle, tired farm and through years of blood, sweat and tears have transformed it into a vibrant . Texel sheep do best in colder climates, as they are exceptionally cold-hardy and have been known to be sensitive to the heat. In lambs, grain feeding versus grass-fed has a greater influence on flavor than the differences in breeds. We both work off thefarm; therefore time is a commodity in short supply. Mostly Katahdin hair ewes exposed to Dorper and Katahdin bucks. History tells us our present-day sheep are derived from the wild Mouflon sheep, among others, that grew coarse hair with a downy undercoat. Mature Weight (Lb): Ewe = 170 200 (can be less than 170lb), Ram = 220 250. "Shearing the wool was tough," he recalls, but the price paid for wool nearly covered feed costs. Despite being a hairsheep, White Dorpers do not lack winter hardiness Photographer: Ulf Kintzel. Have good flocking instinct. This information may be used to compare breeds of hair sheep. 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. or you can contact me at- Their hair falls off naturally during the year, making them an easy breed to care for. 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. After being in the business of raising wool sheep of various kinds for two decades, I decided in 2005 to start with hair sheep. They also do well eating the vegetation that other species reject. Mature Weight (Lb): Ewe = 130 140 (Average is 136), Ram = 170 - 200. Purebred Dorper rams can reach a live-weight of 90-120 kg and ewes 50-80kg. I love lambs Does lambs has less cholesterol than goat? Although the breed was created in the 1930s, it is still fairly new to the US. 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. Check out my article Best Sheep for Wool: Top 8 Sheep Breeds for Wool. 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. Katahdin sheep and Dorper are bred as meat sheep breeds. We are currently using rams with high shedding scores, while culling heavily on production traits. We have just over 1200 breeding ewes & aim for around 2000 when things get better. By John Kirchhoff For many people, mentioning hair sheep evokes either I wouldnt have anything else or a No way would I have them response. The Cheviot sheep is best suited for northern, colder climates, and does not tolerate heat as well. Hi Mary. When selecting breeding stock, choose animals with good feet. Environmental Adaptability: Withstand higher heat and humidity than British sheep breeds. Katahdin ewes weigh around 125-185 pounds, and rams average around 200 pounds. If this same time is spent building homestead fencing, watersystems, improving lambing or handling facilities, its improving an operation. One needs to do a detail review of the information related to the hair breed one wishes to raise. He farms in the Finger Lakes area in upstate New York.
