Hi currently running flock of 600. 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. An older, fat sheep is likely where the reputation of nasty mutton comes from. I've seen some really nice Dorper/Katahdin crosses. 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. The mild and yet rich flavor of these culled ewes is remarkable and does not at all remind anyone of mutton. Ulf Kintzel owns and manages White Clover Sheep Farm (www.whitecloversheepfarm.com) in Rushville, NY where he breeds grass-fed White Dorper sheep. It is common to have ewes lambing twice per year. 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 is another great dual-purpose breed, producing on average 210 liters of milk per 210 day cycle. Four Barbados Blackbelly sheep arrived in the United States in 1904. Katahdins are awesome and productive mothers plus they are a very hardy breed and the Dorper will put more size on the meat sheep. Our young Katahdins can be difficult to move. Some general information on hair sheep is found on the next page. The Dorpers get so quiet and even a little lazy that the dogs really have to work hard to make them move much. As one of the most populous sheep breeds in America, the Suffolk is a popular choice for meat producers. For instance, they have extended breeding season, and can be used to produce lambs to be marketed when lamb prices are usually high thereby reducing marketing risks. 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. 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. Hair coat becomes thick and long as cold weather sets in and the length decreases. The Dorper is highly adaptable and does well in harsh conditions. Environmental Adaptability: Tolerant of both high and low temperatures. Because of their hair, they do not produce the lanolin that can lend gaminess to the meat, giving it a milder flavor. daging domba sangat enak dan sangat kaya akan protein. Origin: This breed was developed or evolved on the Eastern Caribbean Island of Barbados. Instead, I get raving reports back and I never seem to have enough market lambs to make everyone happy. I love lambs Does lambs has less cholesterol than goat? Have been buying in feed since the start of 2018. Shear force values were greatest, tougher, for Dorset-sired than Dorper-sired or Katahdin lambs. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Question is this common? 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. 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. for info and videos along with books and much more! Looking forward to reply. However, they have been cross-bred with other breeds over the years to develop the modern breed we see today. Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment. i want buy texel sheep unit so please tell how can buy it this breed. It is a very hardy breed and is disease resistant. The breed is famous in the United States for its high performance and low maintenance. What is the point of getting hairsheep when you end up shearing them? This behavior causes problems with maintaining desirable trees unless protection is provided. 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. There are many great options for meat-producing sheep. They like large groups of lambs on each farm, prefer solid colors, registered and must be enrolled in the scrapie program. Disposition & Mothering Ability: Ewes are docile with good mothering ability. You can check my blog at Merino sheep for sale. Can someone tell me a few of the pros and cons for both dorper sand katahdin. I direct sell a great number of lambs. Mature Weight (Lb): Ewe = 130 140 (Average is 136), Ram = 170 - 200. We have all three breeds. 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. When youre raising sheep for meat, the wool is a by-product. There are lots of Dorper breeders in NC also, as well as "commercial" crossbreeds: You can search this site by States to find Scrapie-free certified breeders of sheep and goats: Technical Abstract: They will stand on their hind feet like goats to strip any low hanging limbs of their leaves. There are black headed Dorpers (most common) and white Dorpers (harder to find). 2 are Katahdin and 2 are katahdin/dorper crosses. Average Birth Weight (Lbs): 7.5 lbs for single, 6.5 7 for twins, and less for triplets. He can be reached by e-mail at ulf@whitecloversheepfarm.com or by phoneduring calling hour specified on his answering machineat 585-554-3313. Average weight for the Cheviot is 130 175 pounds. Dorper sheep are exceptionally popular amongst both hobbyists and commercial homesteads. Katahdins are docile, medium-sized sheep; ewes weigh 125 to 185 pounds, rams 180 to 250 pounds. I sell a lot of culled ewes as roasts, ground meat, stew meat and various sausages. They do produce wool, and will need to be shorn annually. I would also be interested in bred young ewes. The outside temp is above 85* sheep are heaving and panting rapidly. This, alongside their easy-going dietary needs, really cut down the cost of keeping them. The phrases youll hear most often is either mutton or lamb. Originally, the established buyers at auctions resisted hairsheep in general and they fetched lower prices in places like New Holland. Dorper lambs have amazing growth rates when young. If youre grazing crop-field aftermath, their coat will pick up trash where a Katahdin wont. They are the generally more fertile in hot humid regions and show greater tolerance to parasites than woolen breeds. They were significantly more reasonably priced and for practical matters were the same. Coat & Color: Solid white or white with black head. We saw their ad and went to look at their Dorper rams. Thirdly how long after separation to market. 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. While weve missed out on export sales the last several years because of retaining ewes to increase flock numbers, Mexican buyers will be coming by this spring. They are also highly resistant to many parasites that can become bothersome to other breeds of sheep. Since Missouri has more Katahdin sheep than any other state, the majority of export animals come from here. 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. Considered to be the 2nd most popular breed of sheep in the US, the Dorset sheep is another solid meat-producer. These White Dorper female replacement lambs already look very much like purebred White Dorpers Photographer: Ulf Kintzel. Dorper Sheep. Check out my article Best Sheep for Wool: Top 8 Sheep Breeds for Wool. This breed is adaptable and can live in many different climates. Stoneheart Farm was established in 1994 by John and Doreen Simmons. They are attentive, protective, and make excellent mothers. Hair sheep breeds are growing in popularity as consumers look for economical ways to raise homestead meat animals. Katahdins have hair and not wool, which means they are a low-maintenance breed that will shed their hair naturally. Originally publishedin sheep! Crossbred individuals tend to be more vigorous, more fertile . In conclusion, based on RT and RR, resilience to high HLI conditions ranked St. Croix > Katahdin > Dorper, with lowest . Tunis are solid breeders and excellent mothers. LMAO!!!! In this area, hair sheep often sell higher than wool sheep. my ewe with CL has had her first batch of lambs last month and she is a really good mother! University of South Dakota research found it requires 250-300 pounds of dry matter forage to produce each pound of wool. While both breeds are exceptionally popular in the US, there are some differences between the two. The flocking instinct of hair animals generally isnt as good as wool breeds. Rams generally have horns. Their hair falls off naturally during the year, making them an easy breed to care for. We currently manage between 45-60 ewes per year with about 70% of our flock being registered. so so far we are separating her and letting the pus drain Thank you. ( From Buckler Farms near Granville TN) His mom is at least 50% dorper and Katahdin. Most hair sheep breeds will lamb out of season without resorting to hormone therapy. Mexicans prefer a larger lamb, and let nothing go to waste. I have a pet ram lamb, texel dorset cross I was told. Black color covers belly, inside legs and thighs and extends up to the neck. He seems pretty big to me, but since he is my first sheep, I dont know what he should weigh. Katahdins often breeding out of season. In Canada, Katahdin sheep commonly gain well over a pound per day. The Dorper is a good example of this interbreeding. They are excellent foragers. Here is a list of the top 10 sheep breeds for meat:if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'savvyfarmlife_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_0',121,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-savvyfarmlife_com-medrectangle-3-0'); Sheep are one of the most versatile livestock animals you can find when it comes to the number of different products they are able to produce. A caution when breeding is to choose the right size ram for the ewe. However, in older hairsheep the flavor is still impressive due to the genetic factor. I would love to get in touch with the author personally. Benefits of This Breed The Dorper are preferred for their excellent feed utilisation and conversion: they don't need shearing, crutching and mulesing, and they are disease resistant. The ability of this breed to put grass into weight gain is remarkable. 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. i do not want to cull her from the flock! I'll be using my Barbados Blackbelly ram on my BB ewes and also a few Kathadin ewes. Half of the group thinks it is okay to feed hot sheep, the other half disagrees. I have a very small Dorper ewe, she is 7 months old but very small. Dries Wiese, the owner and Studbreeder, was 9 years old when his father bought him his first . Many ethnic groups want a much different lamb or goat than has been marketed in the past. The Confederacy precedes the establishment of Cornell University, New York state, and the United States of America. My friend also mentioned his Katahdin-Dorper lambs are much fatter when born than Polypays. Crossing with the Dorper led tothis larger hair breed. Many Greeks eat lamb for Easter, which is not always the same date as the traditional Easter. Can you advise on the availability of a good ram and 10-12 ewe lambs this Spring. Katahdins tend to birth twins, with triplets and quadruplets occurring often with good flock management. Dorper and Katahdin are medium size breeds. 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. Twinning is common and triplets and quadruplets are not rare. 2022 Cornell Small Farms. One of the first breeds to be recognized for its commercial production, the rams can reach more than 250 lbs. $300. Lambing %: Lambing rates vary from 150% to 250% with 3 lambing every 2 years not uncommon. We have a dispute between the members about feeding sheep after working them. Just like the Katahdin, you do not have to shear them as they shed their winter coat in the spring. Unfortunately, as the percentage of Dorper increases, more wool is found in their coat and some animals lose some of their shedding ability. 1999. They require less worming medications as a general rule. After 22 years they are well rooted in South Paris. 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. Because of their hair, like the Dorper they do not produce lanolin which will give their meat a milder taste. Im sorry I cannot help you. "Dorper sheep are barrel-shaped with a well-muscled back end. 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. We began our Katahdin Sheep herd with non-registered sheep but have added registered Katahdin ewes to our farm. The percentage of 15/16 is considered purebred. Purebred Dorper rams can reach a live-weight of 90-120 kg and ewes 50-80kg. He farms in the Finger Lakes area in upstate New York. Nitrogen retention by lambs fed oscillating dietary protein concentrations. Just remember that Dorpers do have multiple births.. we raise some dorpers and they start off with the first time lambing with twins then after that triplets. Weight Gain/Daily: 0.4 lbs daily with good nutrition. http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/Accursed/Smileys/waiting-bored-waiting-boy-smiley-em.gif, Birthing, Weaning, and Raising Young Sheep. 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. 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. The breed has a thick, well muscled carcass and extended period of fertility. May-June lambs on pasture alone (10-13percentprotein and 60-65percent DOM) will average 45 pounds. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Since todays hair sheep breeds are developed from hardy ancestors, they are considered easy keepers because they have a natural resistance to disease and parasites. The Dorper has a high rate of lambing and is tolerant of the arid conditions it was developed for in South Africa. If you are interested in bringing a herd of small livestock to your homestead, you will want to look into both sheep and goats. Hi Qazi, Jacksonville, FL 32254. 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. Cornell University is located on the traditional homelands of the Gayogoh:n (the Cayuga Nation). They reach sexual maturity very early, with ewes able to breed between 7 to 9 months of age. When I look out in the paddock it looks like hell on earth but at the same time beautiful. Best guess is he is 175-200 lbs. We both work off thefarm; therefore time is a commodity in short supply. Katahdins are medium size, hardy, low-maintenance, and have a high-quality carcass weight. Lambing %: Approximately 125%, exceeding 200% with subsequent lambing. In California prices for hair sheep have surpassed prices for wool sheep and in New Holland they are catching up. If this same time is spent building homestead fencing, watersystems, improving lambing or handling facilities, its improving an operation. In terms of lambing, youll find Katahdins mostly give birth to multiple lambs. 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. Fact: While its true that Barbados and St. Croix are small animals (ewes 80-110 pounds), few commercial breeders raise them. My friend used to manage a flock of purebreds of both breeds and crosses. There is no such thing as an ideal breed. We normally worm our lambs 3-4 times a summer and the ewes not at all. Get Shipping Quotes Opens in a new tab. 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 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. Lambing %: Average lambing rate is between 150 and 250%. Ewes will weigh an average of 190 pounds, with rams reaching up to 300 pounds. We figured the combination would be a meatier sheep." They bought the ram in 1996 and some ewes the following spring. The Katahdin breed is an easy to care for, meat type sheep, naturally tolerant of climatic extremes and capable of high performance in a wide variety of environments. While they always have access to a wind break when the wind howls, they are not being housed with the exception of those that lamb during the winter. Bosnians want 60-pound animals while Muslims often prefer 60-80 pound animals. At 90 days, weve had November-December lambs on pasture, hay and whole grain (corn or milo) average 75 pounds. You can find out more about lambing Dorper sheep through the American Dorper Sheep Breeders Society. We let them be sheep and just help them along. There are three main reasons to raise hair sheep. . Thanks, Noela. Market Weight/Live/Age: 60 80 lbs / 9 month. This matters up here as our point of having hair sheep is to eliminate useless shearing. 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. They will definitely get too fat. Crossing these breeds with woolen breeds for efficient meat production does hold some potential.