Croix sheep are the most parasite resistant breed, so why don't I raise them on my farm? After being in the business of raising wool sheep of various kinds for two decades, I decided in 2005 to start with hair sheep. Pros: Sheep tend to be calm and affectionate (as long as you stick with female or neutered male sheep). van@cavenet.com and my phone (You're sitting there nodding in agreement, arent you?). weaned wether lambs every spring and butchers them around November. Katahdins are a cross between the hair sheep (St. Croix) that Piel imported from the Caribbean and the British sheep breeds (primarily Suffolk) that he had on his farm. To be honest, every breed has it's pros and cons, and Dorper vs. St Croix is not different . My primary occupation is in business management. There is also the possibility of shearing sheep and selling wool. Even though I feed well, they will always You can find out more about lambing Dorper sheep through the American Dorper Sheep Breeders Society. Over time, Caribbean Hair sheep became well adapted to the heat and humidity of their environment. Dorper sheep are exceptionally popular amongst both hobbyists and commercial homesteads. This video describes why I raise Dorper sheep instead of St. Croix sheep as a meat production breed.Join my Newsletter: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessNWSLTRFOLLOW MY INSTAGRAM: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessIG -the Shepherdess0:00 Raising Dorper Sheep1:36 Dorper vs St. Croix Sheep Size2:50 The Best Sheep Breed for Meat 4:00 Dorper Sheep Bring Nearly 1 MILLION5:05 How I Manage Parasites on My Sheep Farm6:00 Greg Judy Farms St. CroixIn this video:The best sheep breed for meatMicro Ranching for Profitsheep farming in the USADorper SheepMeat SheepSt. Sheep production does not require elaborate facilities and equipment. These sheep are broke to hot wire and being moved every 2 days. I was also told that St Croix are more. The carcass weight on a pure St. Croix sheep is not suitable for commercial (meat sales) production. A major con of living in St. Croix is the unreliable electricity and cell coverage. Brandon says. Breeding stock is selected under rigorous criteria, including parasite resistance, hair coat, growth characteristics on grass alone and general thriftiness. 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. St. Croix sheep are excellent foragers and very easy keepers. Sheep, however, cannot simply be parked in the shed once theyre done dining. : Did you know Accountant Mike is a reality star? It is bred as non-fat tailed sheep for top meat production. Compared to other breeds, these sheep are relatively new, dating back to the 1950s. perspective). Katahdin can be used for both meat and milk, whereas Dorper sheep are only good for meat production. Can anyone help me with pros and cons? Sheep can help the quality of your lawns. Sheep Nutrition Guide: Sheep Feed Requirements Per Day, Our Weaving Loom Guide (everything you need to know), Sheep Trailer Options (choosing the best kind for you). The majority of ewe lambs are sold as registered breeding stock; the majority of ram lambs are sold for slaughter. My email is, St. Croix Sheep Read more and see the photo gallery here. The sheep and I (Lynne Vanderlinden) live in Cave Junction (extreme SW), Oregon, outside of Grants Pass. Over time, "so so" infertile fields can become fairly rich. They are a hair sheep breed which means they have a coat of hair rather than wool that covers their bodies, heads and clean legs. Croix sheep are the most parasite resistant breed, so why don't I raise them on my farm? After slaughter, all thats left is hide, manure and stomach contents. Our spring lambs require 4-5 pounds of dry matter forage to produce each pound of gain. Today, there are several landrace populations within this breed family in the Caribbean. document.write(OT); 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 rely on the support of our members, grants, and donations from the public to raise the $700,000 a year needed to maintain our conservation work with rare breeds of farm animals. In the 1970's, the Wiltshire Horn, a shedding breed from England, was introduced. OT=""; This may be due to the fact that wool can hide a lot of rib bones and other defects, while with a hair sheep what you see is what you get. $14.95, Copyright 2020 | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | PO BOX 477, 33 Hillsboro St, Pittsboro, NC 27312 |. The best genetics wont keep an animal from starving to death. Weve found that while genetics play an important role in weight gains, flock management, parasite control, forage quality and forage availability seem to be more important when it comes to the bottom line. Animals dont grow as fastbut dont need to with milder winters and longer growing season. This, alongside their easy-going dietary needs, really cut down the cost of keeping them. (A friend with Polypay and Katahdin sheep has had the same experience. In terms of lambing, youll find Katahdins mostly give birth to multiple lambs. Twice a year my friend with Polypays shows up at work doubled over as he shuffles around in pain. I saw that the author is from Central Missouri, which is where we live. ST. Their browsing ability makes them useful for land management, including mowing grass in orchards and the control of invasive pest plants. . For more on the differences, plus potential pros and cons between the breeds, read on. Sheep, however, cannot simply be parked in the shed once they're done dining. Great for a homestead, as I have witnessed first hand over a 3 year period. of Grants Pass. 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. Libyans prefer old worn out buck goats for their stronger flavor. Because of this behavior, and the mild temperament of the Boz, I was able to raise . Do you want to earn multiple income streams from your flock. DOWNLOAD MY FREE Sheep Farming E-book: https://bit.ly/SheepEBOOKSt. St. Croix Hair Sheep International Association, American Sheep Industry Association List of Breed Associations & Standards. You may be surprised to learn it's easy to train sheep. Dorper Vs Katadhin Sheep: Which is better for your homestead? broke, don't fix it". When comparing weights, keep in mind we live in north central Missouri. Like many island nations, St. Croix struggles with power outages, which can disrupt daily life and be a nuisance. https://dorpersheep.org/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2022-Mid-America-Dorper-Sale-Report-1.pdf?fs=e&s=cl. St. Thomas - to many tourists, crime and dirty on the positve side - Magens Bay Fact: In central Missouri, raising sheep for wool has been a losing proposition for a number of years. Ive seen Shropshire being used to keep weeds and grass down in Christmas tree plantations. If Bowdridge can figure out the genetic marker that allows St. Croix to be immune from this parasite, he could help the entire sheep population of America. Image via Shutterstock. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like Fine Wool Characteristics, Advantages of Fine Wool Breeds, Disadvantages of Fine Wool Breeds and more. Required fields are marked *, Get access to the entire library, Pioneer's only discounts, and live aftershow chats! Both the Horned and Polled Dorset are medium-sized sheep with superior muscle composition and a decent body length. this breed and its suitability for you, or if you already have them and Search Island-wide Listings Here! In trying to reverse that trend, the Country Boy and I have grown more cautious and methodical. Additionally, cell phone coverage can be spotty in some remote areas of the island. Today I am going to talk about why I raise Dorper sheep instead of St. Croix sheep, despite the fact that St. Croix would seem to be a better fit for my climate. I would love to get in touch with the author personally. Im sorry I cannot help you. This makes them one of the more profitable breeds to specialize in. While Im sure Ill rile a lot of Dorper breeders, Ive seen too many that had been sheared before a sale, which defeats the purpose of a hair animal. Hi, and welcome to my website. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Katahdin Sheep Origin. The Meatmaster is a composite sheep breed in South Africa. . Raising Sheep Has Some Cons. I believe that passion is what largely fuels this community. We may be partial to the breed, but were not raising a hobby flock. St. Croix sheep are known for high fertility, and ewe lambs become fertile at about six months of age. Decision-making is an art and a science. They dont need to be sheared, they have a docile temperament making them easy to handle, and they are resistant to disease. To showcase the commercial qualities of our animals, all breeding stock we sell comes directly from pasture, having received no special treatment. Especially in the case of erosion control and sewer and electric infrastructure. 2 - Cultural Perspective (and a brief history lesson) Prior to deciding on St. Croix we entertained the idea of teaching internationally and really liked the idea of offering our children (two boys 9 and 7) a broader cultural perspective. For registered breeding stock, permanent wooly fibers are a no-no. We normally worm our lambs 3-4 times a summer and the ewes not at all. Passion for the outdoors. The sheep and I of Grants Pass. Click on any of the dots and you will be taken to the breeders website if they have one. Rather than stay in a group, they will scatter in all directions like a covey of quail. He swears they're the best organic weed eaters he's ever used. Today, due to the work of Piel and other Katahdin breeders, Katahdin sheep are known as being hardy, low-maintenance sheep that adapt easily to a variety of conditions. - Unlike my goats, 228 views. However, they have the same sweet faces and disposition of Saanen goats. 80 pounds at 90 days can be expected. raise a lamb from birth to market weight, even though you get a better The St. Croix sheep are a hair sheep breed which means they grow a fine coat of hair in the autumn to winter months rather wool and it is shed each spring time. meat-to-bone ratio. it wasn't foot rot, it was prolapse, or sheer stupidity (let's lay under Our young Katahdins can be difficult to move. Three ewes needed assistance lambing (one got it, the other two didnt and lost their lambs), one of which was 8 years old. Bosnians want 60-pound animals while Muslims often prefer 60-80 pound animals. Both males and females are horned, sporting two, four and occasionally six horns. I've been told that Dorper grow faster but are open to parasites. The carcass weight on a pure St. Croix sheep is not suitable for commercial (meat sales) production. 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. Three groups of sheep are managed separately: 1) breeding and pregnant ewes and rams; 2) lambing and lactating ewes and lambs; and 3) growing lambs (market lambs and replacements). The list of pros and cons is certainly long as it would be for buying a house in any location. Infect a St. Croix sheep with this disease and they brush it off like the common cold. No need for shearing and tail-docking. Learn More, Questions or comments? Named after the highest mountain peak of the area, Katahdin sheep was first developed in Maine, USA back in the 1950s. The Teeswater has a lean meat with a good meat to bone ratio and light bone. The St. Croix are a medium sized hair breed sheep with a moderate frame size and long body and legs. As opposed to lawnmowers, when they are fully grown, they can be butchered and either sold or served for dinner. The first generation grows quite well due to the heterosis effect, but nearly always has a wool coat. Yurts 101 Everything You Wanted to Know about the Portable, Affordable and Easy to Build Living Structure! Pros and Cons, https://dorpersheep.org/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2022-Mid-America-Dorper-Sale-Report-1.pdf?fs=e&s=cl. rabbits. Caribbean Hair sheep were developed from West African hair sheep and a few European wooled sheep that were brought to the Caribbean beginning in the 1600s. Cons of Living in St.Croix 1. Washington 99117. For several years weve had Romanov/Katahdin crosses. Generally, hair breeds are more heat tolerant than wool breeds. This is a very good article to read and understand the secrets of Raising Katahdin Sheep. If youre grazing crop-field aftermath, their coat will pick up trash where a Katahdin wont. - No docking, unless If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Thinking about 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. Ewes often produce twins and have plenty of milk to raise them. RE/MAX can help! Making smart, well-researched decisions is what allows us to pursue our particular passion in a sustainable, fiscally responsible way. I'm torn between Dorper sheep and St Croix sheep. October 26, 2015 at 7:40 PM. I wish to sign up to your exclusive club but I dont think that it is much needed at this point as I dont have a farm or even a garden yet. They have many similarities with the Corriedale sheep. A ewes wool will pay her winter feed bill. 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. Breeders Association. They produce excellent fertilizer. Unlike any other domesticated livestock cattle, goats, buffalo, you name it we created a set of conditions that put sheep at increased risk of infestation by blowflies by making its tail so heavy that it can't lift it out of the way of its elimination and then . 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. Hi! Barbado sheep have a very small carcass size. Did you know: To appeal to ethnic buyers, it often requires a change in flock management. This behavior causes problems with maintaining desirable trees unless protection is provided. That means you will receive protection via the criminal laws of the United States. A second group was imported into . That is something a good monitoring plan will help with. Kid skin leather products such as shoes, car seats, fine leather coats, gloves, etc. The St. Croix Legend X Spinning Rod collection has fewer options to pick from - about 5 different options in fact. They have a mild Roman nose profile with a finer boned facial structure. Several Polypay owners in the area worm all animals 6-8 times during the summer and still lose animals to stomach worms. Edited: 4 years ago. (Which, yes, is about goats, but its relevant.) 1. 3 years ago. dealing with dirty tags or wool maggots. However, if thats what you are looking for then this breed might not be for you. Some Advantages of Producing Sheep. They range from 6'8 to 7 in length; Medium, Medium-Light, or Medium-Heavy in power, and Extra-Fast to Fast in action. When the pastures are poor, hair animals hold their body condition much better. They will stand on their hind feet like goats to strip any low hanging limbs of their leaves. 509-688-5168 Ralph Jost Wild Rose St. Croix 21720 N Spotted Rd, Deer Park, Washington 99006. Salty air can take its toll on your things, especially electronics. We are interested purchasing Katahdin sheep and found this article very helpful. If you have a lot of visitors around your homestead, then this breed might be one that you'd want to consider. You can also use them for multiple income streams thanks to their excellent meat and milk production. My favorite vlog of yours was about your new animals, goats and sheep. Katahdin is probably the more economical choice, however, namely because they can produce both meat and milk. While Dorper sheep are considered a hair breed, Ive found a large number have quite a bit of wool or curly fibers in their coat. We find its seldom necessary to trim hooves. This may or may not be the case in other states. Add to our blog community by sharingthat step in the comments! In our operation, that sheep breed is the Katahdin sheep. MI="1?9;80B37:?24G>5E0D80G?8CAEGD8>2=E;00F6>8H7@E0D80G?8CAEGD8>2=E;00F6>8H1 Benjamin Piper, Son Of John Piper, Everett, Ma Street Parking Rules, Highway 99 Lillooet To Cache Creek, Articles S