dorper vs katahdin

The desire to climb mandates the use of a bale ring to prevent excessive waste. Suffolk ewes have an excellent lambing rate of 180%, making them a solid choice for breeding. Looking forward to reply. Hair coat becomes thick and long as cold weather sets in and the length decreases. Parasite resistance and reproductive efficiency is very high, making the Katahdin a valued breed in the hair sheep industry. Breeders often use less-expensive Katahdin ewes to initiate an upgrading program with registered Dorper as the final goal. 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 . Dorper ram purchased from Juan Navarro of J.N. Environmental Adaptability: Tolerant of both high and low temperatures. As a bit of trivia, the majority of cull ewes the U.S. exports go to the Mexico City area. 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. Ewes will weigh an average of 190 pounds, with rams reaching up to 300 pounds. There are many great options for meat-producing sheep. I have a very small Dorper ewe, she is 7 months old but very small. We are currently using rams with high shedding scores, while culling heavily on production traits. 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. 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. Dorpers Our goal is to develop a flock of productive, easy-care sheep that are scrapie resistant, require no shearing and that reach market specs on grass. There is the wool type and the hairtype with the hairtype being slightly less meaty but far better shedding. In conclusion, based on RT and RR, resilience to high HLI conditions ranked St. Croix > Katahdin > Dorper, with lowest . or you can contact me at- Weight Gain/Daily: 0.4 lbs daily with good nutrition. Breeding Season: They breed throughout the year. Im sorry I cannot help you. Four Barbados Blackbelly sheep arrived in the United States in 1904. keep checking it out! He is 8 months old. Katahdin Pedigrees Public Area Members List. He can be reached at 585-554-3313 or by e-mail at ulf@whitecloversheepfarm.com. Materials and methods When youre raising sheep for meat, the wool is a by-product. In California prices for hair sheep have surpassed prices for wool sheep and in New Holland they are catching up. I think that we are asking for bloat. 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.. I saw that the author is from Central Missouri, which is where we live. We currently manage between 45-60 ewes per year with about 70% of our flock being registered. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Are Llamas Dangerous? The leather from hair sheep grain is finer than the leather from wool breeds and brings in a larger amount of money. Dorper and Katahdin are medium size breeds. Suffolk ewes reach between 180-250 pounds, while rams can top out at 350 pounds. They reach sexual maturity very early, with ewes able to breed between 7 to 9 months of age. This breed tolerates both heat and cold making them a good choice for most climates. Sure enough, hes been trimming hooves. I bottle fed him for three months and give him grain 2x a day, and free choice hay as well as pasture grass. 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. When comparing weights, keep in mind we live in north central Missouri. Like most of the sheep listed here, Texel lambs reach market size quickly, by 5-6 months. (Icelandic sheep grow a double coat.) we find dorpers a great sheep to raise and to eat.. had ribs tonight and use the grease on the dry dog food.. dogs love it.. Typically, the 75 percent Dorper crosses will exhibit the Dorper coloration and conformation. 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. I have bought a dorper lamb an intend to serve mountain horny ewes with him has it ever being tried out, hi, Katahdin Sheep work very well in a variety of production situations as a low-maintenance, easy care sheep. link to Are Llamas Dangerous? Nitrogen retention by lambs fed oscillating dietary protein concentrations. Katahdins have hair and not wool, which means they are a low-maintenance breed that will shed their hair naturally. Tunis sheep are able to thrive in a variety of climates, and tolerate both heat and cold well. 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. Dorper lambs have amazing growth rates when young. and, as such, the data are estimates. When selecting breeding stock, choose animals with good feet. This spring we had an overall lambing average of 1.9 lambs/ewe born with 1.7 lambs weaned. Required fields are marked *. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'savvyfarmlife_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_3',107,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-savvyfarmlife_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');Being native to Iceland, this breed is exceptionally cold-hardy, and is an excellent and efficient forager making it able to thrive and find food in harsh environments. I would love to get in touch with the author personally. His information is given at the conclusion of the article, pasted below. Secondly at what age are you removing lambs from mothers . we really enjoy that black baby lamb and she is 9 months old now. Our paddocks are grazed for 5-7 days followed by 25-34 days of . Dorper lambs have amazing growth rates when young. Four years ago we began converting all our cropland into pasture and expanded the flock. View Details. Their main advantage is that they adapt well to hot humid climate where woolen breeds do not thrive well. Your email address will not be published. Breed ideal for pasture lambing and grass/forage based management systems. The lambing rate is not as high as other hair breeds. Dorper sheep have a distinctive appearance: black heads and white bodies. This is inconvenient since you must pasture ram lambs separately from ewes to prevent unplanned pregnancies. To be successful, you must sell quality, and I stress quality animals; send anything else to slaughter. Unsave Save. If youre grazing crop-field aftermath, their coat will pick up trash where a Katahdin wont. including sheepamong them an extra-special Dorper-Katahdin lamb named Mopple. How about Field Corn! Katahdin x Lacaune. 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. Katahdins are awesome and productive mothers plus they are a very hardy breed and the Dorper will put more size on the meat sheep. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'savvyfarmlife_com-leader-1','ezslot_7',106,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-savvyfarmlife_com-leader-1-0');Katahdins are a popular meat breed for sheep farmers. Black color covers belly, inside legs and thighs and extends up to the neck. We are in the process of installing another 10,000 feet of electric fence on 25 acres that will result in another nine paddocks. More on that subject later. 2023, Countryside - All Rights Reserved, Raising Sheep For Profit: Milking Sheep Offer a Small Farm Alternative, Raising Sheep: Buying and Caring for Your First Flock, Raising Sheep For Profit: How to Sell Raw Fleece, Raising Sheep For Profit: A Cattle Man's View. Our experienced ewes averaged 2.1 lambs/ewe born with 1.9 weaned. 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 Cheviot sheep is best suited for northern, colder climates, and does not tolerate heat as well. This information may be used to compare breeds of hair sheep. This is a very good article to read and understand the secrets of Raising Katahdin Sheep. It should be kept in mind that performance varies greatly with genetic . Mutton is meat that comes from mature sheep over the age of 1 year old. We also sell breeding stock locally. marina@mgdorpers.com. Future importations to university breeding flocks led to the development of the American Blackbelly sheep breed. Suffolk ewes are excellent mothers and prolific breeders. 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. A common lamb on good pasture will perform better than Super Lamb on poor pasture. 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. Sales at the 2022 mid America Dorper Show nearly broke $1 MILLION with the top Dorper ewe bringing $20,000 and ram $12,800. Very tolerant of the humid hot conditions in the Carribean andSomolia, Blackhead Persians have a white body and black head. Lambing %: Approximately 125%, exceeding 200% with subsequent lambing. Best guess is he is 175-200 lbs. 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. Please indicate pricing as well. They will definitely get too fat. Q. It is common to have ewes lambing twice per year. Docking tails is unnecessary, although you still see some old timers that dock just because they always have. The American Sheep Industry recognizes 47 different sheep breeds in the US, with hundreds more recognized internationally. Theyre too small to be of commercial value. if any one would be interested in buying some good quality Dorpers check out my website MGDorpers.com it is comming out soon! That's interesting! Our spring lambs on pasture alone (17-20 percent protein and 65-72percentdigestible organic matter-DOM) will average 55-60 pounds. Coat & Color: Most of the individuals are white, but tan and spotted ones exist. But the dorpers always have say ten % that need shearing still. Market Weight/Live/Age: 60 80 lbs / 9 month. If there were a hair Hampshire or Suffolk that would do a better job, wed be raising them. The Dorper Sheep is a hardy resilient South African breed of sheep that can withstand various harsh climates, environments and intensive operations. i love the dorper sheep breed! Ewes weight approximately 200 pounds, and rams average out to around 260 pounds. There is no such thing as an ideal breed. Dorpers tend to be a little larger, and Katahdins are excellent mothers, so a Dorper /Kathadin cross is nearly perfect. 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. Thanks, I am considering starting a small Dorper and or Katahdin herd to raise meat for the Western New York market. Check out my article Best Sheep for Wool: Top 8 Sheep Breeds for Wool. We began our Katahdin Sheep herd with non-registered sheep but have added registered Katahdin ewes to our farm. The ewes are also heavy milkers with excellent maternal instincts. These include: The fact Dorper sheep are easy to breed is a huge advantage. While there are far fewer cons than there are pros for keeping Dorper sheep, you do need to consider the potential downsides. Katahdins are medium size, hardy, low-maintenance, and have a high-quality carcass weight. Our flock is managed through pasture rotation from April until late December. 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. The Katahdin breed was developed in the United States by Michael Piel. Environmental Adaptability:They are adaptable to all climates. How do you decide which breed is right for your needs? so so far we are separating her and letting the pus drain Katahdin is probably the more economical choice, however, namely because they can produce both meat and milk. Ron remembers raising wool sheep as a teenager. Cole, N.A. The Katahdin Sheep is a domestic breed developed in Maine in the United States and named after the highest peak in Maine, Mount Katahdin. Market Weight/Live/Age: 70 90 lbs / 7 8 months. If this same time is spent building homestead fencing, watersystems, improving lambing or handling facilities, its improving an operation. A unique characteristic about the Dorper is that they do not breed seasonally, instead they are able to breed year-around. 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. In South Africa, the Dorper is likewise most commonly found in arid and semi . Originating in South Africa, these lovable and attractive sheep tend to come with a lot more pros than cons. Because of their hair and their low fat content, this breed is known to produce both flavorful and mild meat. The breed is actually very good for meat production, and it produce more meat than Dorper and Katahdin sheep. its ok to wean the lamb as soon as possible. take it from me, you dont have to worry about anyone getting too fat. A large-framed, late-maturing breed will not have the necessary carcass quality at these weights, whereas Katahdin sheep or Dorpers will. Texel sheep do best in colder climates, as they are exceptionally cold-hardy and have been known to be sensitive to the heat. Wondering What to Feed Sheep? They also are not limited to a breeding season, conceiving year round. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Lambing %: Average lambing rate is between 150 and 250%. The Katahdin sheep breed was developed in Maine to help clear brush in powerline corridors. I dont want him to get unhealthily fat. Dorper sheep do well in warm, arid climates, but can tolerate cold as well. The Dorper has a high rate of lambing and is tolerant of the arid conditions it was developed for in South Africa. Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment. Hi just wondering it may be a silly question anyways can you milk Dorper sheep. If you combine all traits I have not found a better breed for a farming system based on pasture and direct marketing. A year and many dollars later, they cant understand why the rams offspring doesnt grow any faster than the rest of their animals. The Dorper have a black head extending in the neck, with a white body. 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. Katahdins are alert, protective mothers. Since Missouri has more Katahdin sheep than any other state, the majority of export animals come from here. Tunis are solid breeders and excellent mothers. For example, cold wind and warm sun quickly result in herd finding shelter under conditions when woolen sheep remain in the open. Katahdin x Texel. Thank you. This matters up here as our point of having hair sheep is to eliminate useless shearing. My question is, how much should he weigh. All Rights Reserved | Website by Maple Creative, God Save the Beef: Trials of Sustainable Farming in the UK . has anyone had CL in Dorper sheep one of my fav ewes has CL and we are trying to find a way to maybe stop it! As a result, about 50 percent of the first generation of White Dorper cross bred sheep shed partially or mostly. The ability of this breed to put grass into weight gain is remarkable. Breed utilization for meat production in sheep. Vet. The St Croix are also quiet, but seem to be next on the ladder. 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 When the pastures are poor, hair animals hold their body condition much better. Difference in color is a matter of preference. The shedding ability of this breed varies greatly.

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