st croix sheep vs katahdin

28 0 obj Do you think the portable sheep netting and a couple of LGD’s would be sufficient to keep the coyotes away? <><>3 4]/P 26 0 R/Pg 14 0 R/S/Link>> If you used portable sheep netting I would highly doubt you would need LGD’s. If you’ve bothered reading all of this you are probably wondering how to look for and buy a good hair sheep. Do I really have predator problems? <>/Font<>>>/Fields[11 0 R]>> Reuse it: Old refrigerator or freezer turns into a smoker. 42 0 obj Anything crossed with a wool sheep is potentially going to bring in off flavors. <>/Metadata 2 0 R/Outlines 6 0 R/Pages 3 0 R/StructTreeRoot 7 0 R/Type/Catalog/ViewerPreferences<>>> Thanks. 55 0 obj � zE�����@��Ip�#�Pw^�� �n� 5� `4�b5W�q���� #�p�������'[��,���'3���MJ���_��݀pGg5�lͤ���j@�q"���������W^u��0 They are awesome mothers (multiple babies) and are very resistant to parasites and diseases. What is your general harvest procedures? Our biggest concern is predator control. Thank you for a wonderful article. Quite Large for a yearling- Hair DOES Look MORE like Wool, then Hair ?? Sheep are very good at letting you know what they need. You can eat 2 year old+ ewes and still have a very mild pleasurable eating experience. ©2005, Sheep & Goat Research Journal Sheep & Goat Research Journal, Volume 20, 2005 37. ~��Ƽ���&��gK�q2��2��Q��ӓ�4B�_���D�(q��8�=g[�5XF� I� ��x��8Y��MA0��6�e�*]*O���٫ڄ������=$4�4�}v���WrȰ"@"f�HZ_rbҿ;��I�>u�E���������[hh }��47��P Required fields are marked *. Purchasing young breeding stock is cheaper, but you have to wait longer until the animals mature and reproduce. Shedding ability is also an indicator of health, so if certain sheep do not shed completely or shed much later than other sheep it can indicate that they might not be as healthy as the other sheep are. And is a mix breed sheep dog better than a pure breed dog? For Sale. Loin muscle areas were largest for Dorper-sired progeny, smallest for St. Croix-sired, with Katahdin intermediate. Do you harvest by age and leave a specific percentage as inventory? buy st. croix hair sheep ewes rams for sale tennessee TN. It wasn’t until 2 years ago we got a major out-of-balance of coyotes and they became very bold and started killing full grown sheep. 2019-10-24T16:48:27-07:00 There are two rams. There are two extremes on temperament of sheep and you want to look for something in the middle. endobj Typically, we lamb in the spring and lambs become available late spring/ early summer at weaning. 20:37-41. Our current mutton mafia of weed eaters (dwarf nigerain goats) tolerate it just fine but will shelter in the barn when the winds get bad. endobj Here is a short list of the most popular hair sheep breeds out there: Here is a list of why people are getting into hair sheep: Heat/Cold tolerant, No Need to Sheer: Most hair sheep originate from tropical regions, which is why they are able to shed their hair and allows them to breed twice a year. Ewes are excellent mothers and require minimal assistance. x��X[o�6~�� �� -�ɢ(�� �. They are not the best, but they do offer some resistance to coyotes. 1 0 obj We had a very rough winter a few years ago, where it never got above freezing for 2 weeks and there was 12 inches of snow on the ground and we still couldn’t get our sheep to go into the barn unless we forced them. That’s when we decided to get a LGD. It certainly won’t hurt to sheer it, but most likely also has some issues retaining hair, which is an undesirable trait. If you are looking for a high weight gaining lamb, then Dorper’s might be your choice. I currently have a 3/4 dorper 1/4 St. Croix cross that I have been breeding for a few years. Otherwise they are very quiet. Are you sure it isn’t milk? The St. Croix brings in some very hardly genetics. A Katahdin ewe will average between 140-180 pounds, while Dorper ewes will average 160-200 pounds. However, prior to that I sold everything on Craigslist. I have found they eat very little when they are dry (without babies sucking) and will eat a lot more when lactating. It only takes one time taking them to the sale yard and getting beat up on prices before you decide to do that again. The breed was developed during in the second half of the 20th century by Michael Piel who, after reading an article in the February 1956 National Geographic, imported selected St. Where would you recommend buying mineral? The parasite resistance of composite breeds, such as the Katahdin, is intermediate between hair sheep and wooled sheep, since Katahdins are a cross between the resistant St. Croix and non-resistant British breeds. It is always fun to see these sheep lamb and immediately start taking care of their babies. endobj Is the market good for lambs year round? There are only a few grasses that my sheep don’t care for very much such as fescue, but any good mix of clovers, alfalfa, orchard grass, hairy vetch are all good forages for sheep. He has killed a fair share of lambs in the process of learning how to protect them, so it’s not for the faint of heart! endstream 36 0 obj The Breed of Hair Sheep that we decided to start with is the St Croix. ��� â���at��Y��7u78"$@E�|���Θ��0�-��"���a4ז��娳�i8��,/��,�bцl4��/�(��\��|Y ���Z�|�x��B���|J���'�Yʎ�H;�(D$D�g3��� '�b�}E�l�#����k��Á��.$���Darh-U�ݼ,���Q��4H_H�ѬQ'q�Np�Z�dV��bfm^@���MX����ʓ�k��;�MF#�c�m� �� ~�K�EsG���o�ok�mJ����F�B2� A�IJ �ڮ�Q��� Hair sheep are extremely well known for easy lambing and multiple babies. endobj We believe we have one of the finest registered flocks of St. Croix you will find. We are predominately a grain farm but want to try taking one quarter section out of grain and growing grass on it. Assess the property you are buying from: Are the sheep covered in manure/mud or sitting in a muddy nasty pen? The St Croix (Saint 'Croy') is a breed of domestic sheep native to the U.S. Virgin Islands and named for the island of Saint Croix.They are often also called Virgin Island White because those that were imported into North America were selected for white coloration. 54 0 obj Looking to start a small herd (half dozen or so) that will rotate between two paddocks of two acres each. (dead chickens, frequent sightings of coyotes or other predators, etc). They have the right “pressure points” and go the direction you generally want them to with the proper spacing and distance. endobj Prince 12.5 (www.princexml.com) Sometimes it’s hard to find information about hair sheep since they are up-and-coming, so I’ve decided to try to provide as much information as I possibly can in one place for you to know how to buy, raise and sell hair sheep. Katahdins do well in that climate, but also tolerate cold climates, as do St. Croix and other hair sheep breeds once they have a chance to acclimate to it. Once again, certain hair breeds are more parasite resistant than others, but overall they are much better off than standard wool sheep breeds. endobj yr. Should I keep looking? In general, what kind of return should someone expect after establishing a herd? Please remember to cull hard and not keep poor stock that does not perform when choosing rams. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The ability to shed is dependent on the breed and who you are buying sheep from. These sheep are baby makers! Thank you. 25 0 obj Can you tell me what you recommend for vaccines and/or supplements? Psalm 104:14. Other hair sheep breeds include the St. Croix, the Barbados Blackbelly, and the American Katahdin, which produces lean meat lambs. Thanks again! The development of the breed began in the late 1950’s with the importation of a small number of haired sheep from the Caribbean by Michael Piel of Maine. Rams are “polled” meaning, no horns, but sometimes grow small “scurs” which are hard deposits on the head that do not grow more than 3 inches long. If you barely have grass growing you are going to have a hard time keeping your sheep happy and your going to have to buy hay. Great Lambing/Good Mothers: Mothering instinct is extremely important in all animals and reduces your chances of lambing issues and baby rejection issues. We raise a variety of hair sheep breeds, including Katahdin, Black Headed Dorper, and St. Croix. Summary. They have lots of meat and very good flavor, but not overwhelming mutton flavor. With a high rate of multiple births and a gentle temperament, this is a good choice for people looking to start a hair sheep business, particularly in warm climates. Of course, I don’t know the background of your sheep and how tolerant they are, but hair sheep are pretty hardy all the way around. Please comment below if you have any questions! Not sure what to do. I have a ” Rouge de Roussillion Buck sheep ” He is a BIG Yearling ( RED ) w / white blaze face. It doesn’t necessarily mean they cannot be cured, but it means they are less likely to be resistant to parasites and could bring parasites to your property. They will eat certain weeds, but not all weeds. I do not recommend rams being pets, they have little respect for humans and can be very aggressive as they get older. 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. Can Be Bred Twice Year/ Can Breed Year Round: If you don’t believe me that hair sheep can be bred twice a year or year round, just leave your ram in year round and see how many lambs you have throughout the year! A basic sheep mineral is good to have free choice for your sheep, that is really based on your pasture situation. (We’ve heard them all. St. Croix has been used as the foundation stock for multiple other breeds, including Katahdin and Royal White. There are black headed Dorpers (most common) and white Dorpers (harder to find). The middle ground is best. I’m sure there are some nice gentle one’s out there that people have tamed down, but overall they are a very flighty breed. We will likely be able to meet your needs, even if you have purchased stock from us before. In 1956 and 1957, Piel began making inquiries about hair sheep after seeing pictures in a National Geographic magazine of West African hair sheep. The St Croix is a breed of sheep native to the U.S. Virgin Islands and named for the island of Saint Croix. I always recommend people to not keep time and to not watch too closely, because they almost never need help, but if you sit and watch them give birth you’ll be tempted to think they are not doing well and need a lamb pulled. Katahdin sheep are medium in size, with ewes weighing 120–160 pounds and rams weighing 180–250 pounds. From what I’ve heard from other producers, yes, you can run them together. Appligent AppendPDF Pro 6.0 endobj Barbados: I feel like these sheep should be labeled “the crazy one’s.” They are like St. Croix’s in almost every respect except for temperament. The Katahdin is a breed of domestic sheep developed in Maine, United States and named after Mount Katahdin - the state’s highest peak. Agricultural Research Service in St. Croix, Virgin Islands who was working with hair sheep flocks on the island. Ewes were 6 0 obj Wiltshire Horn Sheep. I went to Cal Polly in San Luis Obispo Calif. and a Animal Husbandry major. Jeff. Your email address will not be published. Makin’ Bacon – Homemade Bacon – No Nitrates, No Junk! Bottle babies are rare, but if/when it does happen it usually is with a momma that had triplets. I have seen people leave their wool sheep rams in year round with their sheep and they will only lamb once a year, this is NOT so with hair sheep. What type of fencing are they in? Temperament of sheep: As I discussed earlier the temperament of sheep is based on genetics and prior handling. Sheep only absorb colostrum optimally for the first 12 hours of life, some say 24 hrs. In Experiment 1, 36 ewe and wether lambs were Parasite Resistant: One of the glorious advantages of hair sheep is that they are highly parasite resistant. ... Sheep Industry Development Program, 6911 South Yosemite St., Englewood, CO 80112-1414 or call 303-771-3500. Two experiments evaluated growth of mixed-sex Barbados Blackbelly, Katahdin, and St. Croix hair sheep lambs raised on pasture or hay-based diets with moderate levels of energy sup-plementation. They come in dark/light brown, black, white, spotted, and everything in between! The biggest packrat ever! I would recommend staying away from bottle fed lambs because that means they didn’t have a mom to learn things from and are typically pets. <>11]/P 35 0 R/Pg 14 0 R/S/Link>> I get it. I've crossed Katahdin and Black Head Dorper. I like the looks of the Dorper’s And the royal whites but just don’t know what breed would be the easiest to raisw. Learn how your comment data is processed. Growth Performance of Barbados Blackbelly, Katahdin and St. Croix Hair Sheep Lambs Fed Pasture- or Hay-Based Diets. As homesteading and backyard hobby farmers keeps on growing so does the demand for these easy-to-care for sheep. I am still working at getting a really nice mix. Typically assume 5 sheep/acre to start with (if irrigated ground). I have my eye on 2 ram lambs (Katahdin’s), neither are registered. I think all the hair sheep breeds are going to be similar in taste. The Katahdin sheep breed was the first in the United States to reach sheep industry standards of carcass quality. In the US, these include the Barbados Blackbelly and St. Croix. Dorper x St. Croix progeny had heavier carcass weights than St. Croix-sired or Katahdin lambs. Started out with 2 and now have 15. We went 7 years without a LGD and we run our sheep on over 200 acres in a very rural setting. Great backyard breed, purebred St. Croix’s are white in color and have a nice uniform look to the flock. I try to clean every time he tries to go but it’s so sticky and hardens very quickly as well. Will that keep coyotes out. <>stream It’s hard for me to speak on the market anymore. Usually a large single whether lamb from a Dorper is ready in about 6-8 months, but a single St. Croix lamb can take 10-12 months. Copper in goat mineraĺs is toxic to sheep from what I have heard. Low Maintenance: With everything you just read above you can see that these sheep are pretty low maintenance. Dorper: We now run a mix of full Dorpers and St. Croix’s on our ranch. They are a mixed bag of sheep and never look the same, so if you are looking to uniformity, then this not your breed. Do ALL ( Long-Haired sheep ) Lose their hair the 1st. Phone : 434-251-6495. I currently have a 3/4 dorper 1/4 St. Croix cross that I have been breeding for a few years. You can always get a LGD (livestock guardian dog), but you need to make sure you have an actual predator problem in the first place. Royal White: Royal Whites are the perfect mix between Dorper’s and St. Croix. Intact ram lambs need to be pulled from the herd at 3 months of age to prevent breeding. The Dorper is highly adaptable and does well in harsh conditions. Yes a 4′ fence should work great for sheep. However, they are very slow growing and their lambs take anywhere from 8 months to a year to be “finished out,” and even then it is a very small carcass topping out at 45 lbs hanging weight. The first St. Croix were imported into the USA in the 1960s to develop the Katahdin sheep breed. The St. Croix Breed. Talk to the seller on the phone: Does the seller sound like they know anything about sheep? llamas are actually supposed to be good protection animals. 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. Because of job issues I was forced to sell my flock. endobj Were they bottle fed lambs or raised by their mom’s? What would cause a Katahdin ram not to shed at all? Good mother instincts, good weight gains (but not as good as the Dorper’s) and a pretty good disposition. Our pastured beef is grass fed, fattened, and finished as nature intended. Hair sheep also had a higher growth rate than goats (0.21 vs. 0.14 lb/day). However, if you watch the time of the year it is more popular to sell around Easter time, Mexican and Islamic holidays. Are there any precautions we should make once the temps drop below -20F? Dorper lambs have amazing growth rates when young.Hair sheep don’t bring as much on the slaughter market.… Certainly do not buy a ram that was bottle fed! Effect of breed type, finishing treatment, and dietary supplements on carcass characteristics and tenderness in hair sheep. I bought sheep over several years from different places so I have quite a diversity of bloodlines, so for the last 3 years I’ve been taking rams from my own flock (over 60 ewes), so there is a lot of diversity. endobj In the 6 years we have had hair sheep we have NEVER wormed them. I’m looking for one that sheds clean and lambs easily. What is a good grass mix for them and should I cover crop as well? Certain breeds shed faster and cleaner than some of the others, but they will all shed to a certain degree. Most sellers (even quality sellers) don’t typically sell their best stock, so they are going to be selling the lower end of their sheep (unless they are selling everything), so ask them why they are particularly selling those sheep and if they have had any issues lambing or other health issues. Despite being a tropical breed they have adapted very well to North America. Thanks for putting all this info on here… I am just starting with a small flock of Katahdins in Saskatchewan, and found your article a very interesting read! J. M. Burke If you see a sheep lambing and come back several hours later and see she is still lambing, then it might be time to step in, but several hours of labor is not uncommon for sheep. Pricing and Availability. (woven wire, barbed wire, electric fence, hog panels?). Which breed has better meat flavor. He HAS NOT lost his hair yet ????? The Piel Farm had several thousand sheep at the time and Piel felt that “progress in selection for traits important to the production of meat would be greatly enhanced by the elimination of wool as a major factor for selection.” His goal was to combine the hair coat, prolificacy, and hardiness of the Virgin Island sheep with the meat conformation and rate of gr… After that we never vaccinate the sheep, some people will continue to vaccinate the ewes every year, but we haven’t found any reason to. Do your research on LGD’s before purchasing one and once again. <> <>/MediaBox[0 0 612 792]/Parent 3 0 R/Resources<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageC]/XObject<>>>/StructParents 0/Tabs/S/Type/Page>> Rams are “polled” meaning, no horns, but sometimes grow small “scurs” which are hard deposits on the head that do not grow more than 3 inches long. With all that amazing weight gain comes draw backs. If you put out mineral and they eat it very quickly that means they need mineral, but if they hardly touch it, it usually means they are doing very well. Wait until May or June in your country. I was not able to get the weight you want at 4 -5 months on grass and hay alone. If you purchase bred ewes, you can market the lambs approximately four months later. I harvest based on what looks ready. 2 0 obj )����=0�k�-O�vٯߡ$ˤm%Y� [_�Z��;���G�y��ڸD�^����.�CV��_���� �*�r¸�$�����!�$���R7�����nOE����7W�ѵs����E��� B�%%17E��`tAi����W�#4�m@ &�8G�g��0ɋ�|@�-z����))�PB��lqo� �LWq�X��؛i��)?�GJw|����/ﻔ/e�J��#B�`�c��6�r��qz��vq�-�٪���H� S�� �T״2����d�f�֤�L�aT^W7�4�e If you live in a part of the USA that gets cold during the winter, these sheep will grow a thick coat of wool during the winter, but don’t worry, they will shed it off during the spring. As far as sheep dog do you mean border collie or Livestock guardian like a Pyrenees? 30 0 obj Maybe you like to eat lamb and are tired of paying more than $5.00 per pound for a leg of lamb. 2019-10-24T16:48:27-07:00 We currently maintain three separate flocks, carrying three distinctly different bloodlines. Is there a trick to clean him ? They have woolier coats and are slower to shed (most of them). For the last 6 years we have been raising hair sheep as a part of our ranch. Katahdin: I have bought and sold sheep throughout the years and I have had a few Katahdin’s. (things to look for: snotty noses, bad eyes, limping, poopy butts, not completely shed during the summer). The Katahdin sheds its winter coat, so it doesn’t have to be sheared. I raise St. Croix hair sheep. In 2005 they bought Hemmer Hill Farm outside of Louisville, Kentucky’s Northeast End and began raising Saint Croix sheep. <> Developed in … How do I help him. They also have an active but easily managed personality. Katahdin’s are really nice too, if … Gastrointestinal parasitism in hair sheep and meat goat breeds grazing naturally infected pasture. Is it safe to run goats and hair sheep together? Know what you are looking for: If you read through my post above you probably have a pretty good idea of what breed you are looking for, so just start that as your baseline for breeds you are looking for. They love clover and alfalfa. The Royal White is around 75% Dorper and 25% or less St. Croix. More to come. I am going to be getting a small flock of hair sheep. I find that my sheep almost never need their feet trimmed before they are 3 years of age, if they are on soft pasture all the time their feet will eventually need trimmed, but not very often. I have a Katahadin ewe and the color of her coat had changed from black to a copper red color is this her winter coat coming in or is this some kind of deficiency. One is aggressive to the ewes. Hoof rot is very uncommon in hair sheep. So much information all in one place is a great help! The seller gave me a gallon of the colostrum to feed it but it’s other end matter is like peanut brittle. endobj Some of them have a lot resemblance to a goat, but they are a far cry from a goat. It is possible to breed these sheep twice a year, but I personally do not do it. Unlike a goat, hair sheep will actually eat grass, but is not just limited to grass. Several myths still surround hair sheep. Highly recommended if coming from a good source. I just got s 4 day old bottle fed ram st Croix. When were they exposed to the ram? And I’m not talking about a person! Ewes can cycle as soon as a month after giving birth. uuid:24a701f5-acca-11b2-0a00-30b1448afe7f I still have remaining genetics of them in my herd and still love the breed to this day. At Grace & Joy Farms we love our sheep! St. Croix and Katahdin Hair Sheep. �'�r�tRm��1�%]�����NTY�&�N$V�EhX�4��[� �3�&���M�2q��2)P�7����Y6{� All prices include registration. Very Prolific/Fertile: These sheep are so fertile, sometimes it’s frustrating! endobj People all over the United States north to south raise hair sheep and do well in warmer and colder environments. Ewes that are pets are not usually as bad, but can overly friendly and constantly following you or in your space, once again a respect issue.

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