They can be used for the sheep skin which has a good quality to it. meat-to-bone ratio. When the pastures are poor, hair animals hold their body condition much better. The flocking instinct of hair animals generally isnt as good as wool breeds. However, they have been cross-bred with other breeds over the years to develop the modern breed we see today. Salty air can take its toll on your things, especially electronics. The first St. Croix were imported into the USA in the 1960s to develop the Katahdin sheep breed. We may be partial to the breed, but were not raising a hobby flock. Development costs for beachfront property can be slightly more expensive. MI="1?9;80B37:?24G>5E0D80G?8CAEGD8>2=E;00F6>8H7@E0D80G?8CAEGD8>2=E;00F6>8H1@fycsptg"; The low maintenance qualities of Katahdins allow us the time to do so. 2, I usually have ewes and lambs (on the hoof or freezer-ready) 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. 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. Though heat tolerant, the sheep can be raised in many parts of North America. St. Croix were first brought to the Caribbean via West Africa. A mature Dorper . 8. Learn More, Questions or comments? Save. Click hereto learn how you can help. Know a lot about lawn mowers, but nothing about sheep? wonderful pets, lawn mowers and weed eaters. Aside from the obvious (they taste good), they make In the 1970's, the Wiltshire Horn, a shedding breed from England, was introduced. Fact: While it's true that Barbados and St. Croix are small animals (ewes 80-110 pounds), few commercial breeders raise them. van@cavenet.com and my phone The meat has a mild flavor, good grain and produce a lean meat. Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment. Its carcass size is even smaller than most other wool breeds. What Needle Felting Supplies Do You Use for Sculpting? We have eight foot Scotch Pines that look like a girdled palm tree and have seen them strip an old dried Christmas tree of its needles. Who's Who in U.S. Sheep Breeds (poster), American Sheep Industry Assn., Inc.; 6911 S. Yosemite St. Suite 200; Englewood, CO 80112-1414 Phone: (303) 771-3500 FAX: (303) 771-8200. Breeding stock is selected under rigorous criteria, including parasite resistance, hair coat, growth characteristics on grass alone and general thriftiness. Docking tails is unnecessary, although you still see some old timers that dock just because they always have. Green Pastures Farm St. Croix-sired ewe lambs are raised solely on forage. So in my little comparison of raising sheep for profit and raising cattle for profit, even with all the variabilities, sheep seem to be a bit more profitable. The St. Croix is increasing in numbers, and though it is still rare, the breeds future seems promising. At lower latitudes (down south), summer daylight periods are shorter, the temperature higher, grass growth is slower and is lower in protein and higher fiber. The main reason this hybrid was created was for its meat, not its wool. you want lots of sheep in a short period of time and have a lot of American Rambouillet Breeders Association, 1610 S State Rd 3261, Levelland, TX 79336 Ph: 806-894-3081. just want to exchange thoughts, I'd love to chat. available for sale. That means you will receive protection via the criminal laws of the United States. The Meatmaster offers farmers an excellent alternative with unique characteristics to meet the International market. In this useful guide, youll discover the pros and cons of both Dorper and Katahdin sheep, alongside advice on choosing the best type for your farm or homestead. Plus, they are also great with small livestock including baby livestock. The breed was developed in the mid-1950s by crossing imported St. Croix Sheep and several other breeds, including the Suffolk Sheep.They are raised predominantly as meat animals in the U.S. and have become enormously popular in recent years due to high . Work with your states department of agriculture if youre interested in export sales. No scurs, either. Do you want to earn multiple income streams from your flock. My email is All have their pros and cons. We would definitely like a breed that is more docile, hardy and produces. The St. Croix is a North American sheep breed that's part of the Caribbean Hair sheep family. 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. A biography of my early adulthood could be called The Consequences of the Poorly Thought Out Choices.. 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. I enjoy reading your blog and watching your videos. $14.95, Copyright 2020 | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | PO BOX 477, 33 Hillsboro St, Pittsboro, NC 27312 |. 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 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. My friend also mentioned his Katahdin-Dorper lambs are much fatter when born than Polypays. Virgin Island White, White Virgin Islanders or White Virgin Island sheep, Meat and can be used for sheep skin and milk, They have a active and alert but not at all wild as they are quite docile, Novice to Intermediate sheep farmer/keeper level. Pro. In addition to the $75- to $250-each purchase price, feeding them, housing them, and caring for them can get expensive. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. (ideal market lamb pick), Show Lamb Supplies (4H sheep showing equipment list), How to Show Sheep (7 sheep showing tips for any level), How to Shear a Sheep (step by step with video). They have many similarities with the Corriedale sheep. These include: The fact Dorper sheep are easy to breed is a huge advantage. 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 speak to one of our agents contact us today. We use it alot on the croix. . Contact a breeder in your area about St. Croix hair sheep. They produce excellent fertilizer. Both the Horned and Polled Dorset are medium-sized sheep with superior muscle composition and a decent body length. Additionally, cell phone coverage can be spotty in some remote areas of the island. document.write(OT); About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Dorper lambs have amazing growth rates when young. Thank you. A major con of living in St. Croix is the unreliable electricity and cell coverage. They have a long life and the ewes can produce lambs for up to 10 to 12 years of age. 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. The main differences between these two breeds are the colors available, and what they can be used for. Research has shown Dorper have good parasite tolerance or resilience rather than resistance. Now you have a good idea of the pros and cons of both Dorper and Katahdin sheep, which one is right for your homestead? Like many island nations, St. Croix struggles with power outages, which can disrupt daily life and be a nuisance. (A friend with Polypay and Katahdin sheep has had the same experience. DOWNLOAD MY FREE Sheep Farming E-book: https://bit.ly/SheepEBOOKSt. Contrary to the benefits of Barbado sheep, it has more disadvantages. Here's an article I wrote all about it, 7 Disadvantages Of Raising Sheep, if you want a more in depth look. Do the numbers add up in favor of sheep?Find out on Part 1 of this FIRST serialized episode of Homesteady! Our experienced ewes averaged 2.1 lambs/ewe born with 1.9 weaned. To be successful, you must sell quality, and I stress quality animals; send anything else to slaughter. They dont need to be sheared, they have a docile temperament making them easy to handle, and they are resistant to disease. Pro's: Seeing the Southern . RaisingSheep.net is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. : Did you know Accountant Mike is a reality star? - Unlike my goats, The Squishy Monster, May 15, 2017. 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. they don't jump on you, run over you, or jump on cars and over fences. The majority of ewe lambs are sold as registered breeding stock; the majority of ram lambs are sold for slaughter. 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 . Passion for animals, hard work, and being a maker as opposed to strictly a consumer. 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 St. Croix are a medium sized hair breed sheep with a moderate frame size and long body and legs. . The breed has well-documented parasite resistance, far superior to that found in most other sheep breeds. Katahdin can be used for both meat and milk, whereas Dorper sheep are only good for meat production. Due to "con" number I am planning to retire to St. Croix in the next year or so. Excellent way to promote parasite resistance into your flock! 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