Aust shares his entire conversation with Susan Napotnik about selecting the perfect breed of sheep here on thePioneer sheep episode. Several Polypay owners in the area worm all animals 6-8 times during the summer and still lose animals to stomach worms. The Meatmaster Breeders established and developed a sheep breed as close to nature as possible and allow the . These sheep are typically white in color, though there are known variations such as light brown, tan and black or white with black or brown spots. My email is And we all know from the last episode the downside of growing useless grass. Save. The Senepol breed combines the N'Dama characteristics of . Hi, we are looking at beginning a small flock of hair sheep. Read more and see the photo gallery here. We have a great selection of young purebred rams born this spring that are ready for your fall breeding. Sheep help control weeds. Triplets are not unusual, and they can lamb twice a year. Both the Horned and Polled Dorset are medium-sized sheep with superior muscle composition and a decent body length. This year, we have purchased a Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) farmshare with two goals in mind: increase the variety of vegetables in our freezer, and meet local farmers to begin the make the relationships that could possibly gain us a few mentors for our homestead journey. I enjoy reading your blog and watching your videos. They require food in the winter, when the lawns of New England are covered in snow, medical attention, and shelter. Its carcass size is even smaller than most other wool breeds. wonderful pets, lawn mowers and weed eaters. Its also common to see animals of up to a year old climbing to the top of a big bale of hay. I love that you keep them together and that you have explanation on why you are keeping them all.. Any updates on those? 2, I usually have ewes and lambs (on the hoof or freezer-ready) No Pro. 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. Thank you. Myth #1: They're too small to be of commercial value. Two weeks later, the ewes hadnt lost any body condition. To showcase the commercial qualities of our animals, all breeding stock we sell comes directly from pasture, having received no special treatment. #5 Company Street, Christiansted, VI 00820. info@remax-stcroix.com | 340.773.1048 | 855.909.9152 | Fax: 340.773.1917. Pros and Cons, https://dorpersheep.org/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2022-Mid-America-Dorper-Sale-Report-1.pdf?fs=e&s=cl. The first St. Croix were imported into the USA in the 1960s to develop the Katahdin sheep breed. Love the podcast, by the way. Hi Ben, we do have an update they are not here anymore! : Did you know Accountant Mike is a reality star? They can provide you with information pertaining to regulations, health requirements and local export brokers. There is no hoof trimming, no grain, no weaning, no shots or worming and minimal hay. We may be partial to the breed, but were not raising a hobby flock. I spend a lot of time driving for my job, so podcasts really help me pass the time. Some of the main pros of keeping Katahdin sheep include: Katahdin sheep are one of the easiest breeds of sheep to care for. Fact: While it's true that Barbados and St. Croix are small animals (ewes 80-110 pounds), few commercial breeders raise them. However, they have been cross-bred with other breeds over the years to develop the modern breed we see today. 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. I just recentky discovered your Youtube channel and now your blog. Hair sheep breeds (Katahdin, St. Croix, Barbados) generally have much greater parasite resistance than wooled breeds, especially after one year of age. You see, this sheep doesn't need shearingit sheds its fleece once a year. this breed and its suitability for you, or if you already have them and Cons of Living in St.Croix 1. 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. We were recently invited out by a couple who are seriously considering moving here and they wanted to know the same things. https://dorpersheep.org/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2022-Mid-America-Dorper-Sale-Report-1.pdf?fs=e&s=cl. 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). 3,600 posts. They have a mild Roman nose profile with a finer boned facial structure. Our experienced ewes averaged 2.1 lambs/ewe born with 1.9 weaned. Ive seen Shropshire being used to keep weeds and grass down in Christmas tree plantations. That means you will receive protection via the criminal laws of the United States. Making smart, well-researched decisions is what allows us to pursue our particular passion in a sustainable, fiscally responsible way. In colder areas, they grow a heavy winter coat of wool and hair that is shed in the spring. Your email address will not be published. Is there anything more suburban than lawnmowers? Laurel Field 8835 S Lone Elder Rd Canby, OR 97013 503-263-6376 secretary@stcroixhairsheep.org In trying to reverse that trend, the Country Boy and I have grown more cautious and methodical. Croix sheep are the most parasite resistant breed, so why don't I raise them on my farm? ST. CROIX HAIR SHEEP. While I cant speak for other hair breeds, Katahdin sheep are tough, hardy animals with eating habits more like that of a goat. For registered breeding stock, permanent wooly fibers are a no-no. I say this because unlike some other breeds mentioned, this breed only becomes hostile when challenged (if trained properly.) The thickness of a Katahdin sheeps winter coat will vary among individuals, but it needs to shed completely for an A or AA coat classification, which is the norm. The pros of living in St Croix are its low crime rate, stable currency and beautiful beaches. If there were a hair Hampshire or Suffolk that would do a better job, wed be raising them. Your First Family Milk Cow MASTER CLASS Part 1. Compared to other breeds, these sheep are relatively new, dating back to the 1950s. We prefer using forage to produce lambs rather than wool. For example, we consider time spent worming, shearing, docking and trimming hooves as merely maintaining an operation. Infect a St. Croix sheep with this disease and they brush it off like the common cold. Katahdin Sheep Origin. I sincerely doubt that a statistically average St. Croix ewe, bred to a St. Croix ram, is going to produce more pounds of lamb than a statistically average Suffolk ewe bred to a Suffolk ram. The low maintenance qualities of Katahdins allow us the time to do so. Ewes often produce twins and have plenty of milk to raise them. 1. rabbits. More economical to fatten. St. Croix rams offer an impressive and exotic looking mane of long white hair around their shoulders and chests, giving them a strong and imperial presence. We normally worm our lambs 3-4 times a summer and the ewes not at all. It is small, with ewes averaging 120 pounds and rams 165 pounds. They are of a medium well sprung frame with long muscle type or pattern. 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. Aust pulls out all the stops and brings in Accountant Mike to develop a comprehensive pro/con list to investigate this completely new venture for the homestead. In our operation, that sheep breed is the Katahdin sheep. 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). 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. Answer (1 of 2): I was a resident of St. Thomas for four (4) years beginning in 2004. They will stand on their hind feet like goats to strip any low hanging limbs of their leaves. The St. Croix is a North American sheep breed thats part of the Caribbean Hair sheep family. In years past, 18-30 pound lambs sold well in Chicago for Jewish Passover. 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. This is inconvenient since you must pasture ram lambs separately from ewes to prevent unplanned pregnancies. 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. 509-688-5168 Ralph Jost Wild Rose St. Croix 21720 N Spotted Rd, Deer Park, Washington 99006. . Though heat tolerant, the sheep can be raised in many parts of North America. St. Croix Hair Sheep Breeders Inc focuses on protecting the future of St. Croix Sheep through preservation, promotion, development of performance characteristics, and supplying registration solutions. The last straw was the increasing Pros and cons of Katahdin sheep. 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. might be hesitant about getting back into any kind of sheep. 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. Good luck! I believe that passion is what largely fuels this community. havea regular customer who has a fruit orchardin CA. - Unlike my goats, broke, don't fix it". Their feet is black and have a black muzzle. My email is van@cavenet.com and my phone number is 541-592-3444. If youre grazing crop-field aftermath, their coat will pick up trash where a Katahdin wont. If you're a former "wooly" producer, you The St Croix sheep breed originated in the Virgin Islands and as a result it is sometimes referred to as the Virgin Island White. Thank you for joining the journey! I Reply. Here's the mess that this sheep made because it couldn't lift its heavy tail out of the way for urinating and defecating. play midwife, and those little guys get up and bounce right away. Pro's: Seeing the Southern . Animals dont grow as fastbut dont need to with milder winters and longer growing season. (A friend with Polypay and Katahdin sheep has had the same experience. van@cavenet.com and my phone Length of breeding season heritability is estimated at about 26%, Dr. Inskeep . Podcast update on that coming soon! Deciding which area is going to be best for you will depend on several factors such as the activities you want to do, whether you require the property to be beachfront, and proximity to restaurants and bars. . Sheep Breeds. They also tend to be highly mobile, which means they will climb on top of anything. This market presented difficulties such as lambing in the dead of winter, having lambs large enough (especially when Passover comes early) and pooling with your neighbors to find enough lambs for a truckload. Do the numbers add up in favor of sheep?Find out on Part 1 of this FIRST serialized episode of Homesteady! Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment. We are in the process of installing another 10,000 feet of electric fence on 25 acres that will result in another nine paddocks. To be successful, you must sell quality, and I stress quality animals; send anything else to slaughter. Contact a breeder in your area about St. Croix hair sheep. November/December 2003 and regularly vetted for accuracy. In this area, hair sheep often sell higher than wool sheep. . After being on island for over a year, I thought it was about time to compile a list of both the pros and cons of living on St. Croix. Ewes usually have twin lambs but triplets are not unusual. You can find out more about lambing Dorper sheep through the American Dorper Sheep Breeders Society. } Akbash. Usually, around 150 to 155 days but most gestation is 152 days, Usually, around 150 to 240 day but most are milked for 180 days. He buys 4-6 much as graze. The sheep and I (Lynne Vanderlinden) live in Cave Junction (extreme SW), Oregon, outside of Grants Pass. By Deborah Robson and Carol Ekarius A broken lawn mover has led Aust to pondershould he buy a new ride-on lawnmower? In 1975, Dr. Warren Foote of Utah State University imported 22 ewes and three rams from St. Croix in the Virgin Islands. Passion for the outdoors. They were bred with other hard footed, shedding, Continue reading "Wiltipoll" to speed this process up, but like my Mother always said, "If it ain't 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. Since Missouri has more Katahdin sheep than any other state, the majority of export animals come from here. These rods also cost right around $450 - and are Elite St. Croix Fishing Rods. 1,800 sheep (same AUs) will bring in $300,000. We feel that our time must be used where it will improve our operation, rather than maintaining status quo. No need for shearing and tail-docking. Early mo. Sure enough, hes been trimming hooves. Sheep deposit some of the best fertilizer known to man. And yet, despite the careful mathematical calculations of profit margins, and scientific research on varieties and methods, and the technical ins and out of any pursuit, there is also that most incalculable of all variables: passion. Four years ago we began converting all our cropland into pasture and expanded the flock. Like many island nations, St. Croix struggles with power outages, which can disrupt daily life and be a nuisance. Foote chose a relatively consistent group of polled, white sheep from a landrace called Virgin Islands White. If this same time is spent building homestead fencing, watersystems, improving lambing or handling facilities, its improving an operation. People converting to hair sheep breeds all notice certain things. As we said in the introduction, if youre looking to earn multiple income streams from your sheep, youll probably find Katahdins to be the better option. However, they have the same sweet faces and disposition of Saanen goats. St Thomas is 32 square miles and is Centre of commerce and trade for the US Virgin Islands. Your in-laws might want to visit for extended periods of time! The main differences between these two breeds are the colors available, and what they can be used for. Both males and females are horned, sporting two, four and occasionally six horns. starting with the cons: The pros: (a They have the shedding quality of the Wiltshire Horn (which is traced back to the sheep of Roman times think Jason of the Argonauts). Green Pastures Farm St. Croix-sired ewe lambs are raised solely on forage. Many of the Dorper you see have been crossed with Katahdin sheep for several reasons. Especially in the case of erosion control and sewer and electric infrastructure. I have the land to run . Generally, hair breeds are more heat tolerant than wool breeds. People have tried for over a hundred years to find just the right breed to thrive in the tropical heat. People in the Midwest or southern states see this and make a trip to Alberta to purchase a super ram. A special thanks to our partner: RJS Bee Farm. The carcass weight on a pure St. Croix sheep is not suitable for commercial (meat sales) production. For several years weve had Romanov/Katahdin crosses. The St. Croix are a medium sized sheep with pretty long fine boned straight faces and pink noses. you want to do it for looks. As mentioned earlier, theres no price discount for Katahdin sheep or Dorper sheep in central Missouri. This versatile breed of sheep is also used for cheese and milk production on some farms. 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. Commercial qualities of our animals, all breeding stock, permanent wooly are! Experienced ewes averaged 2.1 lambs/ewe born with 1.9 weaned lambs ( on the hoof or freezer-ready ) no.! 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Family milk Cow MASTER CLASS Part 1 of 2 ): i was a resident St.! Have a great selection of young purebred rams born this spring that are ready for your breeding. Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment the tropical heat a hundred years develop.