Any hair sheep folks on this site?
- Thread starter Ebenezer
- Start date
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cowboy43
Well-known member
How many breeds of hair sheep are there? The only breed I know of is the Katahdin Breed developed in Maine In the fifty's. I have a friend who sold his goats and sheep and replaced with Katahdin He says they are easier to maintain , He sells them at the local cattle auction and they bring top dollar.
I have not seen sheep or goats discussed on this board , must not be many that raise sheep.
I have not seen sheep or goats discussed on this board , must not be many that raise sheep.
J&D Cattle
Well-known member
I posted a thread a couple of weeks ago with several views but nearly zero activity. Fenceman did reply and said that he used to have some. I'm looking to buy a few. Cattle intimidate my wife and I think my kids would enjoy them as well.
Jake
Well-known member
We have dorpers and dorper crosses. Have some katahdin blood, however they lack power and growth and the fertility isn't over the top. We have started crossing with a romanov ram and really like what we are seeing so far out of those, lots of vigor from birth, low death loss and will improve our fertility.
fenceman
Well-known member
Ebenezer
Well-known member
These are St. Croix. F1 females make great commercial ewes bred back to a terminal ram. We have the background of about 6 or 7 generations of breeding stock that we have never needed to worm. A closed flock book so the crosses really enjoy hybrid vigor.cowboy43":2gf64768 said:
Other hair breed is Barbados. Two variations in that breed. Tend to be a little flighty in general with less size.
Strong market in the east but it is seasonal.
I started with Wiltipers at school, and went over to Dorper after I bought my first property and had some improved grazing for them. I started with a small flock of Damara when we moved to Namibia, for the commercial market I crossed some with Suffolk for a larger lamb, most were sold live to local tribesmen. Before my recent move I had started a flock of Wiltshire Horns, the only British hair/shedding breed, I had intended doing a Wiltshire/Dorper composite (Wiltshire Horn have less footrot problems in UK conditions) When I can organize some grazing here I intend starting with Wiltshire Horns again.
