Our spring lambs require 4-5 pounds of dry matter forage to produce each pound of gain. , here's my honest evaluation of the St. Croix breed -
A common lamb on good pasture will perform better than Super Lamb on poor pasture. Additionally, cell phone coverage can be spotty in some remote areas of the island. They usually carry their heads very upright and are an active alert breed. Sure enough, hes been trimming hooves. Pro's: Seeing the Southern . Pros and Cons, https://dorpersheep.org/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2022-Mid-America-Dorper-Sale-Report-1.pdf?fs=e&s=cl. Two weeks later, the ewes hadnt lost any body condition. Log in, WHY I DONT RAISE ST. CROIX SHEEP | DORPER vs. ST. CROIX as Meat Breeds. I wish to sign up to your exclusive club but I dont think that it is much needed at this point as I dont have a farm or even a garden yet. Katahdin sheep and Dorper are bred as meat sheep breeds. Though heat tolerant, the sheep can be raised in many parts of North America. I know there is a good market for hair sheep lambs as well. 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. Since Missouri has more Katahdin sheep than any other state, the majority of export animals come from here. weaned wether lambs every spring and butchers them around November. Search Island-wide Listings Here! Theyre too small to be of commercial value. - They will eat
My name is Joe and Im the owner of RaisingSheep.net a site where I share information and tips about raising sheep for fun, for show, and for profit. For example, we consider time spent worming, shearing, docking and trimming hooves as merely maintaining an operation. 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. Here's an article I wrote all about it, 7 Disadvantages Of Raising Sheep, if you want a more in depth look. This may or may not be the case in other states. ML="e@fycsptg"; : Did you know Accountant Mike is a reality star? 3,600 posts. St. Croix were first brought to the Caribbean via West Africa. 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. This is the first time we have Aust step out from behind the curtain of his homestead in a particularly vulnerable position: as a newbie. Most Muslims prefer intact ram lambs without tails being docked. I'm torn between Dorper sheep and St Croix sheep. to speed this process up, but like my Mother always said, "If it ain't
Save. Breeders Association. We were recently invited out by a couple who are seriously considering moving here and they wanted to know the same things. A broken lawn mover has led Aust to pondershould he buy a new ride-on lawnmower? it wasn't foot rot, it was prolapse, or sheer stupidity (let's lay under
Insurance for a beachfront property tends to be a bit higher. - They breed like
Here are my pros and cons (in no particular order). St. Croix sheep are excellent foragers and very easy keepers. Two breeds, the Barbados Blackbelly and the St. Croix,are also found in North America. Thank you. To speak to one of our agents contact us today. My primary occupation is in business management. Thinking about
(Weve heard them all.). The low maintenance qualities of Katahdins allow us the time to do so. Best Features & Instincts of Katahdin Sheep If
These slaughter lambs sell comparable to pure Katahdin sheep per pound unless theyre full of cockleburs and briars. 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. Save 20 days of your life you would otherwise spend plucking chickens! 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 St. Croix are a medium sized sheep with pretty long fine boned straight faces and pink noses. 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. Offspring of this imported group were further selected for consistency of conformation, and this process has resulted in the development of the St. Croix, a standardized breed in the United States. $ 350. Image via Shutterstock. My favorite vlog of yours was about your new animals, goats and sheep. I went to the St Croix line in 2008. and I currently run around 250 head. The Team at Retire in the VI and St Croix Island Life Real Estate is comprised of a bright and fun group of folks who share a love of St Croix and a desire to help others realize their dream of establishing a home here. Where to stay . Our grass-fed ewes normally go into the fall with a body score of 4-5, which makes flushing difficult: Adult Katahdin sheep can maintain themselves on poor quality forage that had our Romanovs literally skin and bones. Senepol. In 2020, I discovered the principles of regenerative agriculture and embarked on a journey with the end goal of building a profitable small farm on 23 acres by 2027. If Bowdridge can figure out the genetic marker that allows St. Croix to be immune from this parasite, he could help the entire sheep population of America. My email is van@cavenet.com and my phone number is 541-592-3444. Our Wiltipoll sheep were developed in Australia from the Wiltshire Horn shedding horned sheep and Poll Dorset sheep back in the 1980s. The main questions to ask yourself to determine the answer are: Katahdin sheep come in multiple color varieties, whereas Dorper sheep are white and black. We both work off thefarm; therefore time is a commodity in short supply. Over time, "so so" infertile fields can become fairly rich. Anyone have any experience with specific breeds? raising St. Croix hair sheep? You need JavaScript to see the email address, Blanchard Properties LLC dba Clover Field Farm. Hair sheep are preferred to wool sheep for meat purposes for a number of reasons: More mild-flavored meat. 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. Your email address will not be published. Due to "con" number
Breeders often use less-expensive Katahdin ewes to initiate an upgrading program with registered Dorper as the final goal. Not a Pioneer? Hair sheep breeds (Katahdin, St. Croix, Barbados) generally have much greater parasite resistance than wooled breeds, especially after one year of age. Add to our blog community by sharingthat step in the comments! I say this because unlike some other breeds mentioned, this breed only becomes hostile when challenged (if trained properly.) If this same time is spent building homestead fencing, watersystems, improving lambing or handling facilities, its improving an operation. When the pastures are poor, hair animals hold their body condition much better. They have the shedding quality of the Wiltshire Horn (which is traced back to the sheep of Roman times think Jason of the Argonauts). In 1975, Dr. Warren Foote of Utah State University imported 22 ewes and three rams from St. Croix in the Virgin Islands. You can overcome this by making sure your walls are high enough, and that there is nothing in their enclosure that they can climb onto. (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 fiber/hair that is shed annually and does not contain any wool fiber. St. Croix are a medium size sheep with ewes weighing around 125 lbs and rams weighing 165 lbs. This is down to the fantastic range of benefits they deliver. Aside from the obvious (they taste good), they make
The St. Croix is a North American sheep breed that's part of the Caribbean Hair sheep family. My friend also mentioned his Katahdin-Dorper lambs are much fatter when born than Polypays. The sheep proliferated as subsistence livestock and were also valued for the manure critical . A qualityregistered lamb will bring triple the fat lamb price. The breed has well-documented parasite resistance, far superior to that found in most other sheep breeds. They also benefit from a long productive life, giving you maximum bang for your buck. If
The St. Croix is increasing in numbers, and though it is still rare, the breeds future seems promising. Re: Buying a house. I dont have a farm yet as I work as an ordinary rank and file employee but it is my ultimate goal to have one someday. Green Pastures Farm St. Croix-sired ewe lambs are raised solely on forage. 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. In the 1970's, the Wiltshire Horn, a shedding breed from England, was introduced. My wife and I feel theres no best breed, but rather which breed best fits your operation. They also tend to be highly mobile, which means they will climb on top of anything. When comparing weights, keep in mind we live in north central Missouri. 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. 509-688-5168 Ralph Jost Wild Rose St. Croix 21720 N Spotted Rd, Deer Park, Washington 99006. 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. they don't jump on you, run over you, or jump on cars and over fences. As a bit of trivia, the majority of cull ewes the U.S. exports go to the Mexico City area. Of the ewe lambs exposed, 95 percent gave birth at the age of 11-13 months. Libyans prefer old worn out buck goats for their stronger flavor. wool. We are avid fans of St. Croix Hair Sheep, and support the advancement of this excellent breed. Triplets are not unusual, and they can lamb twice a year. The St. Croix are used to train working dogs and are used in sheep dog trials. 228 views. The main differences between these two breeds are the colors available, and what they can be used for. Cost - Sheep aren't cheap. Ive seen Shropshire being used to keep weeds and grass down in Christmas tree plantations. 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. Fact: While its true that Barbados and St. Croix are small animals (ewes 80-110 pounds), few commercial breeders raise them. They have a long life and the ewes can produce lambs for up to 10 to 12 years of age. They will stand on their hind feet like goats to strip any low hanging limbs of their leaves. They have many similarities with the Corriedale sheep. 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. This is a very old article and I do not have the contact info for John. They produce excellent fertilizer. 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. To be honest, every breed has it's pros and cons, and Dorper vs. St Croix is not different . Katahdin sheep are one of several hair breeds, the most common of which includes Barbados Black Belly, St. Croix and Dorper sheep. Lambs can also take a little longer to reach their market weight than some other breeds of sheep. Excellent way to promote parasite resistance into your flock! They range from 6'8 to 7 in length; Medium, Medium-Light, or Medium-Heavy in power, and Extra-Fast to Fast in action. Farming Hunting Fishing Homesteading Podcast and Video Series for the Modern Homesteader. And we all know from the last episode the downside of growing useless grass. You can also use them for multiple income streams thanks to their excellent meat and milk production. clean up what my little princesses (goats) won't touch. As with any young growing animal, the weight gains of a Katahdin lamb increase as the protein and digestibility of the forage increases. 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. Better vigor. Work with your states department of agriculture if youre interested in export sales. Positive benefits of St. Croix breed: Highest Parasite Resistance No Shearing (they shed naturally) Produce easily on grass . Some Advantages of Producing Sheep. You see, this sheep doesn't need shearingit sheds its fleece once a year. Love the podcast, by the way. 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 . November/December 2003 and regularly vetted for accuracy. Which brings us to the sheep in men's underwear from . The St. Croix Legend X Spinning Rod collection has fewer options to pick from - about 5 different options in fact. The influence of the Wiltshire Horn was later diminished as selection against horns was imposed . Some of the main pros of keeping Katahdin sheep include: Katahdin sheep are one of the easiest breeds of sheep to care for. Have you ever thought about the wayslawnmowers are dangerous? 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. For us, the Katahdin sheep breed fits our operation and our philosophy quite well. Our sponsor The Power Plucker will make your life easier. 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. Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment. 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. What Needle Felting Supplies Do You Use for Sculpting? practically anything. For registered breeding stock, permanent wooly fibers are a no-no. If you have a lot of visitors around your homestead, then this breed might be one that you'd want to consider. United States of America. 8. P.S. Love the podcast, by the way. They naturally shed their wool throughout the seasons. and I have. These are the toughest sheep you will find anywhere in the US. Good luck! This behavior causes problems with maintaining desirable trees unless protection is provided. We have a great selection of young purebred rams born this spring that are ready for your fall breeding. You can even crossbreed them to develop unique varieties for your farm or homestead. No scurs, either. After being in the business of raising wool sheep of various kinds for two decades, I decided in 2005 to start with hair sheep. If youre grazing crop-field aftermath, their coat will pick up trash where a Katahdin wont. Sheep require a minimum . Fact: Eight or ten years ago you could expect a 5-10 cents/pound discount for hair animals. I've mentioned the good along with the bad here . To learn more about St Croix sheep or to find a breeder near you, visit the St. Croix Hair Sheep Breeders website. There are very few disadvantages of keeping Katahdin sheep. Your email address will not be published. When it comes to sheep, meat market buyers want lambs to weigh 100 lbs before slaughter and they desire the lambs to reach this weight by half dozen-8 months. Flock owners with less than 50 animals have a difficult time getting someone to shear unless they pool their animals with neighbors. Due to "con" number
University of South Dakota research found it requires 250-300 pounds of dry matter forage to produce each pound of wool. - They seem
3 years ago. To learn more you can read our completeadvertising policy. As mentioned earlier, hair sheep breeds are considerably more heat-tolerant than wool breeds. this breed and its suitability for you, or if you already have them and
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. To be successful, you must sell quality, and I stress quality animals; send anything else to slaughter. Your email address will not be published. We also sell breeding stock locally. They are of a medium well sprung frame with long muscle type or pattern. 80 pounds at 90 days can be expected. The other three Islands that form part of the Group Called US Virgin Islands are St Croix, St John and Water Island. Hair sheep dont bring as much on the slaughter market. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. They dont need to be sheared, they have a docile temperament making them easy to handle, and they are resistant to disease. Join here. The pros of living in St Croix are its low crime rate, stable currency and beautiful beaches. Is there anything more suburban than lawnmowers? you want lots of sheep in a short period of time and have a lot of
A special thanks to our partner: RJS Bee Farm. might be hesitant about getting back into any kind of sheep. They can provide you with information pertaining to regulations, health requirements and local export brokers. Sheep Breeds. Hair sheep can also produce leather as a useful byproduct. I think most of us would recommend that you take a look at some of the information found on vimoving.com as hey are a site dedicated to providing helpful . } Podcast update on that coming soon! Do these ventures create a profit that make sheep a good business decision? In my own life, with a family, a job, and multiple interests, needs, and dreams, learning to make decisions has become a necessary skill. They are prized for their lambing ability and their carcasses that are lean and meaty. 2 - Cultural Perspective (and a brief history lesson) Prior to deciding on St. Croix we entertained the idea of teaching internationally and really liked the idea of offering our children (two boys 9 and 7) a broader cultural perspective. 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. Can anyone help me with pros and cons? Several Polypay owners in the area worm all animals 6-8 times during the summer and still lose animals to stomach worms. the rain gutter and lamb). This makes them one of the more profitable breeds to specialize in. Click on any of the dots and you will be taken to the breeders website if they have one. Keeping Sheep (how to prepare your farm & yourself), Best Sheep Breeds for Beginners (your options), How to Create a Business Plan for Sheep Farming, How to Buy a Lamb that Will Win! A few more interesting facts to know about the breed, They are pretty docile but very active and vigorous as such no child should be left unsupervised around them. In years past, 18-30 pound lambs sold well in Chicago for Jewish Passover. Fact: In central Missouri, raising sheep for wool has been a losing proposition for a number of years. #5 Company Street, Christiansted, VI 00820. info@remax-stcroix.com | 340.773.1048 | 855.909.9152 | Fax: 340.773.1917. In fact, they can grow up to 250lbs. This video describes why I raise Dorper sheep instead of St. Croix sheep as a meat production breed.Join my Newsletter: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessNWSLTRFOLLOW MY INSTAGRAM: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessIG -the Shepherdess0:00 Raising Dorper Sheep1:36 Dorper vs St. Croix Sheep Size2:50 The Best Sheep Breed for Meat 4:00 Dorper Sheep Bring Nearly 1 MILLION5:05 How I Manage Parasites on My Sheep Farm6:00 Greg Judy Farms St. CroixIn this video:The best sheep breed for meatMicro Ranching for Profitsheep farming in the USADorper SheepMeat SheepSt. I've been told that Dorper grow faster but are open to parasites. To properly flush a ewe, she should be on an upward nutritional plane and gaining weight. Laurel Field 8835 S Lone Elder Rd Canby, OR 97013 503-263-6376 secretary@stcroixhairsheep.org We would definitely like a breed that is more docile, hardy and produces. The St. Croix is a North American sheep breed thats part of the Caribbean Hair sheep family. Columbia Sheep Characteristics. ~Ann, Your email address will not be published. Breeders are listed by state, but only if they request to be listed. They can be used for the sheep skin which has a good quality to it. The Jacob sheep is indeed a unique breed in America. This spring we had an overall lambing average of 1.9 lambs/ewe born with 1.7 lambs weaned. There is no hoof trimming, no grain, no weaning, no shots or worming and minimal hay. The Senepol breed combines the N'Dama characteristics of . Or pass over a new machine and invest in some sheep to eat the lawn? Despite what you may read otherwise, most sheep are not overly friendly. 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. for(j=0;j