Originating in South Africa, these lovable and attractive sheep tend to come with a lot more pros than cons. Notes: I grew up on a 100-acre sheep farm in Maine, was an active member in 4H, and I showed my flock across New England and at the national show in Louisville, Kentucky. Infect a St. Croix sheep with this disease and they brush it off like the common cold. 1. Your email address will not be published. This behavior causes problems with maintaining desirable trees unless protection is provided. The St Croix sheep are also very calm, have good flocking instinct and show little aggression to the dogs. While Im sure Ill rile a lot of Dorper breeders, Ive seen too many that had been sheared before a sale, which defeats the purpose of a hair animal. Croix SheepDeworming sheepPros and ConsDorper vs. St. Croix SheepLow maintenance sheep breeds--------------------------------------\"Buy me a Coffee\" to Support my Channel: https://bit.ly/ShphrdssCOFFEE READ MY BLOG: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessBLOG SHOP MY MERCH: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessMERCH#sheep #Dorpers #farming #ranching ----------------------------- About this Channel: This channel chronicles my journey as a sheep farmer from the very beginning. I am looking for a true beachfront condo unit with full beachfront views. 8. Sheep consume roughage as their primary feed. These rods also cost right around $450 - and are Elite St. Croix Fishing Rods. It is small, with ewes averaging 120 pounds and rams 165 pounds. RE/MAX can help! 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. We prefer using forage to produce lambs rather than wool. 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. If 220 reviews. Fact: In central Missouri, raising sheep for wool has been a losing proposition for a number of years. Akbash. A special thanks to our partner: RJS Bee Farm. 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. 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. Today, there are several landrace populations within this breed family in the Caribbean. 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. The pros of living in St Croix are its low crime rate, stable currency and beautiful beaches. It has an entirely different purposemeat. Where to stay . This is down to the fantastic range of benefits they deliver. 80 pounds at 90 days can be expected. Join Here, Wild Harvest The Whitetail Accelerator Course. November/December 2003 and regularly vetted for accuracy. Breeders are listed by state, but only if they request to be listed. St. Croix sheep are excellent foragers and very easy keepers. They are prized for their lambing ability and their carcasses that are lean and meaty. Regardless of how much logical, financial, or any other type of sense any decision makes, without passion to fuel the effort, I truly believe success is limited. Sheep require a minimum . We would definitely like a breed that is more docile, hardy and produces. meat-to-bone ratio. (You're sitting there nodding in agreement, arent you?). Fact: While it's true that Barbados and St. Croix are small animals (ewes 80-110 pounds), few commercial breeders raise them. If you are looking for manageable, high-yield livestock to raise on limited acreage, you should seriously consider St. Croix hair sheep. There is also the possibility of shearing sheep and selling wool. Have you posted your Bee interview you talked about on this podcast? might be hesitant about getting back into any kind of sheep. After being in the business of raising wool sheep of various kinds for two decades, I decided in 2005 to start with hair sheep. To be successful, you must sell quality, and I stress quality animals; send anything else to slaughter. We may be partial to the breed, but were not raising a hobby flock. Your email address will not be published. Electricity and Cell Coverage. They browse as (Lynne Vanderlinden) live in Cave Junction (extreme SW), Oregon, outside DOWNLOAD MY FREE Sheep Farming E-book: https://bit.ly/SheepEBOOKSt. of Grants Pass. They can be used for the sheep skin which has a good quality to it. Know a lot about lawn mowers, but nothing about sheep? You may be surprised to learn it's easy to train sheep. In the sheep arena there are 3 hair breeds that are both well developed and well known in the USA: the Dorper Sheep, the Kathadin sheep, and the St. Croix sheep. I began to write an reflection of this episode where I waxed poetic about lawns, livestock, and this episode of Curious George. Little mowing. A type of hair breed, Katahdin sheep originate in the United States. All things being equal 300 cows will bring in $150,000 a year. They also benefit from a long productive life, giving you maximum bang for your buck. Foote chose a relatively consistent group of polled, white sheep from a landrace called Virgin Islands White. Podcast update on that coming soon! The St Croix sheep breed originated in the Virgin Islands and as a result it is sometimes referred to as the Virgin Island White. 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. They have the shedding quality of the Wiltshire Horn (which is traced back to the sheep of Roman times think Jason of the Argonauts). Kingshill, St. Croix,, Virgin Islands 00850. Raising Sheep Has Some Cons. 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. We have an 18-cell planned grazing system with 10,000 feet of electric fence and 5,000 feet of underground waterline on 35 acres. The St. Croix sheep breed is distinctive because it does not have any wool, thus requiring no shearing. In this article we will explore all the pros and cons of living in St Thomas. Email us at [emailprotected]. The Teeswater has a lean meat with a good meat to bone ratio and light bone. Save 20 days of your life you would otherwise spend plucking chickens! Address: #1 Estate Lower Love. Flock owners with less than 50 animals have a difficult time getting someone to shear unless they pool their animals with neighbors. I went to the St Croix line in 2008. and I currently run around 250 head. There are a lot of advantages to keeping Dorper sheep in the US. (Grabbing a Romanov thats been walking through cockleburs is like wrestling with a 130-pound cocklebur.). ST. CROIX HAIR SHEEP. Twice a year my friend with Polypays shows up at work doubled over as he shuffles around in pain. The St. Croix is a North American sheep breed thats part of the Caribbean Hair sheep family. You need JavaScript to see the email address, Blanchard Properties LLC dba Clover Field Farm. I would love to get in touch with the author personally. My favorite vlog of yours was about your new animals, goats and sheep. Accountant Mike and Aust battle it out: To mow or not to mow? The St. Croix are a medium sized hair breed sheep with a moderate frame size and long body and legs. ST. To speak to one of our agents contact us today. Dorper lambs have amazing growth rates when young. naturally longer list, and remember, this is from my personal } Led by Kim Lucas, who pioneered the concept of Buyer Agency on the island, the agents at Island Life, by design, embody the . Katahdin is probably the more economical choice, however, namely because they can produce both meat and milk. 1. If you have kids, sheep can make a wonderful family pet. No We normally worm our lambs 3-4 times a summer and the ewes not at all. Breeding stock is selected under rigorous criteria, including parasite resistance, hair coat, growth characteristics on grass alone and general thriftiness. Barbado Sheep Cons. List of the Pros of Living in St. Thomas. This has nothing to do with genetics and everything to do with the latitude in which the animal lives: Things being equal, our weights will be lower than the weights of similar Katahdins raised in Canada, but higher than ones raised in Florida. St. Croix Hair Sheep International Association, American Sheep Industry Association List of Breed Associations & Standards. Did you know that Dorper sheep dont need to be sheared? you want to do it for looks. We are interested purchasing Katahdin sheep and found this article very helpful. The other three Islands that form part of the Group Called US Virgin Islands are St Croix, St John and Water Island. - They will eat 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. To properly flush a ewe, she should be on an upward nutritional plane and gaining weight. Breeders Association. If Laurel Field 8835 S Lone Elder Rd Canby, OR 97013 503-263-6376 secretary@stcroixhairsheep.org . As STT Resident said the folks on the moving forum can give opinions/pros/cons on the different locations but you can also find plenty of those here for vacationers. Sheep, however, cannot simply be parked in the shed once they're done dining. A qualityregistered lamb will bring triple the fat lamb price. Our Wiltipoll sheep were developed in Australia from the Wiltshire Horn shedding horned sheep and Poll Dorset sheep back in the 1980s. 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. Two breeds, the Barbados Blackbelly and the St. Croix,are also found in North America. Love the podcast, by the way. Reply. I just recentky discovered your Youtube channel and now your blog. 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. 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. I unavailability of shearers and then having to practically give away the Bosnians want 60-pound animals while Muslims often prefer 60-80 pound animals. How Many Sheep Per Acre of Pasture is Ideal? Click hereto learn how you can help. The Senepol breed combines the N'Dama characteristics of . Thank so much for this information. 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. Passion for the outdoors. Did you know: They are of a medium well sprung frame with long muscle type or pattern. In fact, they can grow up to 250lbs. When comparing weights, keep in mind we live in north central Missouri. There are five lambing periods each year. starting with the cons: The pros: (a Rather than listening to this episode and thinking wow, I should look into livestock, I urge you all to take away the larger message and ask yourself: What is ONE decision I can make to further my passion? Do these ventures create a profit that make sheep a good business decision? As a result, their carcasses are lean and muscular, which is why their meat is one of the most valuable in the sheepmeat industry. DOWNLOAD MY FREE Sheep Farming E-book: https://bit.ly/SheepEBOOKSt. Generally, hair breeds are more heat tolerant than wool breeds. raising St. Croix hair sheep? Answer (1 of 2): I was a resident of St. Thomas for four (4) years beginning in 2004. 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. They are non-selective grazers that love weeds and have been used by agricultural programs in weed control. . Photographs: Dr. Jerry Fitch, Extension Sheep Specialist . The last straw was the increasing Most hair sheep breeds will lamb out of season without resorting to hormone therapy. 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. The Meatmaster offers farmers an excellent alternative with unique characteristics to meet the International market. Dorper Vs Katadhin Sheep: Which is better for your homestead? My wife and I feel theres no best breed, but rather which breed best fits your operation. OT+=ML.charAt(MI.charCodeAt(j)-48); Their feet is black and have a black muzzle. They like large groups of lambs on each farm, prefer solid colors, registered and must be enrolled in the scrapie program. Like many island nations, St. Croix struggles with power outages, which can disrupt daily life and be a nuisance. Better vigor. - They breed like 3 years ago. available for sale. Decision-making is an art and a science. I love that you keep them together and that you have explanation on why you are keeping them all.. Any updates on those? Many ethnic groups want a much different lamb or goat than has been marketed in the past. Many Greeks eat lamb for Easter, which is not always the same date as the traditional Easter. 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. weaned wether lambs every spring and butchers them around November. If you'd care to discuss this breed and its suitability for you, or if you already have them and just want to exchange thoughts, I'd love to chat. Which brings me to the first reason I do not enhance St. Croix sheep. Our young Katahdins can be difficult to move. Medium sized, fine textured and alert at the sides of their head. Sheep production does not require elaborate facilities and equipment. Compared to other breeds, these sheep are relatively new, dating back to the 1950s. Katahdin sheep will strip the bark from cedars, pines and any deciduous tree that has smooth, immature bark. Originally publishedin sheep! Could I have some input on pros and cons of st croix sheep, please! Other than a few lambs for Hispanic weddings, we sell our slaughter animals through the local auction barn. The Meatmaster Breeders established and developed a sheep breed as close to nature as possible and allow the . In colder areas, they grow a heavy winter coat of wool and hair that is shed in the spring. Fact: Katahdin sheep, at least, will thrive from hot, humid Florida to the western provinces of Canada. Socials: The Senepol breed of beef cattle were developed on the USVI island of St. Croix by Henry C. Nelthropp in the early 1900's by crossing Red Poll cattle and N'Dama cattle. (A friend with Polypay and Katahdin sheep has had the same experience. Because of this behavior, and the mild temperament of the Boz, I was able to raise . They would be for pasture management and meat. Your First Family Milk Cow MASTER CLASS Part 1. Read more and see the photo gallery here. They can provide you with information pertaining to regulations, health requirements and local export brokers. St. Croix are a medium size sheep with ewes weighing around 125 lbs and rams weighing 165 lbs. Thinking about Two weeks later, the ewes hadnt lost any body condition. This combination of characteristics makes the breed an excellent choice for low input meat production. wonderful pets, lawn mowers and weed eaters. We both work off thefarm; therefore time is a commodity in short supply. However, they have been cross-bred with other breeds over the years to develop the modern breed we see today. If a ewe misses a breeding, she can still lamb three times in two years. Early mo. Plus, they are also great with small livestock including baby livestock. On the other hand, living in St Croix has its cons such as the threat of natural disasters, the high cost of shipping to the island and no direct international flights. I mean, Im from the suburbs. Thinking about These sheep are broke to hot wire and being moved every 2 days. They produce excellent fertilizer. raising St. Croix hair sheep? You can even crossbreed them to develop unique varieties for your farm or homestead. 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. My primary occupation is in business management. Hi, we are looking at beginning a small flock of hair sheep. Contrary to the benefits of Barbado sheep, it has more disadvantages. This is inconvenient since you must pasture ram lambs separately from ewes to prevent unplanned pregnancies. Katahdin sheep and Dorper are bred as meat sheep breeds. St. Croix were first brought to the Caribbean via West Africa. After two seasons of growing plants based upon capricious wants (see here for how that turned out), we finally began to do research to inform ourselves on the best possible way to grow the vegetables and plants we want and enjoy. Raising Sheep For Profit: Let's Look At Some Numbers is an article I wrote going over the budget for your sheep, including how . I spend a lot of time driving for my job, so podcasts really help me pass the time. 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. 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. After living in the city, we found a town where we could afford enough land (not a farm, just a big yard) to start experimenting with homesteading. Since hair sheep dont have a heavy wool coat, they cant take the cold. The best genetics wont keep an animal from starving to death. These include: Dorper sheep dont produce much milk or wool, which means raising them for meat is your only option. I You may also search using the map below. One of the first major successes was the N'Dama from West Africa, imported to St. Croix in the mid- to late 1800s. These slaughter lambs sell comparable to pure Katahdin sheep per pound unless theyre full of cockleburs and briars. Purebred lambs can reach a weight of 19.9 kgs at 8 weeks old. Consider the pros and cons featured above before making your decision. Aside from the obvious (they taste good), they make Pros and Cons, https://dorpersheep.org/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2022-Mid-America-Dorper-Sale-Report-1.pdf?fs=e&s=cl. Katahdin can be used for both meat and milk, whereas Dorper sheep are only good for meat production. We are avid fans of St. Croix Hair Sheep, and support the advancement of this excellent breed. In my own life, with a family, a job, and multiple interests, needs, and dreams, learning to make decisions has become a necessary skill. When the pastures are poor, hair animals hold their body condition much better. Croix sheep are the most parasite resistant breed, so why don't I raise them on my farm? Most Muslims prefer intact ram lambs without tails being docked. They usually carry their heads very upright and are an active alert breed. Its also common to see animals of up to a year old climbing to the top of a big bale of hay. of Grants Pass. I'm torn between Dorper sheep and St Croix sheep. I've mentioned the good along with the bad here . Hi Ben, we do have an update they are not here anymore! Although they are one of the newest sheep breeds introduced in America, Katahdin sheep have quickly become a popular choice. Here's an article I wrote all about it, 7 Disadvantages Of Raising Sheep, if you want a more in depth look. A common lamb on good pasture will perform better than Super Lamb on poor pasture. naturally longer list, and remember, this is from. Senepol. (Weve heard them all.). . 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. Search Island-wide Listings Here! St. Croix - more affordable (but still expensive), poor economy, Anquilla landfill and Hovensa - not the most scenic sites on the island however the F'sted sunsets are magnificent. 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. 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. I've decided to let them fall in love only once a year. 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. . While both breeds are exceptionally popular in the US, there are some differences between the two. The majority of ewe lambs are sold as registered breeding stock; the majority of ram lambs are sold for slaughter. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. To appeal to ethnic buyers, it often requires a change in flock management. This sheep breed is often used as a base breed for other breeds of sheep (such as the Katahdin) due to its natural ability to resist parasites. P.S. People in the Midwest or southern states see this and make a trip to Alberta to purchase a super ram. 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). You can find out more about lambing Dorper sheep through the American Dorper Sheep Breeders Society. 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. Even though I feed well, they will always Sheep provide two sources of cash income: lamb and wool. We feel this has contributed to the introduction with the Turkish Boz Shepherd Livestock Guardian dogs that seemed more like bringing together old friends. They can harbor significant worm populations, yet not suffer the same effects a wool animal would. They have a long life and the ewes can produce lambs for up to 10 to 12 years of age. Here are a few of the not so great things about sheep that you should know about. Despite what you may read otherwise, most sheep are not overly friendly. Katahdin sheep and Dorper are bred as meat sheep breeds. Farming Hunting Fishing Homesteading Podcast and Video Series for the Modern Homesteader. Raising chickens? Their hair falls off naturally during the year, making them an easy breed to care for. 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. They require food in the winter, when the lawns of New England are covered in snow, medical attention, and shelter. As opposed to lawnmowers, when they are fully grown, they can be butchered and either sold or served for dinner. Thirty percent of the ewes were first-time lambers, having an average of 1.2 lambs/ewe. The Jacob sheep is indeed a unique breed in America. They are made after hours of research, consulting with experienced mentors, and running numbers about the cost of any new venture vs. any possible revenue. When the weathers hot and the pastures are dry, their wool animals will be under a tree while the hair animals are out grazing. to speed this process up, but like my Mother always said, "If it ain't They are mainly white in color, and they have wool all over their bodies except for their bare. perspective). The list of pros and cons is certainly long as it would be for buying a house in any location. Sheep Nutrition Guide: Sheep Feed Requirements Per Day, Our Weaving Loom Guide (everything you need to know), Sheep Trailer Options (choosing the best kind for you). Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment. The low maintenance qualities of Katahdins allow us the time to do so. 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. The hair coat, which eliminates the need for shearing, is part of this adaptation. 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. 1,800 sheep (same AUs) will bring in $300,000. Slight of build, with the narrow, lean carcass typical of some of the ancient British breeds, they are immediately noticeable due to their black and white fleeces and prominent horns. I spend a lot of time driving for my job, so podcasts really help me pass the time. The sheep and I The carcass weight on a pure St. Croix sheep is not suitable for commercial (meat sales) production. That means you will receive protection via the criminal laws of the United States. The sheep tend not to deposit fat within their muscle. A biography of my early adulthood could be called The Consequences of the Poorly Thought Out Choices.. wonderful pets, lawn mowers and weed eaters. Salty air can take its toll on your things, especially electronics. By Deborah Robson and Carol Ekarius Pro's: Seeing the Southern . After lambing season, most of our sheep time is spent managing our pastures so that we can provide our animals with the best quality forage possible. 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. This makes them one of the more profitable breeds to specialize in. Having raised them since 1999, here's my honest evaluation of the St. Croix breed - I currently have some Dorpers (They don't seem to shed well and I've heard they have lower parasite resistance.) If you'd care to discuss To learn more about St Croix sheep or to find a breeder near you, visit the St. Croix Hair Sheep Breeders website. Today I am going to talk about why I raise Dorper sheep instead of St. Croix sheep, despite the fact that St. Croix would seem to be a better fit for my climate. The St. Croix is a North American sheep breed that's part of the Caribbean Hair sheep family. For us, the Katahdin sheep breed fits our operation and our philosophy quite well. While I cant speak for other hair sheep breeds, Katahdin sheep are often more flighty than many other breeds: Several producers of both hair and wool animals have found coyote losses are considerably lower with Katahdins. The Field Guide to Fleece The breed is believed to be descended from African . Aust shares his entire conversation with Susan Napotnik about selecting the perfect breed of sheep here on thePioneer sheep episode. ground, swell. Hi! Yes, Quality: Good tanned hides have been likened to a deer skin quality. The breed has well-documented parasite resistance, far superior to that found in most other sheep breeds. However, if thats what you are looking for then this breed might not be for you. Several myths still surround hair sheep. you want lots of sheep in a short period of time and have a lot of Locals of the island refer to themselves as Crucians. The flocking instinct of hair animals generally isnt as good as wool breeds. We find its seldom necessary to trim hooves. It is bred as non-fat tailed sheep for top meat production. 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.

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