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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2015 0:35:56 GMT
We raise Katahdins. They're certainly easier than goats: Seldom any issues at all lambing, they don't require as much feed, they're usually quiet. Kind of stooopid, but in a nice way.
One of the ewes, Medb, is a loudmouth, though. If she wasn't the dam of the ram lamb I want to use to breed next year, I would be inclined to send her to Kamp Kenmore.
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Post by claytonpiano on Mar 30, 2015 1:49:07 GMT
So, tell me how hard they are to raise. We are trying to decide what we want in the pasture we are creating. DH is afraid they will be a problem with disease in our area. We are concerned about have escape artist goats.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2015 2:10:47 GMT
My goats have not really tried to escape, although we now have a wethered Boer who loves nothing more than to show the sheep how to get through the barbed wire and come up into the yard. Smart goat, stooopid sheep. But they are really not bad as a rule. We move them around so there's no problem with parasites. Katahdin (and other hair sheep) are browsers as well as grazers, so they'll eat just about any vegetation you have. This includes, of course, fruit trees, so keeping the trees penned up is a good idea.  We can talk about goats in the goat forum, or I can tell you right here that my goats are "classical" Nubians who do not go over 4' welded wire. They have a lot more personality than the sheep, and they produce milk. But they are a bit more work. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2015 2:11:08 GMT
Oh! We run the sheep and goats together for the most part.
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Post by PNP Katahdins on Mar 30, 2015 2:38:28 GMT
DH is afraid they will be a problem with disease in our area. What kind of diseases is he afraid of? Unless it's that liking sheep may be contagious enough that you will want more sheep and fewer goats. Peg |
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Post by bergere on Mar 30, 2015 12:29:27 GMT
I have some very nice Katahdin and a Katahdin/Dorper/St Croix cross. Halter trained all of them, they are gentle and easy to deal with. They get yearly CD&T and rabies vaccines. (rabies is bad in this area... so I give this shot to all the animals I handle)
De worm as needed.
If you keep your flock healthy, you shouldn't have any issues.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2015 17:04:15 GMT
I have katahdins for the first time this year. Given a choice, would they rather graze for browse. I have lots of grass greening up in a fenced yard and wonder if I allow them access will they graze or eat my plants?
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Post by bergere on Mar 30, 2015 17:31:14 GMT
Most likely both,, graze and eat the plants, specially the ones you don't want them to eat. That is what mine does to me... if they get a chance.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2015 18:16:19 GMT
We have Dorper. The only issue we have with them is hoof scald this time of year. We do shear what doesn't shed off in July-Aug mainly to keep them "clean" looking. We have lots of single kids but they are fantastic with high rate of gain.
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Post by Awnry Abe on Mar 31, 2015 3:40:37 GMT
We raise Katahdins. They're certainly easier than goats: Seldom any issues at all lambing, they don't require as much feed, they're usually quiet. Kind of stooopid, but in a nice way. One of the ewes, Medb, is a loudmouth, though. If she wasn't the dam of the ram lamb I want to use to breed next year, I would be inclined to send her to Kamp Kenmore. Quiet? Not mine. They used to be. Then I got them hooked on Chaffhaye. Now I just look like a giant white compressed block to them. I was out cleaning up a winter eye-sore outside of their paddock and couldn't even hear myself think. I want to move the sheep back up to where the commercial goats used to reside. Nice digs up there. DW wants to wait until they lamb, which is now thru April. I really don't want to feed them the premium food that I have for the LaManchas. I eager to act, but will wait. They are a bunch of first-timers, so the ewe to lamb bond is precarious. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2015 13:23:12 GMT
I don't have sheep now, but used to raise St. Croix hair sheep. They were much easier to care for than the goats and not nearly as loud and demanding. (I had Nubians, spoiled Nubians) I loved the sheep and looking forward to getting more of that breed if I can find them around here. Loved the meat too, best lamb or mutton I've ever eaten!
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Post by shellymay on Apr 2, 2015 16:50:58 GMT
My husband and I work full time jobs and we have 150 Katahdins, we find that this breed is an easy care breed  |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2015 17:14:29 GMT
Small flock of Dorpers here (+/- 20 ewes, 2 rams). Just finishing up weaning the late born lambs and am in the process of selling the Oct/Nov/Dec born lambs. I'm 53 years old, female and 5'1" (yes, I'm going to claim that 1" until I'm laid to rest!!). I find the Dorpers easy to handle and easy to get along with. Here's a couple of pictures of the lambs. Ewe lambs  Ram lambs  I'll just go ahead and apologize right now...... I'm BIG on pictures |
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Post by shellymay on Apr 2, 2015 17:48:38 GMT
Gotta Love the butt and muscle mass of a Dorper, they look great and they are making me hungry  love me some lamb meat |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2015 19:07:49 GMT
I hope to see lots of pictures of babies. We had Montadale, Border Cheviots and crosses. Had a few hair sheep, mostly Jacobs. We have never been lamb eaters, rather have goat meat, that lanolin thing. So we only have goats. Love and miss the lambs....James
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2015 2:36:11 GMT
We're planning to raise more sheep for market.
They like both to graze and browse. Some days, they'll be all about the browse. Next day, they are so intent on grazing that they hardly lift their heads up when you approach.
I'd probably give up my goats, except that milking these sheep is more than a little difficult. You need a microscope for their teats!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 4, 2015 14:44:22 GMT
I haven't ever eaten wool breeds. I don't find the dorper meat strong flavored. From what I hear from breeders of the other hair sheep breeds, the hair sheep are all milder flavored. Pony, that's one thing I love about these sheep. They will eat almost anything. Mesquite, cedar, sumac, poison ivy, grasses, my hair if I bend over . My pastures get pretty fried in the summer so its a blessing to have them utilize all the browse as well. I think of them as goats without the headaches, lol . I think there's a few Katahdin breeders nowadays breeding for milkers. I'd bet teat size is a major factor in their breeding. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 4, 2015 16:31:03 GMT
@remuda, if you ever tried to milk a Katahdin, you'd win your bet. It's like trying to get milk out of a rubbery pencil stub!
BTW, love the dogs in your avatar. "You must be this tall to get on the ride."
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Post by Bear Foot Farm on Apr 4, 2015 18:37:28 GMT
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Post by Bear Foot Farm on Apr 4, 2015 18:38:58 GMT
It takes big pictures to fit all those fat lambs into.
They sure are pretty
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2015 0:26:07 GMT
Thanks pony. That's Sophie (black and white) and Ari. Ari is a male and huge. BFF probably will recognize Sophie from a long time ago . Great dogs, couldn't sleep without them out there on duty. Thanks BFF, I've culled pretty ruthlessly over the years and am happy with where we are now with the flock. I think this is my fifth year doing this and I increased prices for the first time this year. They are still selling like hotcakes. Two ewes and ram yesterday, two ewes today and a ram will leave early tomorrow morning. Makes me feel good and I appreciate my customers immensely. Here's a pic of my current ram but I'm also keeping a ram lamb whose mom was sent to an outside ram for breeding so he'll bring some new bloodlines in.  |
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Post by Bear Foot Farm on Apr 5, 2015 3:35:03 GMT
Yes, I remember Sophie, and Ari reminds me of one of my dogs , Bigfoot:  |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2015 0:01:02 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2015 22:12:25 GMT
Do you have any problem with meningeal worm in your area? So far, our sheep have been good, but two of my goats got hit pretty hard.
I love how the hair sheep eat anything, but am wondering if I should limit them to the pasture only.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2015 3:26:30 GMT
Pony, it's usually so dry here that slugs are nonexistent. We haven't had deer on the property either since I got my first flock since the dogs keep everything out. Haven't had any problem thus far (knocking on wood) and I hope it stays that way.
Why do you want to limit them?
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