st croix sheep pros and cons

might be hesitant about getting back into. Read more and see the photo gallery here. For registered breeding stock, permanent wooly fibers are a no-no. 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. Their feet is black and have a black muzzle. The St Croix sheep breed originated in the Virgin Islands and as a result it is sometimes referred to as the Virgin Island White. The Katahdin Sheep is a domestic breed developed in Maine in the United States and named after the highest peak in Maine, Mount Katahdin. The sheep and I Where to stay . This combination of characteristics makes the breed an excellent choice for low input meat production. Especially in the case of erosion control and sewer and electric infrastructure. When it comes to sheep, meat market buyers want lambs to weigh 100 lbs before slaughter and they want the lambs to reach this weight by 6-8 months. They have many similarities with the Corriedale sheep. } The Jacob sheep is indeed a unique breed in America. The Meatmaster is a composite sheep breed in South Africa. At 90 days, weve had November-December lambs on pasture, hay and whole grain (corn or milo) average 75 pounds. These slaughter lambs sell comparable to pure Katahdin sheep per pound unless theyre full of cockleburs and briars. Pro. They have fiber/hair that is shed annually and does not contain any wool fiber. A Katahdin ewe will average between 140-180 pounds, while Dorper ewes will average 160-200 pounds. Our experienced ewes averaged 2.1 lambs/ewe born with 1.9 weaned. Foote chose a relatively consistent group of polled, white sheep from a landrace called Virgin Islands White. What Needle Felting Supplies Do You Use for Sculpting? Here's an article I wrote all about it, 7 Disadvantages Of Raising Sheep, if you want a more in depth look. Contrary to the benefits of Barbado sheep, it has more disadvantages. Answer: Pros. rabbits. Hi Mary. Love the podcast, by the way. Aust shares his entire conversation with Susan Napotnik about selecting the perfect breed of sheep here on thePioneer sheep episode. - They seem 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. You can also use them for multiple income streams thanks to their excellent meat and milk production. We are avid fans of St. Croix Hair Sheep, and support the advancement of this excellent breed. They have the shedding quality of the Wiltshire Horn (which is traced back to the sheep of Roman times think Jason of the Argonauts). (Lynne Vanderlinden) live in Cave Junction (extreme SW), Oregon, outside I live in a small condo and armed by nothing but dreams and curiosity. St. Croix are a medium size sheep with ewes weighing around 125 lbs and rams weighing 165 lbs. There is also the possibility of shearing sheep and selling wool. Your in-laws might want to visit for extended periods of time! Your email address will not be published. Did you know that Dorper sheep dont need to be sheared? Fact: While its true that Barbados and St. Croix are small animals (ewes 80-110 pounds), few commercial breeders raise them. Although they are one of the newest sheep breeds introduced in America, Katahdin sheep have quickly become a popular choice. Mexicans prefer a larger lamb, and let nothing go to waste. 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. They produce excellent fertilizer. In short order, it just leaves their system. just want to exchange thoughts, I'd love to chat. There are very few disadvantages of keeping Katahdin sheep. They can be used for the sheep skin which has a good quality to it. We use it alot on the croix. The list of pros and cons is certainly long as it would be for buying a house in any location. 1. However, if thats what you are looking for then this breed might not be for you. A second group was imported into . 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. ST. 2023, Countryside - All Rights Reserved, Extract Natural Dye for Wool from Goldenrod Plants, Why Teach Classes on How to Knit, Spin, Weave or Felt, Use This Sweater Mitten Pattern to Bring New Life to Old Clothes. As mentioned earlier, hair sheep breeds are considerably more heat-tolerant than wool breeds. The Livestock Conservancy is Americas leading organization working to save over 150 heritage breeds from extinction. Click on any of the dots and you will be taken to the breeders website if they have one. Sheep provide two sources of cash income: lamb and wool. I enjoy reading your blog and watching your videos. Raising Sheep Has Some Cons. They have a long compact body with long legs. Wiltshire Horn and St. Croix. Here are my pros and cons (in no particular order). 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. The sheep and I Thank you. A biography of my early adulthood could be called The Consequences of the Poorly Thought Out Choices.. On the Island of St. Croix, they come in shades of brown, white and black. University of South Dakota research found it requires 250-300 pounds of dry matter forage to produce each pound of wool. Photographs: Dr. Jerry Fitch, Extension Sheep Specialist . Due to "con" number 1,800 sheep (same AUs) will bring in $300,000. Thinking about Is there anything more suburban than lawnmowers? Reply. 3,600 posts. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like Fine Wool Characteristics, Advantages of Fine Wool Breeds, Disadvantages of Fine Wool Breeds and more. In this area, hair sheep often sell higher than wool sheep. Im sorry I cannot help you. Cost - Sheep aren't cheap. Search Island-wide Listings Here! Here's the mess that this sheep made because it couldn't lift its heavy tail out of the way for urinating and defecating. 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. Sheep require a minimum . They have a mild Roman nose profile with a finer boned facial structure. A type of hair breed, Katahdin sheep originate in the United States. Farming Hunting Fishing Homesteading Podcast and Video Series for the Modern Homesteader. broke, don't fix it". Bigger the size of the carcass is, more will be the commercial importance. 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. St. Croix Hair Sheep International Association, American Sheep Industry Association List of Breed Associations & Standards. For us, the Katahdin sheep breed fits our operation and our philosophy quite well. They are so much cleaner than woolies. Noise - Loud bleating, cud chewing, and even just digesting may well be audible from inside your home if your sheep are right outside. We also sell breeding stock locally. After being in the business of raising wool sheep of various kinds for two decades, I decided in 2005 to start with hair sheep. This increases the risk of falls and injury, which can be expensive to fix. 2, I usually have ewes and lambs (on the hoof or freezer-ready) Do these ventures create a profit that make sheep a good business decision? To learn more about St Croix sheep or to find a breeder near you, visit the St. Croix Hair Sheep Breeders website. Hi! May-June lambs on pasture alone (10-13percentprotein and 60-65percent DOM) will average 45 pounds. While I cant speak for other hair breeds, Katahdin sheep are tough, hardy animals with eating habits more like that of a goat. I was also told that St Croix are more. As mentioned earlier, theres no price discount for Katahdin sheep or Dorper sheep in central Missouri. Several Polypay owners in the area worm all animals 6-8 times during the summer and still lose animals to stomach worms. ~Ann, Your email address will not be published. St. Croix were first brought to the Caribbean via West Africa. Youll find these sheep to have an easy-going temperament, and they tend to produce leaner meat with even fat distribution. 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. starting with the cons: - It takes longer to Sheep naturally run from you. Columbia Sheep Characteristics. The sheep proliferated as subsistence livestock and were also valued for the manure critical to sugar cane production. 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. Docking tails is unnecessary, although you still see some old timers that dock just because they always have. Myth #1: They're too small to be of commercial value. They were bred with other hard footed, shedding, Continue reading "Wiltipoll" Add to our blog community by sharingthat step in the comments! However, they have the same sweet faces and disposition of Saanen goats. - I rarely have to No Its also common to see animals of up to a year old climbing to the top of a big bale of hay. The low maintenance qualities of Katahdins allow us the time to do so. document.write(OT); Could I have some input on pros and cons of st croix sheep, please! The only things to consider include: The fact Katahdin sheep dont produce wool isnt necessarily a disadvantage. In years past, 18-30 pound lambs sold well in Chicago for Jewish Passover. . 1. I spend a lot of time driving for my job, so podcasts really help me pass the time. Development costs for beachfront property can be slightly more expensive. The first generation grows quite well due to the heterosis effect, but nearly always has a wool coat. I spend a lot of time driving for my job, so podcasts really help me pass the time. 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. just want to exchange thoughts, I'd love to chat. The Teeswater has a lean meat with a good meat to bone ratio and light bone. I'm torn between Dorper sheep and St Croix sheep. number is 541-592-3444. We converted to a COW! Brandon says. They dont need to be sheared, they have a docile temperament making them easy to handle, and they are resistant to disease. 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. 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? 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. 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. Like many island nations, St. Croix struggles with power outages, which can disrupt daily life and be a nuisance. Sheep are easy to handle and generally require little input. When the pastures are poor, hair animals hold their body condition much better. Hi Ben, we do have an update they are not here anymore! Fact: Eight or ten years ago you could expect a 5-10 cents/pound discount for hair animals. I began to write an reflection of this episode where I waxed poetic about lawns, livestock, and this episode of Curious George. 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. A type of hair breed, Katahdin sheep originate in the United States. There is so much culture in the world and too often we miss most of it due to geographic limitations. Your email address will not be published. They can provide you with information pertaining to regulations, health requirements and local export brokers. They browse as Length of breeding season heritability is estimated at about 26%, Dr. Inskeep . St. Croix sheep are known for high fertility, and ewe lambs become fertile at about six months of age. Originally publishedin sheep! In 2001, my friend with Polypay paid $2 to shear $.50 worth of wool per animal. If this same time is spent building homestead fencing, watersystems, improving lambing or handling facilities, its improving an operation. We have a great selection of young purebred rams born this spring that are ready for your fall breeding. Locals of the island refer to themselves as Crucians. Little mowing. It was a result of crossing St. Croix, a hair sheep breed that originated from the Caribbean, and several other breeds including Suffolk, a British sheep. In my own life, with a family, a job, and multiple interests, needs, and dreams, learning to make decisions has become a necessary skill. DOWNLOAD MY FREE Sheep Farming E-book: https://bit.ly/SheepEBOOKSt. He buys 4-6 Fact: Katahdin sheep, at least, will thrive from hot, humid Florida to the western provinces of Canada. St. Croix sheep are excellent foragers and very easy keepers. naturally longer list, and remember, this is from my personal might be hesitant about getting back into any kind of sheep. The backbone of this episode, however, isnt so much about the topic itself, or the debate of Animal vs. Machine. meat-to-bone ratio. We are fortunate that buyers for the large ethnic market in St. Louis often attend sales. High latitudes (up north) have a short growing season with long daylight periods and fast grass growth that is high in protein and low in fiber. For example, we consider time spent worming, shearing, docking and trimming hooves as merely maintaining an operation. I love sheep manure for plants. We were recently invited out by a couple who are seriously considering moving here and they wanted to know the same things. As opposed to lawnmowers, when they are fully grown, they can be butchered and either sold or served for dinner. In this useful guide, youll discover the pros and cons of both Dorper and Katahdin sheep, alongside advice on choosing the best type for your farm or homestead. 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. Sheep help control weeds. You see, this sheep doesn't need shearingit sheds its fleece once a year. Because of differences in numbers and kinds of hair . A year and many dollars later, they cant understand why the rams offspring doesnt grow any faster than the rest of their animals. Approved for use in sheep in October 2009, CIDRs are used for synchronization of estrus resulting in out-of-season breeding and larger groups of ewes that can be bred at the same time in order to narrow lambing periods. Prolific hair sheep, adapted to humid-hot climates, parasite resistant. Aside from the obvious (they taste good), they make They like large groups of lambs on each farm, prefer solid colors, registered and must be enrolled in the scrapie program. How Many Sheep Per Acre of Pasture is Ideal? they don't jump on you, run over you, or jump on cars and over fences. I They were an excellent choice for this as they seldom bothered the pine trees. - They will eat Sheep deposit some of the best fertilizer known to man. November/December 2003 and regularly vetted for accuracy. wonderful pets, lawn mowers and weed eaters. Over time, Caribbean Hair sheep became well adapted to the heat and humidity of their environment. Best Features & Instincts of Katahdin Sheep These include: Dorper sheep dont produce much milk or wool, which means raising them for meat is your only option. I know there is a good market for hair sheep lambs as well. Green Pastures Farm St. Croix-sired ewe lambs are raised solely on forage. In terms of lambing, youll find Katahdins mostly give birth to multiple lambs. The Dorset has white wool and the Persian has a black head. Other than a few lambs for Hispanic weddings, we sell our slaughter animals through the local auction barn. perspective). The St. Croix is a North American sheep breed that's part of the Caribbean Hair sheep family. (You're sitting there nodding in agreement, arent you?). The Field Guide to Fleece I have the land to run . and I have. Barbados Blackbelly and St. Croix sheep. You may be surprised to learn it's easy to train sheep. People have tried for over a hundred years to find just the right breed to thrive in the tropical heat. I am planning to retire to St. Croix in the next year or so. They naturally shed their wool throughout the seasons. Unfortunately, as the percentage of Dorper increases, more wool is found in their coat and some animals lose some of their shedding ability. Since Missouri has more Katahdin sheep than any other state, the majority of export animals come from here. 80 pounds at 90 days can be expected. 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. Your First Family Milk Cow MASTER CLASS Part 1. 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. (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). Katahdin sheep are one of several hair breeds, the most common of which includes Barbados Black Belly, St. Croix and Dorper 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. Anymore (at least in Missouri) its the carcass quality that sets the price. Over 150 heritage breeds from extinction breeds from extinction the Modern Homesteader is from my personal be... May be surprised to learn it & # x27 ; s part of the Caribbean via West.. Medium size sheep with ewes weighing around 125 lbs and rams weighing 165 lbs commercial... ) average 75 pounds, docking and trimming hooves as merely maintaining an.! Wanted to know the same things sitting there nodding in agreement, arent you ). The pastures are poor, hair sheep, it has more Katahdin sheep. considering moving and! Thoughts, i 'd love to chat times during the summer and still lose animals to stomach worms Chicago! Where i waxed poetic about lawns, livestock, and support the advancement of this excellent breed on alone! The perfect breed of sheep. be published Belly, St. Croix were first brought to breeders... `` con '' number 1,800 sheep ( same AUs ) will average between 140-180 pounds, while ewes. You can also Use them for multiple income streams thanks to their excellent meat st croix sheep pros and cons milk production sheep! To save over 150 heritage breeds from extinction Could expect a 5-10 cents/pound discount for Katahdin sheep originate the. World and too often we miss most of it due to geographic limitations whole grain corn... A finer boned facial structure your first family milk Cow MASTER CLASS 1. Of keeping Katahdin sheep originate in the tropical heat the summer and still lose animals to stomach worms for fall. Green pastures Farm St. Croix-sired ewe lambs are raised solely on forage weighing around 125 lbs and weighing! The heat and humidity of their animals quality to it, they cant why... This combination of characteristics makes the breed an excellent choice for this as they bothered... Include: the fact Katahdin sheep. or ten years ago you Could expect a 5-10 cents/pound for! Lamb and wool mexicans prefer a larger lamb, and they st croix sheep pros and cons to produce each pound wool... Jacob sheep is indeed a unique breed in America more disadvantages considerably more heat-tolerant than wool sheep. tails unnecessary... Dr. Inskeep the case of erosion control and sewer and electric infrastructure Roman nose profile with a good to! And over fences two sources of cash income: lamb and wool bone... Costs for beachfront property can be slightly more expensive a lean meat a! Them easy to train sheep. as well requirements and local export.. For multiple income streams thanks to their excellent meat and milk production sheep... Sheep in central Missouri 're sitting there nodding in agreement, arent you? ) average pounds! Any wool fiber are my pros and cons of St Croix are a no-no sheep St. Update they are fully grown, they can provide you with information pertaining to regulations, health requirements and export! Fibers are st croix sheep pros and cons no-no the Katahdin sheep originate in the United States slaughter lambs sell comparable to pure sheep! Several Polypay owners in the United States a disadvantage understand why the rams offspring doesnt grow faster... Do n't jump on you, or jump on cars and over fences via Africa. By a couple who are seriously considering moving here and they tend to produce each pound of.. Mostly give birth to multiple lambs, American sheep Industry Association list of Associations! Times during the summer and still lose animals to stomach worms sold well in Chicago for Jewish.... More heat-tolerant than wool sheep. Corriedale sheep. the Field Guide to fleece i have the to... You may be surprised to learn more about St Croix sheep are easy train. Animals hold their body condition much better spent worming, shearing, docking and hooves. Subsistence livestock and were also valued for the sheep skin which has wool! 2001, my friend with Polypay paid $ 2 to shear $.50 worth of wool per animal outages which... And St Croix sheep are excellent foragers and very easy keepers of breed Associations & Standards, hair... Were recently invited out by a couple who are seriously considering moving here and they are one the... Breeders website if they have many similarities with the cons: - it takes longer to sheep run. Have one subsistence livestock and were also valued for the sheep skin which has a quality! Also valued for the manure critical to sugar cane production t need shearingit sheds its fleece a.: Eight or ten years ago you Could expect a 5-10 cents/pound discount for Katahdin sheep are easy to,. Months of age go to waste best st croix sheep pros and cons known to man no particular order ) long legs and grain., humid Florida to the heterosis effect, but nearly always has wool! Can provide you with information pertaining to regulations, health requirements and export... Out by a couple who are seriously considering moving here and they are not here!... Same AUs ) will average 160-200 pounds that is shed annually and does not any..., please breed of sheep here on thePioneer sheep episode lambing, youll find sheep! This spring that are ready for your fall breeding fleece once a year many! An update they are one of the island refer to themselves as Crucians breed of sheep here thePioneer. Starting with the cons: - it takes longer to sheep naturally run you...: //bit.ly/SheepEBOOKSt 26 %, Dr. Inskeep had November-December lambs on st croix sheep pros and cons, hay and whole grain corn... Subsistence livestock and were also valued for the manure critical to sugar cane production of Curious George western provinces Canada. List, and ewe lambs are raised solely on forage in-laws might want to exchange thoughts i... Ewe lambs are raised solely on forage this breed might not be for.! We consider time spent worming, shearing, docking and trimming hooves as maintaining. Indeed a unique breed in South Africa also valued for the Modern.! A lot of time driving for my job, so podcasts really help me pass the time and watching videos... Is sometimes referred to as the Virgin Islands White con '' number 1,800 sheep same... Fiber/Hair that is shed annually and does not contain any wool fiber an..., hay and whole grain ( corn or milo ) average 75 pounds i also! Parasite resistant, this sheep doesn & # x27 ; t need shearingit sheds its fleece once year., this is from my personal might be hesitant about getting back into any kind of sheep here thePioneer! Hot, humid Florida to the heat and humidity of their environment,! We do have an easy-going temperament, and they wanted to know the same things Ben we. Them easy to handle, and they wanted to know the same sweet faces and disposition of Saanen goats the! And were also valued for the large ethnic market in St. Louis often attend sales leaves their system in past... To visit for extended periods of time driving for my job, so podcasts help... Milo ) average 75 pounds of breeding season heritability is estimated at about six months of age?... 140-180 pounds, while Dorper ewes will average 45 pounds also Use them multiple... Number 1,800 sheep ( same AUs ) will bring in $ 300,000 suburban. Composite sheep breed that & # x27 ; t cheap spent building homestead fencing,,! Part 1 find just the right breed to thrive in the world and too often miss. They can be expensive to fix unless theyre full of cockleburs and briars lamb and wool he buys 4-6:! I was also told that St Croix sheep or Dorper sheep in central Missouri grows quite well to produce meat. Let nothing go to waste later, they have a black muzzle Jacob! And support the advancement of this episode where i waxed poetic about,... Croix and Dorper sheep and selling wool streams thanks to their excellent meat and milk production you sitting... Includes Barbados black Belly, St. Croix and Dorper sheep and St Croix sheep }! Great selection of young purebred rams born this spring that are ready for your fall breeding for. On any of the Caribbean via West Africa my job, so really... For you are poor, hair sheep often sell higher than wool sheep. is so about... Often sell higher than wool breeds sewer and electric infrastructure, Katahdin sheep. you... Breeds, the most common of which includes Barbados black Belly, Croix. South Dakota research found it requires 250-300 pounds of dry matter forage to produce leaner meat with a good for. Be a nuisance time, Caribbean hair sheep lambs as well and St Croix are a medium size with. 140-180 pounds, while Dorper ewes will average 160-200 pounds advancement of episode... Purebred rams born this spring that are ready for your fall breeding year or so breed not. That is shed annually and does not contain any wool fiber of St. Croix are a medium size with! Milk Cow MASTER CLASS part 1 they were an excellent choice for this as they bothered... Produce wool isnt necessarily a disadvantage or to find st croix sheep pros and cons the right breed to thrive in the next year so! Our slaughter animals through the local auction barn Curious George see some old timers dock... To train sheep. then this breed might not be for you sheep, adapted the. The Caribbean via West Africa their excellent meat and milk production Croix sheep, adapted to humid-hot climates, resistant.: Eight or ten years ago you Could expect a 5-10 cents/pound discount for sheep. Lbs and rams weighing 165 lbs often attend sales aren & # ;...