st croix sheep pros and cons

number is 541-592-3444. All have their pros and cons. 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. This spring we had an overall lambing average of 1.9 lambs/ewe born with 1.7 lambs weaned. This increases the risk of falls and injury, which can be expensive to fix. van@cavenet.com and my phone 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. This is a very good article to read and understand the secrets of Raising Katahdin Sheep. You can also use them for multiple income streams thanks to their excellent meat and milk production. Yes, Quality: Good tanned hides have been likened to a deer skin quality. Compared to other breeds, these sheep are relatively new, dating back to the 1950s. 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. When the pastures are poor, hair animals hold their body condition much better. Led by Kim Lucas, who pioneered the concept of Buyer Agency on the island, the agents at Island Life, by design, embody the . 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. Decision-making is an art and a science. Did you know: The sheep tend not to deposit fat within their muscle. We find its seldom necessary to trim hooves. Barbado sheep have a very small carcass size. Bosnians want 60-pound animals while Muslims often prefer 60-80 pound animals. If Croix sheep are the most parasite resistant breed, so why don't I raise them on my farm? That means you will receive protection via the criminal laws of the United States. Our young Katahdins can be difficult to move. They like large groups of lambs on each farm, prefer solid colors, registered and must be enrolled in the scrapie program. meat-to-bone ratio. My wife and I feel theres no best breed, but rather which breed best fits your operation. 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. For several years weve had Romanov/Katahdin crosses. These sheep are broke to hot wire and being moved every 2 days. Washington 99117. This behavior causes problems with maintaining desirable trees unless protection is provided. These include: Dorper sheep dont produce much milk or wool, which means raising them for meat is your only option. We feel that our time must be used where it will improve our operation, rather than maintaining status quo. Our spring lambs on pasture alone (17-20 percent protein and 65-72percentdigestible organic matter-DOM) will average 55-60 pounds. While many breeders enjoy the production of wool, others view annual shearing as a costly expense. 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. The sheep proliferated as subsistence livestock and were also valued for the manure critical . They are extremely aggressive foragers towards brush . Do you want to earn multiple income streams from your flock. Since hair sheep dont have a heavy wool coat, they cant take the cold. Your First Family Milk Cow MASTER CLASS Part 1. document.write(OT); 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. 2, I usually have ewes and lambs (on the hoof or freezer-ready) These slaughter lambs sell comparable to pure Katahdin sheep per pound unless theyre full of cockleburs and briars. Apparently, Momma Kathadin doesnt wait around to see what happens when Mr. Coyote shows up for dinner. A second group was imported into . practically anything. Over time, "so so" infertile fields can become fairly rich. A type of hair breed, Katahdin sheep originate in the United States. starting with the cons: The pros: (a If a ewe misses a breeding, she can still lamb three times in two years. to speed this process up, but like my Mother always said, "If it ain't The pros of living in St Croix are its low crime rate, stable currency and beautiful beaches. Salty air can take its toll on your things, especially electronics. 80 pounds at 90 days can be expected. Here are a few of the not so great things about sheep that you should know about. The meat has a mild flavor, good grain and produce a lean meat. 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. Reply. and I have. 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. Thinking about perspective). Croix sheep are the most parasite resistant breed, so why don't I raise them on my farm? Over time, Caribbean Hair sheep became well adapted to the heat and humidity of their environment. Many ethnic groups want a much different lamb or goat than has been marketed in the past. The desire to climb mandates the use of a bale ring to prevent excessive waste. If this same time is spent building homestead fencing, watersystems, improving lambing or handling facilities, its improving an operation. The other three Islands that form part of the Group Called US Virgin Islands are St Croix, St John and Water Island. 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. Katahdin is probably the more economical choice, however, namely because they can produce both meat and milk. The St. Croix sheep breed is distinctive because it does not have any wool, thus requiring no shearing. You may be surprised to learn it's easy to train sheep. - No docking, unless Hair sheep are preferred to wool sheep for meat purposes for a number of reasons: More mild-flavored meat. of Grants Pass. In the 1970's, the Wiltshire Horn, a shedding breed from England, was introduced. Both males and females are horned, sporting two, four and occasionally six horns. In our operation, that sheep breed is the Katahdin sheep. In fact, they can grow up to 250lbs. } There are five lambing periods each year. No need for shearing and tail-docking. These include: The fact Dorper sheep are easy to breed is a huge advantage. 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. However, they have been cross-bred with other breeds over the years to develop the modern breed we see today. If you are looking for manageable, high-yield livestock to raise on limited acreage, you should seriously consider St. Croix hair sheep. Raising Sheep Has Some Cons. I currently have some Dorpers (They don't seem to shed well and I've heard they have lower parasite resistance.) Theyre too small to be of commercial value. Like many island nations, St. Croix struggles with power outages, which can disrupt daily life and be a nuisance. 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 produce excellent fertilizer. DOWNLOAD MY FREE Sheep Farming E-book: https://bit.ly/SheepEBOOKSt. Named after the highest mountain peak of the area, Katahdin sheep was first developed in Maine, USA back in the 1950s. Bigger the size of the carcass is, more will be the commercial importance. St. Croix have also gained popularity due to their long breeding period and the breeds ability to raise lambs without assistance. I know there is a good market for hair sheep lambs as well. I mean, Im from the suburbs. The Teeswater has a lean meat with a good meat to bone ratio and light bone. The carcass weight on a pure St. Croix sheep is not suitable for commercial (meat sales) production. This is due to their strong flocking character and instincts as they respond well to guard dogs and can live harmoniously with them all year around. A special thanks to our partner: RJS Bee Farm. 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. Read more and see the photo gallery here. raising St. Croix hair sheep? However, if thats what you are looking for then this breed might not be for you. They naturally shed their wool throughout the seasons. it wasn't foot rot, it was prolapse, or sheer stupidity (let's lay under I'm not saying they . Ewes often produce twins and have plenty of milk to raise them. Breeders often use less-expensive Katahdin ewes to initiate an upgrading program with registered Dorper as the final goal. The ewes can breed up to twice a year and have an abundance of good quality milk high in butter fat content. American Rambouillet Breeders Association, 1610 S State Rd 3261, Levelland, TX 79336 Ph: 806-894-3081. Now you have a good idea of the pros and cons of both Dorper and Katahdin sheep, which one is right for your homestead? The St. Croix are used to train working dogs and are used in sheep dog trials. @"; People converting to hair sheep breeds all notice certain things. It is bred as non-fat tailed sheep for top meat production. 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 have a long compact body with long legs. You can even crossbreed them to develop unique varieties for your farm or homestead. Flock owners with less than 50 animals have a difficult time getting someone to shear unless they pool their animals with neighbors. The main reason this hybrid was created was for its meat, not its wool. ~Ann, Your email address will not be published. To be successful, you must sell quality, and I stress quality animals; send anything else to slaughter. just want to exchange thoughts, I'd love to chat. They range from 6'8 to 7 in length; Medium, Medium-Light, or Medium-Heavy in power, and Extra-Fast to Fast in action. Click hereto learn how you can help. 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. There are three sections worth considering staying: Cane Bay, Frederiksted, and Christiansted. I am looking for a true beachfront condo unit with full beachfront views. 228 views. We are currently running 130 registered ewes with 10 commercial ewes that will be dispersed this year. 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. OT+=ML.charAt(MI.charCodeAt(j)-48); ), In fall 2000, we grazed our flock on cocklebur and waterhemp that followed an oat crop. 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. Our spring lambs require 4-5 pounds of dry matter forage to produce each pound of gain. 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. However, they have the same sweet faces and disposition of Saanen goats. They are prized for their lambing ability and their carcasses that are lean and meaty. 1. In this area, hair sheep often sell higher than wool sheep. S t. Croix, the largest of the Virgin Islands in the Caribbean, is one of the toughest environments cattle have faced. However, they have been cross-bred with other breeds over the years to develop the modern breed we see today. The St. Croix sheep are very pretty sheep that have a hair covering the body instead of wool. 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. For more on the differences, plus potential pros and cons between the breeds, read on. This combination of characteristics makes the breed an excellent choice for low input meat production. ML="e@fycsptg"; Wiltshire Horn and St. Croix. The sheep and I Hi Mary. OT=""; Making Natural Clothing Dye From Vegetables. The disadvantages of sheep are lack of knowledgeable help, predation, fencing, need for observation and management skills on the part of the shepherd and your resources may not match up with the needs of your sheep. St. Croix were first brought to the Caribbean via West Africa. We are in the process of installing another 10,000 feet of electric fence on 25 acres that will result in another nine paddocks. The Field Guide to Fleece My friend also mentioned his Katahdin-Dorper lambs are much fatter when born than Polypays. I saw that the author is from Central Missouri, which is where we live. Pioneers get 10% off beekeeping equipment. In 2001, my friend with Polypay paid $2 to shear $.50 worth of wool per animal. The St. Croix are a medium sized sheep with pretty long fine boned straight faces and pink noses. 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. I live in a small condo and armed by nothing but dreams and curiosity. - They will eat Pro's: Seeing the Southern . unavailability of shearers and then having to practically give away the Despite what you may read otherwise, most sheep are not overly friendly. Most Muslims prefer intact ram lambs without tails being docked. . For us, the Katahdin sheep breed fits our operation and our philosophy quite well. Breeders Association. (Which, yes, is about goats, but its relevant.) 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. 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. Have you ever thought about the wayslawnmowers are dangerous? In addition to the $75- to $250-each purchase price, feeding them, housing them, and caring for them can get expensive. 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. It was a fairly bold move at . The capital, Charlotte Amalie is located on St Thomas. broke, don't fix it". Unfortunately, as the percentage of Dorper increases, more wool is found in their coat and some animals lose some of their shedding ability. This is down to the fantastic range of benefits they deliver. More on that subject later. https://dorpersheep.org/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2022-Mid-America-Dorper-Sale-Report-1.pdf?fs=e&s=cl. Image via Shutterstock. Anymore (at least in Missouri) its the carcass quality that sets the price. A biography of my early adulthood could be called The Consequences of the Poorly Thought Out Choices.. 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State Rd 3261, Levelland, TX 79336 Ph: 806-894-3081 full beachfront views also his...