How many are currently raising hair breeds of sheep?

[aggieterpkatie]

Many dairies don't graze their cows, but have exercise lots available. Not all cows are kept in the nice barns all day, and I'd say most dairies out here turn out their cows either in pastures or lots. And I hate docking cow tails too. Yeah, getting a poopy tail in the face isn't fun (ask me how I know), but honestly it doesn't happen ALL that often, and the cows need their tails.

And I'm not against docking sheep tails, but I do hate extreme docking. A sheep's rump should not look like it has an innie belly button!

 

[EllieMay]

This is one of the reasons I chose hair sheep.
No routine docking of the tails!

 

[Beekissed]

That wasn't one of the main reasons for me but it was an attractant. After I saw how often they use their tails, I was amazed~ and saddened for the sheep who didn't have tails to use. Mine used their tails for fly removal, to direct fecal matter away from their bodies, to signal heat, signal danger, etc. They were like deer!

Love those tails!

 

[EllieMay]

So true!

I watch the other livestock in surrounding farms (some with docked tails and some with tails).

I feel so sorry for the animals with no tails.

It's kinda sad to watch them struggle in vain to swat flies.

 

[Beekissed]

All they can do is stomp their feet....my sheep do that too, but they also have those tails going like a helicopter!

 

[peteyfoozer]

My little ram has his tail, but the ewes I bought have NONE. I was and am a little worried about prolapse, but one has been so big, and her bag has been so full, for so long, that I have come to the conclusion she is not really pregnant, but just a really fat, lumpy ewe with really big boobs.

 

[CAMilkmaid]

Why did you choose them?

What are you using them for(lawn mowers, meat production, etc)?

How long have you been raising them?

What are your results(as compared to maybe other types you've raised)?

I choose all my livestock from the ALBC list of rare heritage breeds in need of conservation. So, I chose to raise registered St. Croix Hair sheep.

Besides breed preservation, I'm raising them to sell breeding stock and provide meat for our family and some to sell. I do multi species rotational grazing in our grass pastures, so also needed sheep to help with weed control. I use them to weed in other areas, like the orchards, too.

I bought a ram and 3 bred ewes in Dec. 2010.

This is my first attempt to raise sheep and I'm pleased. They are easy to raise, almost problem free. A couple of the ewes are actually friendly. The ram is cooperative and hasn't shown aggression to me. They are a good balance of not being flighty, yet respecting your space. Other sheep breed producers have remarked to me that they are very calm. They are very easy to contain, don't jump fences, and easily follow a bucket. They do threaten my one dog who is new to sheep but respect my dog with herding experience. When I have to feed hay, they sure eat a whole lot less than cows & horses! They shed completely. I sold a ram lamb and have had interest from Katahdin breeders in using the SC to improve the shedding ability in their hair sheep.
I've been told that the SC does not have as much meat as the K. I have our first butcher lamb about ready to slaughter, so can't comment on the meat, yet. I don't like lamb from wool breeds but liked the lamb that I tasted from a Dorper. So, I'm hoping that the SC tastes as good as Dorper.
The ewes gave birth last March, their first lambs, all singles. I was hoping that they would breed back sooner, but am waiting for the second crop of lambs any day now. I did have a tragedy. One ewe gave birth to a single lamb one night, a couple weeks ago, when the temps dropped into the 20's. She had the lamb on the bare ground instead of going into the straw bedded shed. I found the lamb dead in the morning. She had licked it completely clean & dry. She was devoted to it, wouldn't even leave the birth spot and cried for two days. Necropsy revealed that it had breathed but not nursed and showed no cause of death. I'm just so sad over this. I should have locked her in the shed and I am closing the other ewes in, at night, now.

Kim
Star.Rose Ranch
Guinda CA

 

[EllieMay]

The St. Croix are another awesome breed. I may still get a few some time in the future.

I'm so sorry about your dead baby lamb. That's so sad, especially for the ewe mom.

We'll also be raising sheep for meat and breeding.

 

[aggieterpkatie]

Well, after boarding a few katahdins for a few months in the summer, I didn't really see them use their tails much. They flipped around when they ran (which was amusing), but I didn't notice much "control" over their tail. They wiggled them like docked sheep do, but I didn't see them swishing flies like horses or cattle, and not like it would do much good because their tails aren't all that long to begin with.

 

[Beekissed]

Nope, not like horses or cattle...more like deer. A jiggle and flip motion that keeps the flies off their hoo-hoos and bums...which I think would be a useful action. My sheep's tails were quite long considering animals similar, like goats or deer.