Suggestions Please

[KDailey]

I'm doing some research on different breeds of livestock so I can make plans for my farm.

I would like everyone's opinions on the breed of sheep that you think best fits each category:

Meat
Milk
Wool
Dual purpose
Pets

Thank you

 

[ShadyAcres]

I only have had Katahdin and Dorpers. Raise for meat and seedstock. Like both breeds but Dorpers faster growing so now have a registered flock of Purebred White Dorper.

If you asked 5 different people with 5 different breeds used for same purpose, you might get 5 different answers on why their breed is better.

What is locally available to you? How far are you willing to travel to get sheep? How much can you pay? If you get a breed different than what is in your area, how difficult will it be for replacement stock, or bringing in other / new bloodlines? What are your marketing goals?

These are just a few of the many more questions to add to you search criteria.

Have fun, and remember; there are many of us shepherds that started out just wanting a few sheep around the farm. I now have 50 and will retain most of my ewe lambs to increase my flock size even further. They are addictive!

 

[SheepGirl]

Meat - Suffolks. They are the fastest growing breed. Texels seem to be the heaviest muscled. But hair breeds work well too so you don't have to fiddle with wool.
Milk - East Friesian and Lacaune are the most popular. Some are crossed with Dorsets.
Wool - Depends on what you want to use it for. Most popular long wool breed in the U.S. is the Romney. Most popular fine wool breed in the U.S. is the Rambouillet. Merinos are popular in Australia.
Dual Purpose - There are many dual purpose breeds out there. Often they are just crosses of fine wool ewes and terminal sires.
Pets - Any works.

For more on breeds, go here: http://www.sheepusa.org/Directory_of_Breeds

 

[20kidsonhill]

In our area, a suffolk/hampshire cross is most popular for meat.

 

[aggieterpkatie]

I'd say if you're showing market/club lambs, then Suffolk or Hamp type blackfaces would be the most popular. They also need lots of feed and don't typically do well on forage. If you're doing a pasture based system and don't want wool, I'd say Dorpers are an excellent choice. Texels are great for crossing also. Southdowns are my favorite breed at the moment, as mine get fat just looking at feed. Romneys have a reputation for being excellent at having decent carcasses on grass based systems, and Border Leicesters are also good, plus those two breeds have great fleece. Like Sheepgirl said, East Fresian and Lacaune sheep are good dairy breeds. For dual purpose, you can do something like the Romneys or Border Leceisters for meat and wool, or you can do Icelandics for meat/milk. For pets, I'd say the most common are Babydoll Southdowns.

There really are SO many sheep breeds though, it's hard to pinpoint just one per category.

 

[KDailey]

Thanks do much everybody! I showed lambs in ffa in highschool. They were white with black faces and legs. We called them medium wools but I don't know what breed they were exactly.