What is the point in hair sheep - Now what wool/meat breed is best.

[Royd Wood]

I do agree that both hair and wool types have their own advantages.

x2
and cant live without my wooly Romneys but catch myself looking at blackbelly sheep on here

 

[finns&fjords]

I do agree that both hair and wool types have their own advantages.

x2
and cant live without my wooly Romneys but catch myself looking at blackbelly sheep on here

Haha I know exactly what you mean. I love my Finns but the Dorpers sure pique my curiosity!

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

I do agree that both hair and wool types have their own advantages.

x2
and cant live without my wooly Romneys but catch myself looking at blackbelly sheep on here

I love blackbellies, I want some soooo bad! They are SOOO beautiful!

 

[pridegoethb4thefall]

If your looking for woolly hides but not sheep, why not get angora goats, or another hair breed goat?

That way you can get hair, meat, skin and milk if you wanted.

I have only had one sheep. I wont be raising another. They are the cutest babies though!

 

[PotterWatch]

If you want lamb to eat and sheepskins to use, I would recommend Dorpers. According to sheepinfo.com, the "Dorper has a thick skin which is highly prized and protects the sheep under harsh climatic conditions. It is the most sought after sheepskin in the world."

 

[SheepGirl]

I'm not sure...I think Merino would be the most desired sheepskin due to their fine wool. And I went to IKEA not too long ago and the only sheepskins there were Merino.

But hair sheep, their main purpose is meat, since they have no wool. Some hair sheep are milked, some are crossed onto wool breeds to get the shedding gene in the mix. That said, I think only the Dorper or Katahdin could be used as a terminal sire because they are the meatiest hair breeds, even though the Katahdin is more of a maternal (ewe) breed. All the other hair breeds (Blackbellies, St Croix, etc) are IMO too light muscled to be used as a high quality meat animal, but they are prolific, parasite tolerant, etc, which is great to have as your ewe flock, and you can then cross them onto either a Kat or Dorper for market lambs.

 

[PendergrassRanch]

If your looking for woolly hides but not sheep, why not get angora goats, or another hair breed goat?

That way you can get hair, meat, skin and milk if you wanted.

I have only had one sheep. I wont be raising another. They are the cutest babies though!

I have an angora, its just not the same as sheepskin at all.


Thank you SO MUCH For all the wonderful information everyone! I love this forum

 

[PendergrassRanch]

So knowing what you all know...what would be the sheep for me? I want a good sheepskin to use, and a meaty animal to slaughter for the dogs. Ugh I wish I had more room or I would go with goats AND sheep. I just can't justify two intact males.

 

[SheepGirl]

If you want a good sheepskin, I think you should get a flock of either finewool or longwool ewes (maybe Rambouillet, Romeny, Leicester Longwool, Cotwsold, etc) and cross them onto a terminal sire, like any blackface breed, a Texel, Montadale, Southdown, or Cheviot. That way you have your ewes for their wool/maternal abilities and then when you cross them onto a terminal sire, you have market lambs with an acceptable fleece so you can have pretty & soft sheepskins. Try to stay away from 'pure' medium wool breeds/crosses for sheepskins as they won't be as soft or lustrous if you were to choose a fine or long wool breed.

 

[PendergrassRanch]

If you want a good sheepskin, I think you should get a flock of either finewool or longwool ewes (maybe Rambouillet, Romeny, Leicester Longwool, Cotwsold, etc) and cross them onto a terminal sire, like any blackface breed, a Texel, Montadale, Southdown, or Cheviot. That way you have your ewes for their wool/maternal abilities and then when you cross them onto a terminal sire, you have market lambs with an acceptable fleece so you can have pretty & soft sheepskins. Try to stay away from 'pure' medium wool breeds/crosses for sheepskins as they won't be as soft or lustrous if you were to choose a fine or long wool breed.

Thanks! I can't say I've ever seen or heard of those breeds around here but I will put them on my list and keep my eyes peeled

ETA - I'm pretty sure where my sister boards her horse (when hes not at my house) then have black face sheep. They are really nice people I bet I could get a ram from them.