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

[PendergrassRanch]

"The Dorper skin is the most sought after sheepskin in the world and is marketed under the name of Cape Glovers. The skin comprises a high percentage of the income (20%) of the total carcass value."

You can find more information here too:

http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/sheep/dorper/

And here:

http://www.dorper.org/

Not sure where you live but the dorpers were developed to thrive in harsh, arid climates and maintain weight on poor pasture. Not sure how they would do if you live somewhere soggy.

Good luck on your decision .

lol I've never heard of Cape Glovers But to me I guess it would be more like a cowskin, since it's a hair breed. When I think of sheepskin, I think of a soft, luxurious throw.

But it depends on what type of skins the OP wants to produce, I guess.

I want rugs and stuff to make slippers and boots out of Just as a side project, gifts and things.

 

[boykin2010]

What about Suffolk? Those seem to be really popular around here.

IMHO, the suffolk are a little overrated. Sure they are fast growing sheep, but 99.9% of the time, they are fed a huge grain based diet, and are very parasite susceptible. I am of the opinion that sheep should be kept as natural as possible. Only feeding grain when absolutely necessary (during the period when ewes are lactating, or when there is no grass.)

Most Katahdin breeders try to breed for parasite resistance and growth on pasture. I understand not every breeder aims for this goal. But, since many people show mainly suffolk they are bred as "show" sheep. They are bred to look good on the outside, and it doesn't matter what is inside. Sometimes these show sheep have health problems, but it doesnt matter because the rams are usually slaughtered by a year anyway...

Take a show sufffolk and cut back all grain and just put on good pasture. I will just about guarantee that the hair sheep or other breeds for that matter will outgrow them on a grass based diet.

Just my 2-cents

 

[boykin2010]

Here is a list of Katahdin breeders in your state: http://www.countrylovin.com/KHSI/map/ca.html
If you are interested in them at all.

I have had dorpers, barbados, and Katahdins. The katahdins are my favorite by far. One of my favorite things about them is you will never know what color to expect! You can breed any colors together and get anything. For example a white x white may produce spots or even black lambs. black and white may produce red spotted. You just never know!


Here is a list of Dorper breeders in your state: http://www.nebraskasheep.com/directory/Breeds/Dorper/
There are a good many registered Dorper breeders in CA.

I like the dorpers too. Don't get me wrong. They are my 2nd favorite hair sheep breed probably!

 

[Bossroo]

"The Dorper skin is the most sought after sheepskin in the world and is marketed under the name of Cape Glovers. The skin comprises a high percentage of the income (20%) of the total carcass value."

You can find more information here too:

http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/sheep/dorper/

And here:

http://www.dorper.org/

Not sure where you live but the dorpers were developed to thrive in harsh, arid climates and maintain weight on poor pasture. Not sure how they would do if you live somewhere soggy.

Good luck on your decision .

I live in Northern California at about 1100 elevation. Its not especially soggy.

That is a hair breed right?

The hair breeds ( such as the Dorper ) do have wool during the late summer/ fall / winter then shed it in the spring. Since you are in N Cal. ... you can google for a Dorper ranch in the mountains of S Oregon... they have several hundred ewes. I have seen a very nice Dorper flock of 30 in S. Wash. too.

 

[boykin2010]

"The Dorper skin is the most sought after sheepskin in the world and is marketed under the name of Cape Glovers. The skin comprises a high percentage of the income (20%) of the total carcass value."

You can find more information here too:

http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/sheep/dorper/

And here:

http://www.dorper.org/

Not sure where you live but the dorpers were developed to thrive in harsh, arid climates and maintain weight on poor pasture. Not sure how they would do if you live somewhere soggy.

Good luck on your decision .

I live in Northern California at about 1100 elevation. Its not especially soggy.

That is a hair breed right?

The hair breeds ( such as the Dorper ) do have wool during the late summer/ fall / winter then shed it in the spring. Since you are in N Cal. ... you can google for a Dorper ranch in the mountains of S Oregon... they have several hundred ewes. I have seen a very nice Dorper flock of 30 in S. Wash. too.

Not all hair sheep such as dorper grow wool coats in the winter. It depends on the individual sheep. They coat classes for hair sheep. A is no wool just hair all year long. B has wool in the winter but hair the rest of year. C is wool pretty much all year or some short wooly patches. C is undesirable for all hair sheep. I believe these classes are correct, I may be a little off. I like for my Katahdins either to have short hair all year long or grow a short, short furry coat in the winter. OF course, I live in the extreme south so people in the north may disagree and want their sheep to have a different coat.

 

[PendergrassRanch]

I don't know which breeds are hair or wool so I'm confused. I would like a sheep that I can process at any point in time and it will have a full coat to use. Doesn't sound like the hair sheep that may or may not have wool during some months are what I'm looking for.

 

[RemudaOne]

You're right.... If you want to keep the wool on the sheepskin, you'll have to go with a wool breed as with hair sheep, the covering is very much dependent upon the individual and it will contain some amount of hair which I would think would be undesirable for what you are wanting to do. I understood that you were only interested in the skin and not the covering . Good luck and I'm looking forward to seeing what you decide on

 

[Lamancha Acres 123]

You're right.... If you want to keep the wool on the sheepskin, you'll have to go with a wool breed as with hair sheep, the covering is very much dependent upon the individual and it will contain some amount of hair which I would think would be undesirable for what you are wanting to do. I understood that you were only interested in the skin and not the covering . Good luck and I'm looking forward to seeing what you decide on

Good luck on your pick

 

[finns&fjords]

Holy giant sheep batman!

If I were to get that as a sire, would I be okay crossing them on Romneys?

I cross my Suffolk ram on 1/2 Romney, 1/4 Dorset, 1/4 Cheviot ewes. First year, both had big singles w/o any problems. They grew FAST!!

 

[PendergrassRanch]

Sorry, I meant sheepskin as in the whole thing with wool for rugs.

Thanks for the help