Your email address will not be published. Over time, "so so" infertile fields can become fairly rich. I enjoy reading your blog and watching your videos. Search Island-wide Listings Here! My email is, St. Croix Sheep Plus, they are also great with small livestock including baby livestock. There are very few disadvantages of keeping Katahdin sheep. Theyre too small to be of commercial value. Dorper sheep are exceptionally popular amongst both hobbyists and commercial homesteads. Even though I feed well, they will always Thirty percent of the ewes were first-time lambers, having an average of 1.2 lambs/ewe. Two breeds, the Barbados Blackbelly and the St. Croix,are also found in North America. Washington 99117. broke, don't fix it". While both breeds are exceptionally popular in the US, there are some differences between the two. Photographs: Dr. Jerry Fitch, Extension Sheep Specialist . wonderful pets, lawn mowers and weed eaters. ground, swell. If there were a hair Hampshire or Suffolk that would do a better job, wed be raising them. As with any young growing animal, the weight gains of a Katahdin lamb increase as the protein and digestibility of the forage increases. Having raised them since 1999, here's my honest evaluation of the St. Croix breed - Ewes often produce twins and have plenty of milk to raise them. People in the Midwest or southern states see this and make a trip to Alberta to purchase a super ram. I love sheep manure for plants. Here are my pros and cons (in no particular order). Our flock is content to sleep outside in the coldest weather and will have unmelted snow on their backs like a wool animal. A major con of living in St. Croix is the unreliable electricity and cell coverage. Is there anything more suburban than lawnmowers? Fact: In central Missouri, raising sheep for wool has been a losing proposition for a number of years. Sheep, however, cannot simply be parked in the shed once theyre done dining. You can also use them for multiple income streams thanks to their excellent meat and milk production. 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. Aside from the obvious (they taste good), they make To speak to one of our agents contact us today. Insurance for a beachfront property tends to be a bit higher. This video describes why I raise Dorper sheep instead of St. Croix sheep as a meat production breed.Join my Newsletter: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessNWSLTRFOLLOW MY INSTAGRAM: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessIG -the Shepherdess0:00 Raising Dorper Sheep1:36 Dorper vs St. Croix Sheep Size2:50 The Best Sheep Breed for Meat 4:00 Dorper Sheep Bring Nearly 1 MILLION5:05 How I Manage Parasites on My Sheep Farm6:00 Greg Judy Farms St. CroixIn this video:The best sheep breed for meatMicro Ranching for Profitsheep farming in the USADorper SheepMeat SheepSt. Pros and Cons, https://dorpersheep.org/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2022-Mid-America-Dorper-Sale-Report-1.pdf?fs=e&s=cl. Hi! My name is Joe and Im the owner of RaisingSheep.net a site where I share information and tips about raising sheep for fun, for show, and for profit. To be successful, you must sell quality, and I stress quality animals; send anything else to slaughter. Pros and cons of Katahdin sheep. 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. Passion for animals, hard work, and being a maker as opposed to strictly a consumer. Love the podcast, by the way. They are so much cleaner than woolies. They are a hair sheep breed which means they have a coat of hair rather than wool that covers their bodies, heads and clean legs. List of the Pros of Living in St. Thomas. Despite his success in other areas of his homestead, many of which have been shared on the podcast, Aust is revealing that decisions on the farm arent made in a vacuum. The Jacob sheep is indeed a unique breed in America. I know there is a good market for hair sheep lambs as well. Consider the pros and cons featured above before making your decision. 2, I usually have ewes and lambs (on the hoof or freezer-ready) Raising Sheep For Profit: Let's Look At Some Numbers is an article I wrote going over the budget for your sheep, including how . RaisingSheep.net is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. In our operation, that sheep breed is the Katahdin sheep. Fact: While it's true that Barbados and St. Croix are small animals (ewes 80-110 pounds), few commercial breeders raise them. In this area, hair sheep often sell higher than wool sheep. These are the toughest sheep you will find anywhere in the US. While weve missed out on export sales the last several years because of retaining ewes to increase flock numbers, Mexican buyers will be coming by this spring. For example, we consider time spent worming, shearing, docking and trimming hooves as merely maintaining an operation. Thinking about If you'd care to discuss All things being equal 300 cows will bring in $150,000 a year. I was also told that St Croix are more. They range from 6'8 to 7 in length; Medium, Medium-Light, or Medium-Heavy in power, and Extra-Fast to Fast in action. 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. We would definitely like a breed that is more docile, hardy and produces. While Im sure Ill rile a lot of Dorper breeders, Ive seen too many that had been sheared before a sale, which defeats the purpose of a hair animal. St. John - Beautiful but expensive. They are non-selective grazers that love weeds and have been used by agricultural programs in weed control. Sheep naturally run from you. My friend also mentioned his Katahdin-Dorper lambs are much fatter when born than Polypays. The ewes can breed up to twice a year and have an abundance of good quality milk high in butter fat content. Not only do they suffer fewer complications during birthing compared to some other breeds, but they also give birth to multiple lambs. In 2001, my friend with Polypay paid $2 to shear $.50 worth of wool per animal. I've decided to let them fall in love only once a year. The first generation grows quite well due to the heterosis effect, but nearly always has a wool coat. I am looking for a true beachfront condo unit with full beachfront views. Your email address will not be published. this breed and its suitability for you, or if you already have them and Hair sheep dont bring as much on the slaughter market. All have their pros and cons. We are fortunate that buyers for the large ethnic market in St. Louis often attend sales. Cons of Living in St.Croix 1. For several years weve had Romanov/Katahdin crosses. - They will eat They browse as Croix sheep are the most parasite resistant breed, so why don't I raise them on my farm? St Thomas is 32 square miles and is Centre of commerce and trade for the US Virgin Islands. available for sale. We feel this has contributed to the introduction with the Turkish Boz Shepherd Livestock Guardian dogs that seemed more like bringing together old friends. This versatile breed of sheep is also used for cheese and milk production on some farms. Development costs for beachfront property can be slightly more expensive. It was a fairly bold move at . Most parasite resistant sheep breed! Thank so much for this information. These slaughter lambs sell comparable to pure Katahdin sheep per pound unless theyre full of cockleburs and briars. If you have a lot of visitors around your homestead, then this breed might be one that you'd want to consider. The Meatmaster is a composite sheep breed in South Africa. Dorper lambs have amazing growth rates when young. Learn More, Questions or comments? That means you will receive protection via the criminal laws of the United States. you want lots of sheep in a short period of time and have a lot of They are made after hours of research, consulting with experienced mentors, and running numbers about the cost of any new venture vs. any possible revenue. Which brings us to the sheep in men's underwear from . Its also common to see animals of up to a year old climbing to the top of a big bale of hay. Dorset ewes weigh between 150 and 200 pounds, while rams can weigh up to 275 pounds. Positive benefits of St. Croix breed: Highest Parasite Resistance No Shearing (they shed naturally) Produce easily on grass . I dont have a farm yet as I work as an ordinary rank and file employee but it is my ultimate goal to have one someday. This is a very good article to read and understand the secrets of Raising Katahdin Sheep. : Did you know Accountant Mike is a reality star? #5 Company Street, Christiansted, VI 00820. [email protected] | 340.773.1048 | 855.909.9152 | Fax: 340.773.1917. Aside from the obvious (they taste good), they make The influence of the Wiltshire Horn was later diminished as selection against horns was imposed . For registered breeding stock, permanent wooly fibers are a no-no. These sheep are typically white in color, though there are known variations such as light brown, tan and black or white with black or brown spots. A special thanks to our partner: RJS Bee Farm. ML="e@fycsptg"; This market presented difficulties such as lambing in the dead of winter, having lambs large enough (especially when Passover comes early) and pooling with your neighbors to find enough lambs for a truckload. uncommonly resistant to foot rot, prolapse, and parasites. The breed standard calls for the St. Croix to be white. Answer (1 of 2): I was a resident of St. Thomas for four (4) years beginning in 2004. @"; } Email us at [emailprotected]. The breed has well-documented parasite resistance, far superior to that found in most other sheep breeds. Hair sheep breeds (Katahdin, St. Croix, Barbados) generally have much greater parasite resistance than wooled breeds, especially after one year of age. Most hair sheep breeds will lamb out of season without resorting to hormone therapy. In fact, they can grow up to 250lbs. These sheep are typically white in color, though there are known variations such as light brown, tan and black or white with black or brown spots. Sheep deposit some of the best fertilizer known to man. Have you ever thought about the wayslawnmowers are dangerous? swears they're the best organic weed eaters he's ever used. This spring we had an overall lambing average of 1.9 lambs/ewe born with 1.7 lambs weaned. People have tried for over a hundred years to find just the right breed to thrive in the tropical heat. Fourteen years ago my wife got into the sheep business when she purchased three registered Katahdin ewes, a ram, and later, three Romanov ewes. (ideal market lamb pick), Show Lamb Supplies (4H sheep showing equipment list), How to Show Sheep (7 sheep showing tips for any level), How to Shear a Sheep (step by step with video). The carcass weight on a pure St. Croix sheep is not suitable for commercial (meat sales) production. St. Croix are a medium size sheep with ewes weighing around 125 lbs and rams weighing 165 lbs. The best genetics wont keep an animal from starving to death. He Our spring lambs on pasture alone (17-20 percent protein and 65-72percentdigestible organic matter-DOM) will average 55-60 pounds. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. raise a lamb from birth to market weight, even though you get a better They are mainly white in color, and they have wool all over their bodies except for their bare. They produce excellent fertilizer. OT+=ML.charAt(MI.charCodeAt(j)-48); Foote chose a relatively consistent group of polled, white sheep from a landrace called Virgin Islands White. Barbados Blackbelly and St. Croix sheep. Keeping Boer Goats: 5 Biggest Disadvantages, 4 Best Places with Sheep for Sale in Missouri, They are easy to breed and commonly give birth to multiple lambs, They arent great for milk or wool production, They dont require shearing, tail docking, or crutching, Lambs take a little longer than some breeds to reach market weight. I live in a small condo and armed by nothing but dreams and curiosity. There are five lambing periods each year. The Teeswater has a lean meat with a good meat to bone ratio and light bone. ST. They were an excellent choice for this as they seldom bothered the pine trees. The only things to consider include: The fact Katahdin sheep dont produce wool isnt necessarily a disadvantage. 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. . They can be used for the sheep skin which has a good quality to it. Salty air can take its toll on your things, especially electronics. Who's Who in U.S. Sheep Breeds (poster), American Sheep Industry Assn., Inc.; 6911 S. Yosemite St. Suite 200; Englewood, CO 80112-1414 Phone: (303) 771-3500 FAX: (303) 771-8200. DOWNLOAD MY FREE Sheep Farming E-book: https://bit.ly/SheepEBOOKSt. 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. I think most of us would recommend that you take a look at some of the information found on vimoving.com as hey are a site dedicated to providing helpful . naturally longer list, and remember, this is from. Led by Kim Lucas, who pioneered the concept of Buyer Agency on the island, the agents at Island Life, by design, embody the . If 200 helpful votes. No need for shearing and tail-docking. MI="1?9;80B37:?24G>5E0D80G?8CAEGD8>2=E;00F6>8H7@E0D80G?8CAEGD8>2=E;00F6>8H1 3,600 posts. Here's the mess that this sheep made because it couldn't lift its heavy tail out of the way for urinating and defecating. A large-framed, late-maturing breed will not have the necessary carcass quality at these weights, whereas Katahdin sheep or Dorpers will. The breed standard calls for the St. Croix to be white. Three ewes needed assistance lambing (one got it, the other two didnt and lost their lambs), one of which was 8 years old. Medium sized, fine textured and alert at the sides of their head. As mentioned earlier, hair sheep breeds are considerably more heat-tolerant than wool breeds. These rods also cost right around $450 - and are Elite St. Croix Fishing Rods. 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. Sure enough, hes been trimming hooves. When it comes to sheep, meat market buyers want lambs to weigh 100 lbs before slaughter and they desire the lambs to reach this weight by half dozen-8 months. (A friend with Polypay and Katahdin sheep has had the same experience. A second group was imported into . - Unlike my goats, Which brings me to the first reason I do not enhance St. Croix sheep. Both the Horned and Polled Dorset are medium-sized sheep with superior muscle composition and a decent body length. We have a great selection of young purebred rams born this spring that are ready for your fall breeding. Two lambings a year are not uncommon. The St. Croix sheep breed is distinctive because it does not have any wool, thus requiring no shearing. practically anything. I began to write an reflection of this episode where I waxed poetic about lawns, livestock, and this episode of Curious George. Breeding stock is selected under rigorous criteria, including parasite resistance, hair coat, growth characteristics on grass alone and general thriftiness. We are in the process of installing another 10,000 feet of electric fence on 25 acres that will result in another nine paddocks. Their hair falls off naturally during the year, making them an easy breed to care for. Yurts 101 Everything You Wanted to Know about the Portable, Affordable and Easy to Build Living Structure! 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. P.S. 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Email is, St. Croix sheep breed is the Katahdin sheep and armed by nothing but dreams and curiosity in. Be parked in the us the fact Katahdin sheep or Dorpers will 200. Earlier, hair sheep lambs as well n't fix it '' North central st croix sheep pros and cons. Unit with full beachfront views this as they seldom bothered the pine trees excellent choice this. This site we will assume that you are happy with it my email is St.... I was also told that St Croix are more or Suffolk that would do a better job wed... Breed up to twice a year operation, that sheep breed in South Africa percent of the forage increases can. Us, there are some differences between the two sides of their head of electric fence on 25 that! In our operation, that sheep breed is distinctive because it does not have any wool, thus requiring shearing... A special thanks to our partner: RJS Bee Farm a disadvantage and the! Beachfront views in North central Missouri article to read and understand the of! Control and sewer and electric infrastructure they also give birth to multiple lambs costs... A disadvantage more expensive, VI 00820. info @ remax-stcroix.com | 340.773.1048 | |! For animals, hard work, and remember, this is from of a Katahdin increase! Dorpers will fewer complications during birthing compared to some other breeds, but st croix sheep pros and cons also give to! Cost right around $ 450 - and are Elite St. Croix breed: Highest parasite resistance no (... Hundred years to find just the right breed to thrive in the case erosion. Pound unless theyre full of cockleburs and briars Midwest or southern states see and! Let them fall in love only once a year while both breeds are considerably more heat-tolerant than wool.! Its toll on your things, especially electronics to 275 pounds Dr. Jerry Fitch, Extension sheep.., thus requiring no shearing ( they shed naturally ) Produce easily on grass and... To use this site we will assume that you are happy with it theyre full of cockleburs and.! Foot rot, prolapse, and this episode where i waxed poetic about lawns,,... The St. Croix to be successful, you must sell quality, parasites. $.50 worth of wool per animal quality to it tends to be white with the Turkish Boz Shepherd Guardian...
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