SHEEP
Wool Breeds
For wool breeds we currently have pure Suffolk, and SuffolkxHampshire X ewes.
Suffolk
Suffolk are a black-faced, open-faced breed of domestic sheep raised primarily for meat. Suffolks were originally developed in England as the result of crossing Southdown rams on Norfolk Horned ewes. The product of this cross was an improvement over both parent breeds. Mature weights for Suffolk rams range from 250 to 350 pounds (113-159 kg), ewe weights vary from 180 to 250 pounds (81-113 kg). Fleece weights from mature ewes are between five and eight pounds(2.25-3.6 kg) with a yield of 50 to 62 percent. The fleeces are considered medium wool type with a fiber diameter of 25.5 to 33.0 microns and a spinning count of 48 to 58. The staple length of Suffolk Fleece ranges from 2 to 3.5 inches (5-6.75 cm).
The Suffolk animal is an efficient converter of grass, forbs and forage into quality meat and fiber. Therefore, efficiency is indicated by length and dimension of the body. This is the type of body that is robust, complimenting healthy longevity, efficient feed conversion under various conditions, and ease of care, and ease of lambing. Rams should be masculine, muscular, good sized and well proportioned. Ewes should be feminine, but dimensional and smooth (with a softer look). Both Rams and ewes should be structurally and reproductively sound and aesthetically attractive.
They are mainly raised for wool and meat prodution especially when crossed with the progeny of a mountain ewe. For example, a purebred upland ewe such as a Welsh Mountain ewe might be bred with a breeding sire Bluefaced Leicester ram. This is a Welsh Mule, one of many different types of half-bred ewes. The lamb produced when a half-bred ewe is crossed with a Suffolk ram (as well as with other Terminal Sire breeds such as Texel, Beltex, or Charollais) is considered ideal for meat production since they have unusually good conformation. The lamb has the easy-care benefits of a mountain ewe as well as the excellent growth of the Suffolk ram.
The Suffolk breed is also more resistant to elf fire, a disease brought on by eating, among others, the bog asphodel. Sunlight worsens the condition but the black head and ears of the Suffolk limit sunlight down to the otherwise exposed skin. Suffolk sheep are also shown in youth and adult shows. Organizations like FFA and 4-H allow middle school and high school students to learn responsibility by showing market lambs and breeding ewes. The sheep may be pure breed of commercial (cross-breed). They are very loving, and easy-going animals. They attach quickly to their handlers, and are habitual (Once they learn something they won't forget it).
The Suffolk animal is an efficient converter of grass, forbs and forage into quality meat and fiber. Therefore, efficiency is indicated by length and dimension of the body. This is the type of body that is robust, complimenting healthy longevity, efficient feed conversion under various conditions, and ease of care, and ease of lambing. Rams should be masculine, muscular, good sized and well proportioned. Ewes should be feminine, but dimensional and smooth (with a softer look). Both Rams and ewes should be structurally and reproductively sound and aesthetically attractive.
They are mainly raised for wool and meat prodution especially when crossed with the progeny of a mountain ewe. For example, a purebred upland ewe such as a Welsh Mountain ewe might be bred with a breeding sire Bluefaced Leicester ram. This is a Welsh Mule, one of many different types of half-bred ewes. The lamb produced when a half-bred ewe is crossed with a Suffolk ram (as well as with other Terminal Sire breeds such as Texel, Beltex, or Charollais) is considered ideal for meat production since they have unusually good conformation. The lamb has the easy-care benefits of a mountain ewe as well as the excellent growth of the Suffolk ram.
The Suffolk breed is also more resistant to elf fire, a disease brought on by eating, among others, the bog asphodel. Sunlight worsens the condition but the black head and ears of the Suffolk limit sunlight down to the otherwise exposed skin. Suffolk sheep are also shown in youth and adult shows. Organizations like FFA and 4-H allow middle school and high school students to learn responsibility by showing market lambs and breeding ewes. The sheep may be pure breed of commercial (cross-breed). They are very loving, and easy-going animals. They attach quickly to their handlers, and are habitual (Once they learn something they won't forget it).
Hampshire
The Hampshire or Hampshire Down is a breed of sheep which originated around 1829 from a cross of Southdowns with the Old Hampshire breed, the Wiltshire Horn, and the Berkshire Nott, all horned, white-faced sheep — these were native to the open, untilled, hilly stretch of land known as the Hampshire Downs. Mature rams should weigh 300 pounds or more and mature ewes should weigh 200 pounds or more in breeding condition. Mature ewes yield on average 6 lbs(2.7 kg) to 10 lbs (4.5 kg) fleece that is 25.0 to 33.0 microns and a spinning count of 46 to 58. The fleece staple length is 2 inches (5 cm) to 3.5 inches (9 cm) with a yield of 50% to 62%.
The Southdowns had long had sheep which had dark brown or black legs, matured early, produced the best of mutton and a fine quality of medium wool. The original Hampshire was larger, coarser, but hardier, slower to mature, with inferior flesh, and a longer but coarser wool. The Southdown had always been remarkable for its power of transmitting its special characteristics to its progeny by other kinds of sheep, and hence it soon impressed its own characteristics on its progeny by the Hampshire. The horns of the original breed have disappeared; the face and legs have become dark, the frame has become more compact, the bones smaller, the back broader and straighter, the legs shorter, and the flesh and wool of better quality, while the superior hardiness and greater size, as well as the large head and Roman nose of the old breed, still remain. Hampshires of the 1890s matured early and fattened readily. They clipped from six to seven pounds of wool, suitable for combing, which was longer than Southdown wool, but less fine.
The resultant mutton had a desirable proportion of fat and lean, and was juicy and fine flavoured; the lambs were large and were usually dropped early and fed for market. Indeed, the Hampshire may be considered a larger and trifle coarser and hardier Southdown. The breed was occasionally crossed with Cotswolds, when it produced a wool more valuable for worsted manufacturers than the pure Cotswold. There is little doubt that in addition to Southdown, the Hampshire has a dash of Cotswold blood in its composition. Considerable importations of the breed were made to the US in the 18th century, but it did not become so popular as the Southdown and some other English breeds.
The Southdowns had long had sheep which had dark brown or black legs, matured early, produced the best of mutton and a fine quality of medium wool. The original Hampshire was larger, coarser, but hardier, slower to mature, with inferior flesh, and a longer but coarser wool. The Southdown had always been remarkable for its power of transmitting its special characteristics to its progeny by other kinds of sheep, and hence it soon impressed its own characteristics on its progeny by the Hampshire. The horns of the original breed have disappeared; the face and legs have become dark, the frame has become more compact, the bones smaller, the back broader and straighter, the legs shorter, and the flesh and wool of better quality, while the superior hardiness and greater size, as well as the large head and Roman nose of the old breed, still remain. Hampshires of the 1890s matured early and fattened readily. They clipped from six to seven pounds of wool, suitable for combing, which was longer than Southdown wool, but less fine.
The resultant mutton had a desirable proportion of fat and lean, and was juicy and fine flavoured; the lambs were large and were usually dropped early and fed for market. Indeed, the Hampshire may be considered a larger and trifle coarser and hardier Southdown. The breed was occasionally crossed with Cotswolds, when it produced a wool more valuable for worsted manufacturers than the pure Cotswold. There is little doubt that in addition to Southdown, the Hampshire has a dash of Cotswold blood in its composition. Considerable importations of the breed were made to the US in the 18th century, but it did not become so popular as the Southdown and some other English breeds.
Hair Breeds
For hair breeds we currently have Katahdin, Katahdin/St. Croix X, Katahdin/St. Augustine X, ewes and rams. We also have a stud ram whom is a Dorper/Navajo Churro-St. Augustine X.
Katahdin
The Katahdin is a breed of domestic sheep developed in Maine, USA, mostly in the second half of the 20th century. This breed was originated by Michael Piel who after reading an article in the February 1956 National Geographic imported selected St. Croix sheep chosen by Dr. Richard Marshall Bond and crossed them with various other breeds, selecting lambs based on hair coat, meat-type conformation, high fertility, and flocking instinct. The Katahdin sheds its winter coat, and so does not have to be sheared. Its popularity in the USA has increased in recent years due to low wool prices and high shearing costs.
Katahdin Sheep work very well in a variety of production situations as a low-maintenance, easy care sheep. Katahdins have generated a great deal of interest from all parts of North America. We have members from Mexico to Northern Canada and have exported to Ecuador, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, United Kingdom, Chile, and Central America. Katahdin hair sheep provide a practical option to producers who are primarily interested in raising a meat animal, with great lamb vigor, mothering ability and do not want to shear or are no longer able to find shearers.
In a recent presentation, Dr. Dave Notter of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (a top Animal Science Geneticist in the USA), said – the backbone of America’s future commercial flock will be a ewe with parasite resistance, low maintenance costs, high fertility/prolificacy, good mothering ability, and one that produces either no wool at all or the highest quality wool.
Katahdin Sheep work very well in a variety of production situations as a low-maintenance, easy care sheep. Katahdins have generated a great deal of interest from all parts of North America. We have members from Mexico to Northern Canada and have exported to Ecuador, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, United Kingdom, Chile, and Central America. Katahdin hair sheep provide a practical option to producers who are primarily interested in raising a meat animal, with great lamb vigor, mothering ability and do not want to shear or are no longer able to find shearers.
In a recent presentation, Dr. Dave Notter of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (a top Animal Science Geneticist in the USA), said – the backbone of America’s future commercial flock will be a ewe with parasite resistance, low maintenance costs, high fertility/prolificacy, good mothering ability, and one that produces either no wool at all or the highest quality wool.