Homestead mailing list

[EarthNSky <erthnsky AT bellsouth.net>]

I've had great luck with Katahdins, the breed Moon also has.  I don't 
know if Dan Settles is still around, but I think he had them, too.  Up 
until 3 years ago, I ran 10-30 head on my front pasture.  I've never had 
any other breed, but I can say I was very pleased with Katahdins and 
will get them again.  I won't rule out a Dorper cross though, as several 
people in this area have Dorper/Katahdin crosses.
My Katahdins, while stupid like other sheep, looked more like goats due 
to their hair.  I selected for white Katahdins because we live in a 
remote area, the front pasture is next to the road, and spotlighters are 
common.  I wanted anyone with bad intentions to know that my sheep are 
sheep, not deer.   I had no parasite issues, and from my experience, 
they almost always twin, and I had triplets at least once a year it 
seemed.  However, and maybe it was just my ewes, but whenever we had 
trips, one would always suffer and end up dying eventually, either the 
mother would abandon it, wean it too early, or the ram/queens would take 
it out.  For whatever reason, I'd always lose the third.  I think I had 
singletons possibly 4 or 5 times, always from very young ewes, first 
time mothers.  In our climate, it did seem like they breed year around. 
 I've had lambs born at Christmas, in March, and in August.
I had sheep and goats at the same time.  I had a hands on approach with 
the goats, and a hands off approach with the sheep.  They were rounded 
up and 'worked' once, maybe twice a year.  No shearing necessary, just 
hoof work, immunizations, worming, checks, etc.  I bottle fed a few 
lambs over the years, and if Ray is still around, he can give you an 
update on two I sold to him...
If I did not have milk goats, I might try a more hands on approach with 
the sheep.  My sheep were so wild that it was hard to work them.  That 
is why I finally resorted to a dog.  I think it is possible to work 
sheep without a dog-I did it, and with a hands on approach it would be 
easier to do without a dog, but I think I'll give serious thought to 
renting someone's herder come time to work the sheep.  For me, I'm just 
not into trialing and herding competitions, and my pasture is not some 
wide open expanse, so I don't need a dog everyday, just a few times a year.
The reason we raised sheep, and will raise them again is for the lamb. 
I can eat lamb once a week...love it.  Of course, I can't afford to buy 
it but once a year.

Bev



Lynda wrote:
> Don't have him yet but are considering a Dorper as a  ram vs. the St. Croix 
> due to the beard on the St. Croix.  Around here we'd end up with a BIG mess! 
> The total body weight to cut weight is better on the St. Croix and they are 
> "nicer" sheep to work with but, well, heck, the ram's gonna stay in a 
> limited area and not be something one works with much, so no big deal.  The 
> Dorper still have a better dressed weight to useable weight then your 
> "average" lamb that goes to market.
>
> Lynda
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: <paxamicus AT earthlink.net>
>
>
> > snip<
> >
> > Let's step away from the politics together, you and I..... tell me
> > about your Dorpers, I was thinking about a dorper ram for my ladies...
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Oct 23, 2008, at 6:06 PM, Lynda wrote:
> >
> > > This is silly.  So you don't like Drudge.  Click on the info and go
> > > to the
> > > original source.  He certainly doesn't write the headlines that he
> > > tracks
> > > down.  So here's links to the actual reports:
> > >
> > > House shot up over McCain sign:
> > > http://www.local6.com/politics/17784129/detail.html
> > >
> > > McCain volunteer attacked and mutilated, "the robber took $60 from the
> > > woman, then became angry when he saw a McCain bumper sticker on the
> > > victim's
> > > car. The attacker then punched and kicked the victim, before using
> > > the knife
> > > to scratch the letter "B" into her face, Richard said."
> > > http://www.local6.com/politics/17784129/detail.html
> > >
> > > Now, I'm just curious, no pun intended.  Were you all worked up when
> > > there
> > > was a whole magazine on Dumbya that had him as Curious George?
> > >
> > > Lynda
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: <paxamicus AT earthlink.net>
> > _______________________________________________
> > Homestead list and subscription:
> > http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/homestead
> > Change your homestead list member options:
> > http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/options/homestead/lurine%40softcom.net
> > View the archives at:
> > https://lists.ibiblio.org/sympa/arc/homestead
>
> _______________________________________________
> Homestead list and subscription:
> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/homestead
> Change your homestead list member options:
> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/options/homestead/erthnsky%40bellsouth.net
> View the archives at:
> https://lists.ibiblio.org/sympa/arc/homestead
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com 
> Version: 8.0.175 / Virus Database: 270.8.2/1741 - Release Date: 10/23/2008 7:54 AM

--
“Fear is the path to the Dark Side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to 
hate. Hate leads to suffering.”        Yoda