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  • From: EarthNSky <erthnsky AT bellsouth.net>
  • To: homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [Homestead] Dorpers and Katahdins
  • Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2008 23:09:42 -0400

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>
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