I would love to raise a few sheep but I'm looking at the Barbados as I wouldn't have to cut wool and I think they would do well in a desert climate. Know anything about these?
Sorry in advance for this off topic answer, but I want everyone to know that there is a super easy breed of hair sheep that needs breeders. Listed as Threatened on the LC conservation priority list.
I raise St. Croix Hair Sheep... probably the most trouble free breed of sheep out there. I don't like sheep because they are so high maintenance, but I love my St. Croix.
No shearing because they are hair sheep - they shed. Perfect for hot climates, they are native to the Virgin Islands. Breeders in cold climates also have success with them. They are super hardy. I've never had any illness in my flock. Only my newborn lambs are vaccinated and wormed, not the adults.
No worming needed because they are naturally parasite resistant. All other breeds of sheep are having a horrible time with parasites.
Year round breeding and fast breed back. I get two crops of lambs in just over a year. One ewe gave me triplets and quads last year. She raised them all completely on her own - no supplements or bottle feeding were needed. These are awesome mothers! I've never had to assist with birth. I only had to bottle feed one lamb after her dam injured her udder, and that ewe continued to care for the bottle baby.
My sheep are grass fed only and the lactating ewes get alfalfa. No grain ever. When not lactating, they all do quite well on wild grass & poor forage like dry grass in the summer.
Excellent temperament. They are much less flighty than Barbs and other breeds. Mine actually are cooperative and will follow feed anywhere or go where I direct them. They have good flocking instinct. The rams are easy to manage not very aggressive. Very easy to halter train. Friendly when handled, easily tamed. Will cooperate with a strong herding dog - mine will chase off a dog who is unsure.
They respect fences - even low ones that other sheep would jump. Very easily contained, they seem to be content to stay where they are put.
I tried Barbs & Katahdin sheep and could not tolerate their flighty, unfriendly dispositions. They were much harder to manage.
Hair sheep have always been raised & selected for meat - not wool. The result is higher quality, better tasting meat. The lanolin in wool breeds affects the flavor and that is one reason why so many people don't like the flavor of lamb. I never liked lamb until I had hair sheep lamb. It's much milder, almost like mild beef.
The reason that commercial producers don't like St. Croix is because they are slower maturing than modern production breeds. That doesn't necessarily mean much more feed because they don't require the amount or quality of forage that other breeds do. I get about 50-60 pounds of lamb at 7 months.
For a family or homesteader that wants a hardy, easy way to produce some lamb, this breed can be an excellent choice.
One last note about the registry. The original St. Croix sheep that were brought to the US were selected to be all white and polled. This was in the original US Standard for the breed. Last year, some Board members decided to change the Standard (against the majority of the members' wishes) to allow color and scurs. So the registry split. I recommend
http://www.stcroixhairsheep.org/ because it maintains the original Standard and allows input from the membership.
I'll shut up now. Just had to let you all know, since this is a wonderful breed that is worth stewardship.
