Sheep ?s

[Beekissed]

Great!

Do they seem to have large udders and plenty of milk for their lambs? Lambs fatten quickly? Easy birthing? Bring a good price at market?

Sorry, but its so nice to meet someone who has them and get to ask the questions. Every breed you research online tell you how their breed is the best for everything, so one doesn't know how much is hype or the truth!

 

[mylilchix]

From what I've been reading it looks like they do have big udders, and can lamb up to 3 times in 2 years. I'm not the expert though.

You've all been a huge help. I think if I get some dorpers and friesians we'll be in good shape. I like the fact that dorpers aren't selective eaters. We live in the mountains, so our pasture area isn't the greatest (we're trying to improve it though

). What is the best type of housing for them? We have llamas, and they have a 3 sided shelter. We thought we'd just put up another one for the sheep. Of course we won't add sheep to the family until next spring or summer, so we have a little time.

Sonja

 

[mylilchix]

I just found this link, Beekissed. It has info about the dorpers and their lambs.
http://www.rockinldorpers.com/aboutrockinl.htm

Sonja

 

[Beekissed]

The 3-sided sheds are what I see for sheep around here also, so that may be sufficient.

 

[Beekissed]

Quote:
Sonja, Thanks!

That was the best link for Dorper's that I have found....it sounds like these folks had tried other breeds and found the Dorper's superior. That's what I like to hear, that someone has tried other breeds and found one to have advantages over the other.

 

[mylilchix]

I'm happy to help! I was really happy with the link too. It helps to do a bunch of research before making a decision!!

Sonja

 

[jhm47]

Sheep: There are wool breeds, like Ramboullet, Columbia, and Targhee. These require regular shearing (about once a year, preferably before lambing). Shearing is a LOT of work, and if you don't have any experience with it, don't try it. You and the sheep will both likely lose a lot of blood.

Then, there are the "meat" breeds: Suffolk, Hampshire, and most of the "hair" breeds. The Suffolk and Hamps require shearing, and the hair breeds don't.

Our children had a small, very high quality flock of Columbias when they were in 4-H. They were a lot of work to get ready to show, and we sold them after the last child graduated from 4-H.

As far as temperament is concerned, I would say that the Suffolk can be quite hard to keep in a fence (at least that was our experience). The "wool" breeds tend to flock together much better than the meat breeds, and if one gets out of the fence, they will all get out.

Just be sure to beware of mature rams. Especially "pet" rams. They can seriously hurt you, and are very dangerous during breeding season. Some ewes are also quite protective of their lambs, and can hurt you also.

 

[greyfields]

Your breed selection is inconsequential. These are my only two suggetsions:

1) Pick a breed that is pretty to you. You'll be caring and feeding for them for a very long time, even on cold wet days when you don't want to. You'll find yourself less motivated to do the work for ugly animals you chose based on someone's alleged performance data.

2) Raise breeds your neighbors also raise. this can make it easier come breeding season to share rams and such.

With that said, it makes next to no different what you choose. I will warn you, though, that milking sheep is not a serious option. The production of your flock can be well eclipsed by a single Nubian dairy goat. Goats are the logical choice for small scale milk production, sheep are the the logical choice for small scale meat production. You can keep them together and the management is largely identical.

 

[Beekissed]

Quote:
I would have to disagree with just about everything in this post.

Breed selection is everything if one is considering what is the best for one's lifestyle. I, for one, don't want to have to shear a single sheep...a flock, maybe, but not break out the shears for a single ewe...probably not even for a flock, as wool has little value here. I desire the traits found in the Dorper breed and do not find the other breeds suit my current needs....I'm sure anyone else who shops for a particular breed trait feels the same.

I don't feed and care for any animal based on their ugliness factor....I've never really ever heard of anyone who did! Pigs would all go hungry, as would guineas, turkeys, naked-neck chickens, etc., not to mention quite a few children in this world may very well starve to death!

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I have never heard of anyone who was serious about raising livestock basing their care on an animal's looks!

I, for one, do not wish to breed my Dorper to reproduce the same breed, so choosing a ram is largely inconsequential, as long as he is a meat breed. The lambs will all go to market and I have no interest in building a flock.

A goat and a sheep do not eat the same things on pasture, so their management is largely different. I plan to run my sheep in my orchard, where there is grass but no browse. A goat would kill my trees and not keep the grass down to the level I wish, so a goat is not really an option, especially for anyone not having a good selection of browse and very secure fencing that cannot be climbed.

As for the milking, I would agree about that feature if one was actually trying to produce a substantial amount of milk for consumption or for selling. As noone on this thread has indicated either way, as to their intentions with their sheep's milk, I can't imagine that it has much bearing on the subject. I plan to use mine for making the occasional batch of cheese and not for general milk consumption.


If we were discussing goats, the thread would say "Goats?", I believe! Or, possibly, "Goats vs. Sheep"....but it doesn't.

 

[MissPrissy]

I disagree with the sheep milking assessment. I have friesians. Goat milk cannot compete at all with it.

Cheese from the sheep milk is like no goat milk I have ever tasted.

I live within 5 miles of a sheep dairy. No one else in these parts raises friesians but the dairy and a few people who have managed to get some of their lamb stock. I am a lucky one.

Everyone else in these parts raise sheep for two purposes either meat or fiber.

My next purchase will be based on FIBER choices and color - not a particular breed - but an animal that is producing fiber I want to harvest and work with.

Lastly is the options for meat. Any unwanted ram lambs will be delt with as strictly table fare after I choose my milk and fiber stock from the herd.