Dorpers tend to be a little larger, and Katahdins are excellent mothers, so a Dorper /Kathadin cross is nearly perfect. Environmental Adaptability: Withstand higher heat and humidity than British sheep breeds. This behavior causes problems with maintaining desirable trees unless protection is provided. Many Greeks eat lamb for Easter, which is not always the same date as the traditional Easter. The American Sheep Industry recognizes 47 different sheep breeds in the US, with hundreds more recognized internationally. They also tend to be highly mobile, which means they will climb on top of anything. Katahdins tend to birth twins, with triplets and quadruplets occurring often with good flock management. Quite a few meat producers are finding better success with the hair breeds of meat sheep than with meat goats. Our paddocks are grazed for 5-7 days followed by 25-34 days of . Keeping Boer Goats: 5 Biggest Disadvantages, 4 Best Places with Sheep for Sale in Missouri, They are easy to breed and commonly give birth to multiple lambs, They arent great for milk or wool production, They dont require shearing, tail docking, or crutching, Lambs take a little longer than some breeds to reach market weight. After 13 years of medical education and military service they landed in Maine to put down roots. These lambs that I have seen are usually by percentage Dorper rams or rams of lesser quality and out of smaller ewes or lesser quality ewes. Fact: In central Missouri, raising sheep for wool has been a losing proposition for a number of years. If you have a disability and are having trouble accessing information on this website or need materials in an alternate format, please contact Cornell University via email at, Cornell University is located on the traditional homelands of the Gayogoh:n. . Hope this helps! The mild and yet rich flavor of these culled ewes is remarkable and does not at all remind anyone of mutton. Now meat sheep producers are lucky if wool prices cover . Mature Weight (Lb): Ewe = 100 130, Ram = 120 150. St. Croix Sheep have been used to develop other breeds such as the Royal White. I've seen some really nice Dorper/Katahdin crosses. Keep reading to learn more about the best sheep breeds for meat. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Environmental Adaptability:They are adaptable to all climates. You will always need to make compromises if you choose to have a purebred flock. Several myths still surround hair sheep. Hampshire sheep have a muscular and stocky build, and are comparative to the Suffolk in size. It is a very hardy breed and is disease resistant. 109:265-275. Tunis sheep are able to thrive in a variety of climates, and tolerate both heat and cold well. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Research has shown Dorper have good parasite tolerance or resilience rather than resistance. Any of the sheep breeds thats considered to be one of the true hair sheep breeds has an advantage in that cockleburs, briars, stick-tights and so forth dont become entangled. In conclusion, based on RT and RR, resilience to high HLI conditions ranked St. Croix > Katahdin > Dorper, with lowest . BREEDING DORPER SHEEP (Allardt) "Spike" is a 3 year old ram. The breed was created by crossing Dorset and Blackheaded Persian sheep. Katahdin sheep are one of several hair breeds, the most common of which includes Barbados Black Belly, St. Croix and Dorper sheep. The Katahdan tend to be a little more "active", in general not quite as docile, though many would disagree but they are still quiet. In years past, 18-30 pound lambs sold well in Chicago for Jewish Passover. Your email address will not be published. The low maintenance qualities of Katahdins allow us the time to do so. Hi..I have a merino female sheep and I would like to know if its possible to cross it with male dorper sheep to get pregnant .. Do Dorpers only breed seasonally ? Twinning is common and triplets and quadruplets are not rare. Dorpers Our goal is to develop a flock of productive, easy-care sheep that are scrapie resistant, require no shearing and that reach market specs on grass. I had a Texel flock of 100 breeding ewes at the time when I bought my first White Dorper rams. 1. Dorper and Katahdin are medium size breeds. Many of the Dorper you see have been crossed with Katahdin sheep for several reasons. Westexas. His father Barley ( in picture behind him) is a full blooded Dorper. To properly flush a ewe, she should be on an upward nutritional plane and gaining weight. Now you have a good idea of the pros and cons of both Dorper and Katahdin sheep, which one is right for your homestead? Vet. Black color covers belly, inside legs and thighs and extends up to the neck. My Dorper ram is not really large but he is bigger than her. He can be reached by e-mail at ulf@whitecloversheepfarm.com or by phoneduring calling hour specified on his answering machineat 585-554-3313. Most Muslims prefer intact ram lambs without tails being docked. Despite its origins in a cold northern climate, the Katahdin is remarkably well-suited to warm weather living. This increases the risk of falls and injury, which can be expensive to fix. Moreover, RT was slightly less for Katahdin vs. Dorper in period 4 at 13:00 and 17:00 however, RR was less for Katahdin than for Dorper in periods 3 and 4. Also, much of the flavor ( good or bad) comes from the fat. Thanks, I am considering starting a small Dorper and or Katahdin herd to raise meat for the Western New York market. To showcase the commercial qualities of our animals, all breeding stock we sell comes directly from pasture, having received no special treatment. Today I have 1/2, 3/4, 7/8th, and 15/16th White Dorper sheep. The Cheviot sheep is best suited for northern, colder climates, and does not tolerate heat as well. It is also well established that heavy grain feeding does not suit these medium sized sheep since they thrive on so little. You are using an out of date browser. My customers are also distributors of various sizes who sell mainly at restaurants and their private customers. Dorper and Katahdin are medium size breeds. Although the breed was created in the 1930s, it is still fairly new to the US. While hair breeds comprise a small percentage of the number of sheep in North America, this is changing as sustainability becomes a bigger issue for landowners. The desire to climb mandates the use of a bale ring to prevent excessive waste. My Texel sheep had served me well with their ability to finish on pasture, with their excellent meaty carcasses and with their lambing percentage of over 200 percent. What You Need To Know, link to Goats vs Sheep: Profit, Care & Behavioral Differences, Best Sheep for Wool: Top 8 Sheep Breeds for Wool. Rams generally have horns. Dorper fullbloods, Katahdin fullbloods and St Croix fullbloods, We have a nice big fullblood dorper ram that we are putting over the St Croix and the Katahdin. I no longer sell at livestock auctions mainly because I dont have to. Weight Gain/Daily: 0.57 lbs under intensive production. The breeder from whom I purchased the lambs said she is breeding in dorper with the katahdins to "beef" them up a little. While there are far fewer cons than there are pros for keeping Dorper sheep, you do need to consider the potential downsides. Origin: This breed originated from Maine, U.S. from crosses of woolen breeds mainly Suffolk and later Wiltshire Horn with hair sheep from the Virgin Islands. The breed is famous in the United States for its high performance and low maintenance. For example, we consider time spent worming, shearing, docking and trimming hooves as merely maintaining an operation. Why Katahdin x Dorper Crosses. Lamb chops from Barbados Blackbelly x St. Croix lambs were similar to those from Dorset-sired, Dorper-sired, or Katahdin. They are excellent foragers. They are prolific breeders as well, often producing twins. Crossing these breeds with woolen breeds for efficient meat production does hold some potential. Katahdin ewes weigh around 125-185 pounds, and rams average around 200 pounds. His information is given at the conclusion of the article, pasted below. Dorper Sheep vs. Katahdin Sheep. Im Carmella. I direct sell a great number of lambs. The Dorper has a high rate of lambing and is tolerant of the arid conditions it was developed for in South Africa. For several years weve had Romanov/Katahdin crosses. The cross breeding results in the best of both breeds but also in the benefits of heterosis, commonly known as hybrid vigor. This breed is also exceptionally hardy, able to thrive in both the cold, and the hot, humid climates in which many farmers struggle to. Unsave Save. The leather from hair sheep grain is finer than the leather from wool breeds and brings in a larger amount of money. So, what about littering the pasture with wool? With a high rate of multiple births and a gentle temperament, this is a good choice for people looking to start a hair sheep business, particularly in warm climates. In 1975 Utah State University imported a small flock of Virgin Island White which is the basis for the present St. Croix breed in North America. They are attentive, protective, and make excellent mothers. Katahdins tend to birth twins, with triplets and quadruplets occurring often with good flock management. It is more flighty than Dorper, Kathadin and St. Croix breeds. http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/Accursed/Smileys/waiting-bored-waiting-boy-smiley-em.gif, Birthing, Weaning, and Raising Young Sheep. Average Birth Weight (Lbs): 7 lbs for small lambs, 4-5 lbs for twin lambs. Most hair sheep breeds will lamb out of season without resorting to hormone therapy. I have a pet ram lamb, texel dorset cross I was told. However, Texel sheep breed strongly seasonal, are heat sensitive, have at times problems lambing due to the broad head and shoulders, and they need shearing. They will definitely get too fat. 1999. High latitudes (up north) have a short growing season with long daylight periods and fast grass growth that is high in protein and low in fiber. In winter puts on coat that is shed as temperatures increase. Whether youre looking to be more self-sufficient or to make some income selling meat to local restaurants, raising sheep for meat can enable you to do both. Breed is mainly free of wool and do not normally require shearing. Updated: Monday, February 06, 2023 02:46 PM. Staking livestock to a rope and expecting them to clear vegetation is ineffective and can result in . You have to pay to have it sheared once a year. In terms of lambing, youll find Katahdins mostly give birth to multiple lambs. They were an excellent choice for this as they seldom bothered the pine trees. or you can contact me at- Can you advise on the availability of a good ram and 10-12 ewe lambs this Spring. Like the Dorper, Dorset ewes are able to breed year-round and are not limited to a typical Fall/Winter breeding season. With an annual rainfall of approximately 175mm (7 inches), the grazing is mainly scrubland with a stocking rate of 1 LSU per 32 hectare. Hairbreeds have many positive traits that make them an ideal animal for small farms, homesteads, and of course, larger commercial farms. It is raised mainly for meat production. Disposition & Mothering Ability: Extremely reactive to dogs and cats usually as though they wish to flee. link to Are Llamas Dangerous? Katahdin sheep and Dorper are bred as meat sheep breeds. The Katahdin sheep breed was developed in Maine to help clear brush in powerline corridors. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. In California prices for hair sheep have surpassed prices for wool sheep and in New Holland they are catching up. It may not display this or other websites correctly. This breed was imported in the US in 1904 and was crossed with Mouflon (wild sheep), Rambouillet and other European breeds to produce what is known as American Blackbelly. Our young Katahdins can be difficult to move. Sheep and cattle have different grazing needs and preferences, and the sheep will clean up the growth that doesnt appeal to the cows. 2 are Katahdin and 2 are katahdin/dorper crosses. How the breed carries fat is, I think, important when dealing with older sheep. I have a question. Youll find these sheep to have an easy-going temperament, and they tend to produce leaner meat with even fat distribution. The Katahdin breed was developed in the United States by Michael Piel. Because of their hair, they do not produce the lanolin that can lend gaminess to the meat, giving it a milder flavor. Shear force values were greatest, tougher, for Dorset-sired than Dorper-sired or Katahdin lambs. Originally bred for their meat, the Katahdin tends to have a wider variation of milk production - some ewes producing significantly more (or significantly less) than the average. The main questions to ask yourself to determine the answer are: Katahdin sheep come in multiple color varieties, whereas Dorper sheep are white and black. Katahdin meat tends to be leaner than many other breeds. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. His website address is www.whitecloversheepfarm.com. This is true for Barbados Blackbelly and St. Croix in particular, because they have not been subjected to selection for size and growth rate of the woolen breeds. No difference was noted between the purebred breeds of hair sheep. If I took the chance and had her bred would she be able to carry her lamb/s? They were called Africans at the time. We have members from Mexico to Northern Canada and have exported to Ecuador, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, United Kingdom, Chile, and Central America. When I look out in the paddock it looks like hell on earth but at the same time beautiful. I forgot to ask for notification via e-mail, so I am reposting my questions. Although they are one of the newest sheep breeds introduced in America, Katahdin sheep have quickly become a popular choice. Photo courtesy of: Dr. Stephan A. Wildeus. When youre raising sheep for meat, the wool is a by-product. They grow quickly and reach market weight early. After lambing season, most of our sheep time is spent managing our pastures so that we can provide our animals with the best quality forage possible. You can also use them for multiple income streams thanks to their excellent meat and milk production. Posted 11/18/2019 21:09 (#7854689) Subject: Dorper Sheep vs. Katahdin Sheep. I have found that the Katahdin can be a little taller than many of the Dorper but then it will also depend on what bloodlines. Lambs can also take a little longer to reach their market weight than some other breeds of sheep. Katahdins have hair and not wool, which means they are a low-maintenance breed that will shed their hair naturally. They do produce wool, and need to be shorn on a regular basis. (I know, Im not a good farmer) The flavor of the market lambs is in my opinion mostly influenced by the fact that these lambs are grass-fed. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'savvyfarmlife_com-leader-1','ezslot_7',106,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-savvyfarmlife_com-leader-1-0');Katahdins are a popular meat breed for sheep farmers. Suffolk meat is hailed as lean and somewhat sweet, with a good muscle to fat ratio. Katahdins are awesome and productive mothers plus they are a very hardy breed and the Dorper will put more size on the meat sheep. When the price of raw wool fleece is below the cost of shearing the animal, this is not cost effective. More on that subject later. Lambing %: Lambing rates vary from 150% to 250% with 3 lambing every 2 years not uncommon. We are fortunate that buyers for the large ethnic market in St. Louis often attend sales. The ability of this breed to put grass into weight gain is remarkable. Beginning in the mid-1950s, Piel imported three St.Croix sheep. The number of feedings can be reduced over time to twice a day by 3-4 weeks of age. As we said in the introduction, if youre looking to earn multiple income streams from your sheep, youll probably find Katahdins to be the better option. They do produce wool, and will need to be shorn annually. In addition, shearing is not a requirement thereby reducing operational cost. $300. The breed was created by crossing Dorset and Blackheaded Persian sheep. Members List; Customize Search Results Format: Quick Search: Flock ID: Member Name: Farm Name: State: Records 1 - 100 of 1770 records found matching your criteria: All Records : Page 1 of 18 Go To Page . Some of the main pros of keeping Katahdin sheep include: Katahdin sheep are one of the easiest breeds of sheep to care for. I would also be interested in bred young ewes. The Dorper grows more wool but self-sheds annually. if any one would be interested in buying some good quality Dorpers check out my website MGDorpers.com it is comming out soon! Lambing %: Average lambing rate is between 150 and 250%. Unfortunately, Mr. Piel did not live long enough to see his breed reach having a registry and breed standards. Selling Price: $325.00 / Head. This information is important to producers and extension agents with an interest in hair sheep. Dorper sheep have a distinctive appearance: black heads and white bodies. while letting some lambs reach weights up to 100+ lbs. HARDINESS Do you have to go around picking it up out of the pasture? These include: The fact Dorper sheep are easy to breed is a huge advantage. Materials and methods Dorper ram purchased from Juan Navarro of J.N. To be successful, you must sell quality, and I stress quality animals; send anything else to slaughter. Four years ago we began converting all our cropland into pasture and expanded the flock. I am new to the sheep business so I am concerned that she will never be large enough to breed. For specific questions, please contact the author. Blackbellys are often left unvaccinated due to their disease and parasite resistance (though of course, we recommend you do your research on the breed and talk to a vet about what they recommend for vaccinating). Although the breed was created in the 1930s, it is still fairly new to the US. The outside temp is above 85* sheep are heaving and panting rapidly. In addition to being a smaller breed, the lambs tend to mature slowly, not reaching ideal market weight until around 2 years of age. Best guess is he is 175-200 lbs. We have all three breeds. The entire belly is black including areas between the legs, nose and forehead. Are you interested in raising sheep for meat? I think this is where the good reputation of hair sheep comes in. We are currently using rams with high shedding scores, while culling heavily on production traits. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. A Katahdin ewe will average between 140-180 pounds, while Dorper ewes will average 160-200 pounds. 2. The Katahdin breed has hair instead of wool, and that means less work, according to the couple, who raise the sheep near Perham, Minnesota. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. At 90 days, weve had November-December lambs on pasture, hay and whole grain (corn or milo) average 75 pounds. Hair sheep have some attributes that make them admirably suited to fill market niches or fit varying production systems in Florida. Often, when a new breed or type is rising in popularity, careful breeding can fall to the wayside in the haste to have stock to sell. The Dorper is not a true hair sheep, but is included in this fact sheet because it is used in cross breeding programs involving hair sheep. Breeding Season: They breed throughout the year. The breed was developed in the mid-1950s by crossing imported St. Croix Sheep and several other breeds, including the Suffolk Sheep. Our spring lambs require 4-5 pounds of dry matter forage to produce each pound of gain. Royal White (Dorper x St.Croix) We currently manage between 45-60 ewes per year with about 70% of our flock being registered. I have a very small Dorper ewe, she is 7 months old but very small. I raise all my sheep and lambs strictly on pasture and feed no grain whatsoever. As mentioned earlier, theres no price discount for Katahdin sheep or Dorper sheep in central Missouri. Since Missouri has more Katahdin sheep than any other state, the majority of export animals come from here. One in particular is more like a paint horse. They also are not limited to a breeding season, conceiving year round. History tells us our present-day sheep are derived from the wild Mouflon sheep, among others, that grew coarse hair with a downy undercoat. A ewes wool will pay her winter feed bill. Suffolk ewes are excellent mothers and prolific breeders. We figured the combination would be a meatier sheep." They bought the ram in 1996 and some ewes the following spring. Dorper lambs have amazing growth rates when young. For a number of years, there has been a good export market for ewe lambs going to Mexico. The Dorper is a South African breed of domestic sheep developed by crossing Dorset Horn and the Blackhead Persian sheep.The breed was created through the efforts of the South African Department of Agriculture to breed a meat sheep suitable to the more arid regions of the country. Since these breeds are so adaptable, when found in colder climates, the hair sheep adapt by growing a thicker undercoat. The coat is a mixture of hair and wool and will shed from animal in late spring/early summer. Our flock is content to sleep outside in the coldest weather and will have unmelted snow on their backs like a wool animal. He is 8 months old. Ewes will weigh an average of 190 pounds, with rams reaching up to 300 pounds. There are very few disadvantages of keeping Katahdin sheep. Sure enough, hes been trimming hooves. In a second study, Dorper or Dorset sired lambs were compared to Barbados Blackbelly x St. Croix or Katahdin lambs. Originally publishedin sheep! You will find the occasional larger patch of wool in your pasture and you will definitely find wool and hair on the trees where the sheep rub. To avoid the coloring and spots that come along with first and second generation cross breeding with Dorper sheep, I decided to go with White Dorper sheep (WD). Mostly Katahdin hair ewes exposed to Dorper and Katahdin bucks. How do you collect wool from self-shearing sheep? we find dorpers a great sheep to raise and to eat.. had ribs tonight and use the grease on the dry dog food.. dogs love it.. Average Birth Weight (Lbs): 7.5 lbs for single, 6.5 7 for twins, and less for triplets. "Dorper sheep are barrel-shaped with a well-muscled back end. They also benefit from a long productive life, giving you maximum bang for your buck. However, if thats what you are looking for then this breed might not be for you. That's interesting! This breed was developed after 20 years of breeding and selection. Check out my article Best Sheep for Wool: Top 8 Sheep Breeds for Wool. ByBasil Bactawar, UF/IFAS Duval County Extension Service. There are a lot of advantages to keeping Dorper sheep in the US. 3 year old Dorper Katahdin Ram. They are the generally more fertile in hot humid regions and show greater tolerance to parasites than woolen breeds. Sheds coat as temperature and day length increase. But what about the market lambs getting too fat? They are also well suited to survive in the arid extensive regions of South Africa. Last but not least on our list is the Cheviot breed. I shear myself and since I wanted to increase the size of my flock I was not looking forward to shearing even more sheep. (Weve heard them all.). However, if you are not intending to feed grain and if you dont intend to grow your lambs beyond 100 lbs. Coat & Color: Coat can be any color or color pattern. Half of the group thinks it is okay to feed hot sheep, the other half disagrees. Your email address will not be published. As one of the most populous sheep breeds in America, the Suffolk is a popular choice for meat producers. In general they have low maintenance requirements. Katahdin x Lacaune. Coat & Color: Most of the individuals are white, but tan and spotted ones exist. He experimented with breeding them to meat breeds, finally reaching a point, in the 1970s, where he named the breed, Katahdins after a nearby mountain in his home state of Maine. But the pasture littered with wool as I had feared just did not happen. This is down to the fantastic range of benefits they deliver. The carcass of the Cheviot tends to be plump and meaty, with just enough fat to produce a succulent meat. As far as winter hardiness is concerned, I have my sheep out in zero degree weather. Dries Wiese, the owner and Studbreeder, was 9 years old when his father bought him his first . Feeding small quantities throughout numerous feedings helps reduce the incidence of bloat and/or diarrhea. Forty-six Dorper, 46 Katahdin, and 43 St. Croix female sheep (initial BW of 58, 59, and 46 kg, respectively, SEM = 1.75; 3.3 0.18 yr of age, 2.6 - 3.7) from 45 commercial farms in four regions of the USA (Midwest, Northwest, Southeast, and central Texas) were used to evaluate responses to high heat load index (HLI) conditions in a central . Will they settle into a seasonal pattern or will they breed continually? Like most of the sheep listed here, Texel lambs reach market size quickly, by 5-6 months.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'savvyfarmlife_com-leader-2','ezslot_10',109,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-savvyfarmlife_com-leader-2-0'); With an extended breeding season of nearly 5 months, Texel sheep are prolific breeders. Katahdin ewes weigh around 125-185 pounds, and rams average around 200 pounds. Most lambs are considered market-ready by 9-12 weeks. I belong to a herding club in Hawaii. While weve missed out on export sales the last several years because of retaining ewes to increase flock numbers, Mexican buyers will be coming by this spring. Ewes typically reach sexual maturity by 7 months. Generally, hair breeds are more heat tolerant than wool breeds. For the Katahdin vs Dorper analysis (Table 1), 8 SNPs under selection were observed in SOCS2, NOS2, TGFB2 and IL2RA genes within OAR3, 11, 12 and 13, respectively. You can check my blog at Merino sheep for sale. They have incredible growth of lambs at butcher weight within 6-8 months with carcass weights in the 45-60 lb range. They can harbor significant worm populations, yet not suffer the same effects a wool animal would. Though size and time to mature are not the Blackbellys strongest points, there are many advantages to raising this hardy breed of sheep. Plans for the future include a larger lambing/working shed-currently under construction, later lambing to reduce cold weather losses (10percentdeath loss for everything combined, stillborn, drowning in water tank, mashed, runts, etc. In colder zones they produce a very heavy winter coat that is shed in spring. Dorper Sheep. Mutton is meat that comes from mature sheep over the age of 1 year old. This means that, theoretically, a Dorper ewe can produce a lamb (or 2 or 3) every 8 months. Instead, I get raving reports back and I never seem to have enough market lambs to make everyone happy. Though the breed produces wool (and lanolin), it is known to have a particularly mild taste. J. Anim Sci 77:215-222. Flock owners with less than 50 animals have a difficult time getting someone to shear unless they pool their animals with neighbors. The trend is now reversed. Hi currently running flock of 600. After being in the business of raising wool sheep of various kinds for two decades, I decided in 2005 to start with hair sheep. As wild sheep were domesticated, breeding for increased wool came into practice. Feed conversion is good since these sheep fatten easily on less than ideal pasture and forage. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'savvyfarmlife_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_9',108,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-savvyfarmlife_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0');This breed is also exceptionally hardy, able to thrive in both the cold, and the hot, humid climates in which many farmers struggle to raise sheep, making it a good choice for almost any climate in the United States. marina@mgdorpers.com. The Katahdin Sheep is a domestic breed developed in Maine in the United States and named after the highest peak in Maine, Mount Katahdin. You will want to take into account the mature size of the animal (you can expect to yield 40% of an animals live weight in meat), the quality of meat, and whether it will tolerate your climate. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Katahdin Dorper The Dorper is a mutton breed of hair sheep developed in the 1930s. Dorper Vs Katadhin Sheep: Which is better for your homestead? Why they are Crossed - YouTube 0:00 / 4:43 Dorper Sheep vs. Katahdin Sheep. Subsequent generations with higher percentage shed better and better although shedding is not a black and white thing. What sheep breeds are best for meat? While Hampshire sheep are seasonal breeders, they tend to have a longer breeding season than others. Coat & Color: The coat can be reddish brown, tan or yellow. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); If you have a disability and are having trouble accessing information on this website or need materials in an alternate format, please contact Cornell University via email at web-accessibility@cornell.edu for assistance.