Sheep

We started off with Katahdin ewes and a Dorper ram. Why Katahdin and Dorpers? Katahdin’s have excellent hair removal, mothering and parasite resistance. Anyone who has worked with sheep for any length of time knows that fighting parasites during the above 45 degree Fahrenheit days of the year is a constant struggle and the main cause of death of the animal. Remember my definition of excellence; when we are loosing animals to parasites we are not having fun and maximizing profit. 

Dorpers are excellent at rapid growth and on average are heavier than Katahdin’s once maturity is reached. The cross brings all the individual breed strengths together. My crosses are eating a wide variety of weeds including; Polk, Pig Weed and Rag Weed to name a few. I run the sheep behind the cattle thus maximizing the consumption of the forage I’m producing. My goal is to not have to brush hog after the cows leave a paddock but simply use the sheep as clean up.

Steadily over the last few years I have increased my percentage of Dorper from 37% to Purebred and Fullblood. I still maintain lower percentage Dorpers because I would like to have this option for the commercial producer and those that can’t or don’t want to spend the extra money for high percentage stock.

You will find that my animals are deep bodied with slick hair coats.