The Barn
Freesteading group focused on the discussion of livestock.
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Sheep for meat and dairy
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Sheep for meat and dairy
any sheep people out there?
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43 Replies
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I have 1 Katadyn ewe. Looking for a ram to breed her.
In Oregon.
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We are getting sheep soon. Looking by at Babydoll sheep. Just purchased the electronic, movable fencing so we can graze them. We have 20 acres and most all other barnyard animals. But I want lamb!!!!! Yum!!
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baby doll are very cute Ive never raised them I have Florida crackers Awassi and east Fresian I was only meat and now I’m turning more to dairy. I cant have a cow and not a fan of goat milk. Sheep milk is fantastic!
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Interesting. Would like to know more about the Fl Crackers. We’re in Polk
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Florida Cracker were brought here by the Spanish over 500 year ago. Over time they have become a landrace breed that has lived through our parasite heavy tropics and wild life. Being landrace they will have different wool types, lengths, colors, textures. They are a fairly small meat breed but still worth it. Unfortunately, in my opinion, they are trying to standardize them. The crackers I have had havent had to be wormed never had hoof issues rarely had a delivery problem. Over all a fantastic sheep for Florida or the south where you have heavy parasites. Yes you will have to shear them. but they are worth it. The only lack in their milk production being meat sheep. These are a critically endangered breed
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These were some of my Florida crackers They are great mommas
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I am not interested in the milk as we already gave milk goats and a dairy cow . But I DO want lamb for meat. Are crackers the way to go? Or what are your thoughts on best breed for Florida for meat? I gave a lot to learn on sheep.
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Crackers are a meat sheep. they are parasite resistant etc. They are great for Florida being a breed developed over time here. Some go with katadin because they dont have to be sheared and they say the meat is not as “gamey” but that isnt true. The meat is delicious from crackers. Like with everything what you feed etc will make a difference. I recommend this breed for ease of raising and care for a meat sheep
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I’m a Cracker from way back. That’s where I’d love to start for anything. Do you sell breeding pairs or know who might? In Polk County.
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We dont have any breeding pairs available at the moment. Face book has a florida cracker page where you could check. if you arent on fb I can give you some names of trusted sellers
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I joined a couple FB groups to see what I could see. Not much so far on purchasing reputable breeding pairs. If you could provide a lead, that would be very appreciated. Thank you!
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I will send you info
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Us too. We’re not ready for sheep yet…
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Really, sheep milk 🤔. I’m on 1/2 acre. And desperate to learn. I thought I wanted goats for the longest, but now I dream of sheep
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I started with wanting goats but never went with them after I smelled the males lol I am so happy I went with sheep!
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First year. Got 4 Katahdin. Willamette valley OR.
rotating them around ~5 acres.
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nice, did you see Mabear is also in OR?
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NE Kansas here. We’re building our sheep paddocks now and hoping to be ready for our breeding pair of Rambouillet/Katahdin cross sheep in the coming weeks leading up to the Midwest Preparedness Project Fall Festival that’s coming up in 2 weeks.
I’ve been documenting the journey on our Youtube channel: Nowhere Homesteady.
Part 1: https://bit.ly/3LfBy9X
Part 2: https://bit.ly/3BEmHTq
Part 3: in post right now and hoping to have it done/posted soon.
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This reply was modified 1 year, 7 months ago by Bullit.
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nice!
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Beautiful property
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Thank you. We just posted part 4 of the series to our channel.
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This reply was modified 1 year, 7 months ago by
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We have dairy sheep (also good for meat). LOVE THEM!
Sheep milk is very tasty, kind of like good Jersey cow milk but a touch sweeter and naturally homogenized. One cup has 15 grams of protein.
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Sheep milk is the best soooo good
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Interesting. What breeds are good for dairy?
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most use East Friesian, or Lacaune, or a cross of. Awassi is good just hard to get in the us, a cross of awassi and east friesian is called assef which are said to be good. but others will do some milk Jacobs some katahdin some clun
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Thanks for the info
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We don’t currently have sheep, but are strongly considering Dorper, and starting with a breeding pair early next year. Leaning that way because they are supposed to be resilient and excellent foragers.
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Love my sheep. I started with Jacob sheep, but having a problem finding a sheep Shearer. So found the Barbados black belly sheep. I decided to breed my two favorite sheep. and got my first cross bred lamps this year. All of them came out hair sheep. Very happy.
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Ive never had Jacobs but think they are a cool looking sheep. Did you cross the jacobs with the black bellies?
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Yes, I crossed the Jacobs and the black belly. They came out mostly black with some white. I’m waiting to see what body type they grow into. Both breeds are excellent foragers.
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nice always good in these times to be great foragers. That is one of the great things about florida crackers they excellent foragers too. It will be interesting to see how your mix works
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I am new to sheep. We have one dorper ewe and two katahdin 1 ewe and 1 ram. Right now we have plenty on the land for them to eat, but what about minerals? I do have a salt lick but that’s it. They seem healthy but when I first got the katahdin they started taking in mouthfuls of sand ( I live in a area with blow sand and an under layer of red sandy clay ) ,and I’ve caught the ram licking rusty sheet metal.
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I use a mineral Salt Lick safe for sheep. It’s from Redmond salt company. I sometimes give them char and they get some minerals from tree bark as well. they love tree bark
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I offer loose minerals along with kelp etc I use the book Natural sheep care by pat Coleby for recommendations.
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I’ll have to check out that book
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I’ve looked into free choice minerals and kelp, but I can’t find a retailer close to me that sell them. I’ve also looked into having it shipped but shipping is pretty high for that much weight. I guess I’ll have to bite the bullet and get it done. That book looks interesting I’ll check it out!
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That’s one reason I use biochar and tree bark because loose minerals are hard to find here as well and these are things that I can produce here
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I have been able to get my feed store to get some of them. I have ordered my kelp from azure standard luckily they last a while when offered free choice. You do need to make sure that they are in a dry area set up though
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I really do like the way the four horns look
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They do look pretty cool with all the different horns for sure!
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Yeah, I like the 4 horns. what breed?
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It is the Jacob sheep. They usually have two or four horns
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ian has made the ducks happy but the sheep not so much. The sheep are wanting out of the sheep shed but most of the pasture is under water. Hopefully the water will go down quickly.
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