Best sheep meat breed? Opinions?

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Blue Heron Farm
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Best sheep meat breed? Opinions?

Post by Blue Heron Farm » Mon Apr 11, 2016 5:24 pm

Hello all you sheep people. Im just wondering what you think is the best meat breed of sheep for our Ontario climate? Ive tried Suffolks and found them too big and too much shearing of useless wool that you cant do anything with.
Now I have Dorpers and so far I find them to be great. No shearing necessary (which is great when I already have a bunch of Icelandics to shear). Such a mild wonderful taste. So far all had twins. They grow a bit slow and without a big coat of wool I feel they might not be as winter hardy. All and all I'm a big fan of the Dorper.
In the fall I crossed my Dorper ram to my East Friesian ewes and 1 of the ewes lambed in March. Its amazing how fast and big the lambs are growing. Ive never seen anything like it. So I think Dorper would be great crossed to other breeds.

Anyway any other opinions??
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Best sheep meat breed? Opinions?

Post by coonhound » Tue Apr 12, 2016 12:44 pm

try north country chevit they are great mothers and very good meat breed and no foot problems am glad your very happy with the dorper I wasnt with mine I had
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Best sheep meat breed? Opinions?

Post by Blue Heron Farm » Tue Apr 12, 2016 6:38 pm

Ok thanks. Why didn't you like the Dorper?
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Best sheep meat breed? Opinions?

Post by la-chicken » Tue Apr 12, 2016 8:35 pm

I bred Katahdin and have a cross with Barbado Blackbelly.
No shearing here. The extra wool just falls out each spring leaving a hair very similar to goat.
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coonhound
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Best sheep meat breed? Opinions?

Post by coonhound » Wed Apr 13, 2016 11:53 am

They were has cold hardy has the wool and I dont like my lamb crop from them either just not has hardy aleast the ones I had
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Best sheep meat breed? Opinions?

Post by Blue Heron Farm » Wed Apr 13, 2016 3:20 pm

Hmm good to know thanks.
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Re: Best sheep meat breed? Opinions?

Post by scottishpet » Fri Feb 09, 2018 2:09 pm

Katahdin's are a very interesting breed. I don't know anyone raising them but i would love to talk to folks who do.

https://www.facebook.com/OntarioKatahdinSheep/
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