1. SUSAN SCHOENIAN (Shāy-ne-ŭn)
Extension Sheep & Goat Specialist
Western Maryland Research & Education Center
sschoen@umd.edu - www.sheepandgoat.com

2. 1) Breeds
2) Production
systems
3) Marketing

3. Breed - a group of usually domesticated animals or plants presumably related by descent
from common ancestors and visibly similar in most characters . (Merriam-Webster)

4. Mouflon Rambouillet

5.  Sheep Production
Handbook: “Sheep
whose coats consist of
hair, more like that of
cattle and goats, rather
than wool.”
Some other definitions
 A sheep that does not
require annual shearing.
 A sheep that sheds its
coat annually.
 A sheep whose coat has
more hair than wool.

6. PROS CONS
 Ease of management  Smaller carcasses
 No shearing
 No crutching
 Slower growth
 No docking  Less carcass muscling
 More internal fat
 Environmental adaptation
 Resistance to internal parasites
 More heat tolerant
 Low maintenance (forage)
 Reproductive efficiency
 Early puberty
 Good mothering ability
 Out-of-season breeding
 Prolificacy

7.  Lower fat meat
No scientific evidence to support claim
 Leaner carcasses
More internal fat at same finish
(back fat) as wooled breeds.
 Milder flavor meat
Only anecdotal evidence
Affected more by diet (grain vs. grass)
 Less hoof problems
Foot rot bacteria does not
differentiate between breed.
 Easier lambers
Affected more by nutrition and management.
 Resistant to scrapie
Resistance affected by genotype not breed.

8. Ways to evaluate breed diversity
 Origin
 Tropical (West Africa)
 Hot, dry (East/South Africa)
 Genetics
 Landrace (pure)
 Composites (crossbreds)
 Coat type
 Hair
 Shedding
 Double-coated

9. WEST AFRICA EAST/ SOUTH AFRICA
 Thin-tailed sheep that  Fat-tail sheep that evolved in
evolved in tropical or sub- hot, dry, desert climates.
tropical climates.

10. LANDRACE COMPOSITES
 Adapted to local climate  Crosses between landrace
 Indigenous (unimproved) breeds and European
 “Pure” hair sheep (wooled) breeds.

11. HAIR SHEDDING DOUBLE-COATED

12. LANDRACE COMPOSITES DUAL-COATED
 St. Croix  Katahdin  Romanov
 Barbados Blackbelly  Dorper
American Blackbelly  Royal White® OTHER
 Wiltshire Horn  California Red
 “Exotics”

13. Origin
 Originated in Virgin Islands
in the Caribbean.
 Exact origins unknown.
 Imported to USA in 1975.
 Unique to North America.
 Classified as a rare breed.
Appearance
 Both sexes polled
 Usually white
 Small to medium size
 Rams - up to 200 lbs. (avg. 163 #)
 Ewes - up to 150 lbs. (avg. 119#)
St. Croix ewes in British Virgin Islands

14. PROS CONS
 Exceptional parasite  Small carcass size
< most wooled breeds
resistance (#1) < composite hair x wool
 Exceptional reproductive  Slower growth
< most wooled breeds
qualities < composite hair x wool
 Early puberty
 Less carcass muscling
 Good mothering ability < most wooled breeds
 Out-of-season breeding < composite hair x wool
 Prolificacy  More internal carcass fat
> most wooled breeds
Outstanding maternal breed! > composite hair x wool

15. Barbados Blackbelly lambs in Barbados
Origin
 Originated in Barbados in
the Caribbean.
 Exact origins unknown
 Imported to USA in 1904.
 Few “true” Barbados
Blackbellies in USA.
Appearance
 Both sexes polled.
 Distinct markings that include various shades of brown, with black
under parts and points and a badger face.
 Small breed: rams average 100-130#; ewes average 85-100#

16.  The “American
Blackbelly is a cross
between the Barbados
Blackbelly and various
European breeds
(Mouflon and
Rambouillet), resulting
in a horned animal.
 Historically, the
American Blackbelly was
used for trophy hunting
and training herding
dogs.
Image source: Oklahoma State University

17. PROS CONS
 Internal parasite resistance  Small carcass size
< most wooled breeds
< composite hair x wool
 Reproductive efficiency  Slower growth
 Early puberty < most wooled breeds
< composite hair x wool
 Out-of-season breeding
 Prolificacy  Less carcass muscling
< most wooled breeds
< composite hair x wool
 More internal carcass fat
Outstanding maternal breed > most wooled breeds
> composite hair x wool
 Disposition (American Blackbelly)

18. Origin
 Developed in 1950’s in USA
(Maine) by crossing Caribbean hair
sheep (St. Croix) with various
British breeds (e.g. Suffolk);
Wiltshire Horn later introduced.
 One of most popular breeds in US.
Appearance
 Both sexes usually polled
 Multi colors and patterns
 Variable coat types
 Medium size breed
 Rams - 180 to 250 #
 Ewes - 120 to 160 #

19. PROS CONS
 Internal parasite resistance  Smaller carcass size
 Intermediate between hair < most wooled breeds
breeds and wooled breeds > hair breeds
 Reproductive efficiency  Slower growth
 Early puberty < many wooled breeds
> hair breeds
 Out-of-season breeding
 Prolificacy  Less carcass muscling
 Milking ability < meat-type wooled breeds
> hair breeds
 “Best” all-around hair sheep  More Internal carcass fat
 Intermediate between hair > most wooled breeds
and wool sheep in most traits < hair breeds
 Excellent maternal breed.

20. Origin
 Developed in South Africa in 1930’s by
crossing Dorset Horn with Persian
Blackhead (desert, fat-rump sheep)
 Imported to USA in 1995.
 One of the most popular breeds
in USA.
Appearance
 Both sexes usually polled
 Short coat of wool and hair
 Two types
1. Dorper - white body with black head
2. White Dorper - all white
 Medium size
Rams average 225#
Ewes average 180-210#

21. PROS CONS
 Superior growth and carcass  Lighter finish weight than
muscling as compared to conventional wooled
other hair sheep. breeds.
 Less internal fat than other
 Less adapted to warm,
hair sheep.
moist weather than other
 Good reproduction
hair sheep breeds.
 Early puberty
 No documented resistance
 Out-of-season breeding
 Prolificacy
to internal parasites.
 Only dual-purpose hair sheep  More variable in their
(sire or dam) shedding ability

22. “EXOTIC” HAIR SHEEP
ROYAL WHITE® HORNED HAIR SHEEP
 Newest hair breed  Mouflon
 Developed in 1990’s by  Barbado
William Hoag.  Black Hawaiian
 Cross between St. Croix and
 Corsican
White Dorper.
 Desert Sand
 Previously called Dorpcroix.
 Painted Desert
www.royalwhitesheep.biz  Texas Dall
www.unitedhornedhairsheepassociation.org

23. ROMANOV
 Russian in origin.
 Dual coated with dark
guard hairs.
 Outstanding reproductive
qualities.
 Used a lot for crossing.
WILTSHIRE HORN
 Ancient British breed.
 Sheds its short fleece.
 Used to create Katahdin.
 Both sexes horned.
 Classified as a rare breed.

24. Why?
 With wool sheep to
eliminate the need for
shearing subsequent
generations.
 Produce superior
crossbred market lambs
(terminal cross).
 Produce crossbred ewes
of a specific type.
Lambs are ¾ Katahdin x ¼ Lacaune

25. 1. Hybrid vigor
 The performance of
crossbred offspring is
superior to the average
performance of the two
parent breeds.
▪ Crossbred lamb (offspring)
▪ Crossbred ewe (maternal)
▪ Crossbred ram (?)
2. Breed complementarity
 Balancing the strengths and
weakness of different
½ Katahdin x ¼ Hampshire x ¼ Suffolk breeds.

26.  It takes anywhere from 1
to 3 generations of
crossing to eliminate the
need of shearing the
crossbred offspring.
 Do not take the fleeces
from hair x wool sheep
to a wool pool.
 The fleeces could be
used for insulation or
something similar.
5/8 Lacaune x 3/8 Katahdin

27.  According to research
recently conducted in the
United Kingdom.
 A single gene switches on the
ability to shed.
 Within shedders, there are
genetic differences in the
speed and extent of shedding.
 Not all lambs shed, even
though they may shed as
adults.

29.  There is no best
Land
production
system or way to
Climate Buildings
raise sheep.
PRODUCTION
 Fit production SYSTEM
system to Markets Machinery
resources instead
of the other way Labor
around.

30.  Lambing period(s)
 Lambing environment
 Lambing frequency
 Lamb finishing system
 Marketing system

31.  Early winter
(Dec-Jan)
 Late winter
(Feb-Mar)
 Spring
(Apr-May)
 Fall
(Sept-Nov)
 Accelerated
(multiple lambing periods)

32.  Indoor lambing
 Creep feeding
 Early weaning
< 90 days
 Sell hot house lambs
(for Orth. Easter) or
finish lambs in dry lot
for sale during first
half of year.

33. PROS CONS
 Produces best quality lamb  Need good facilities for
 Highest prices for lambs lambing and feeding lambs
 Labor availability  Higher labor and
 Less predator risk management
 Parasites not usually a requirements.
problem.  Higher non-pasture
 Less pasture needed feed costs.
 Least profitable “on paper”

34.  Indoor lambing
 Graze ewes and lambs
on lush spring pastures.
 Creep feeding and early
weaning common.
 Can wean lambs and
finish in dry lot or finish
lambs on pasture.

35. PROS CONS
 Utilize lush spring forage  Need good facilities for
growth lambing.
 Market lambs before peak  Higher labor and
parasite challenge. management requirements
 Market lambs before onset than spring and fall lambing.
of hot weather.  Higher non-pasture feed
 Market lambs before usual costs than spring or fall
summer price slump. lambing.
 Higher lambing percentage  Some predator risk.
than winter and fall  Some parasite challenge.
lambing.  Price volatility.

36.  Indoor or pasture
lambing.
 Graze ewes and lambs
together through spring,
winter, and fall.
 Later weaning
Need to castrate rams
 Sell feeder lambs or light
weight slaughter lambs
or feed lambs and sell
after first of year.

37. PROS CONS
 Minimal facilities required;  Competition for labor
can lamb on pasture.  Weather risk during
 Less labor required at lambing
lambing.  Highest predator risk
 Maximize forage use.  Highest parasite challenge
 Match seasonal nature of  Depressed weight gains in
sheep reproduction to summer
achieve higher fertility and  More pasture required to
prolificacy. graze lambs
 More profitable “on paper”

38.  Indoor or pasture
lambing.
 Graze ewes and lambs
on high quality fall
forage.
 Can utilize stockpiled
forage for winter
grazing.
 Sell lambs at Christmas
or feed them and sell
after first of year.

39. PROS CONS
 Market lambs in winter and  Success is limited by
spring when lamb prices seasonal nature of sheep
are usually the highest. reproduction.
 Minimal facilities required;  May require second
can lamb on pasture. lambing period.
 Less labor required at  Usually lower lambing
lambing. percentage with fall
 Less predator risk. lambing.
 Less parasite challenge.

40.  Twice a year
Every six months
 Cornell STAR® system
5 times in 3 years
 Three times in two years
e.g. Jan - May - Sept
 Continuous
Leave ram(s) in

41. PROS CONS
 Market flexibility  More labor-intensive
 Year-round marketing  More management
 Out-of-season lambs intensive
to sell  Higher feed costs
 Reduced overhead costs  Higher input costs
 Improved ewe efficiency  Longevity of ewes
 Limited by success of out-
of-season breeding.

42.  All sheep production systems require good
management and an infusion of inputs.

44.  Most hair sheep fatten
similarly to a goat, from the
inside out.
 They will deposit fat around
their internal organs (kidney
and heart) before depositing
subcutaneous fat over their
ribs, backbone, and loin.
 As compared to carcasses
from most wooled sheep, hair
sheep carcasses will have a
higher percentage of carcass
fat at an equivalent amount of
back fat. internal fat in a goat carcass

45. MOSTLY PASTURE MOSTLY CONCENTRATE
 Slower growth  Faster growth
 Longer feeding period  Shorter feeding period
 Leaner, lighter carcass  Better live grade
 Stronger flavor  Heavier, fatter carcass
 More healthful meat (?)  Milder flavor
 More economical (?)  Less healthful meat (?)
 More economical (?)

46.  Full-feeding is likely to
result in lambs that get
too fat.
 Feeding lambs on higher
roughage diets will allow
lambs to achieve heavier
finish weights, without
depositing as much
internal and
subcutaneous fat.

47.  Breed or breed cross
affects market
suitability.
 Hair sheep are not
suitable for all markets.
 If your lambs aren’t
suitable for a particular
market, they will sell at a
discounted price and/or
your customer will be
dissatisfied.

48.  Pure hair sheep are not
suitable for the commodity or
mainstream market.
 Poor carcass quality
 Katahdin and Dorper lambs
should be able to meet the
lower end of the weight range
for commodity lambs without
getting too fat (90-110 lbs.)
 Crosses between the
composite breeds and meat-
type, wooled breeds (e.g.
Suffolk) should be suitable for
the commodity markets in the
Eastern USA. ½ Katahdin x ¼ Hampshire x ¼ Suffolk

49.  The “ethnic” market is
composed of many
different markets, each
having differing
preferences and
requirements.
 Hair sheep and their
composites and crosses
are suitable for some of
these markets, but
maybe not all.

50.  Hair sheep lack the carcass
quality favored by buyers and
consumers of hothouse lambs.
 The composite breeds may or
may not be suitable for the hot
house market.
 Purebred Katahdin
Probably not
 Dorper or Dorper x
Probably
 Katahdin x Dorper
Probably
 Katahdin x Southdown or Dorset
Probably

51.  This is the market that
hair sheep are probably
best-suited for.
 The composite breeds
are also well suited to
this market.
 Ethnic markets often
prefer tailed, intact
lambs.
 Some ethnic customers
prefer hair sheep lambs.

52.  Any breed can be suitable for direct
marketing, so long as you are
producing the type of lamb that
your consumer desires and is willing
to pay a premium price for.
 Local
 Grass-fed
 Pasture-raised
 Naturally-raised
 Organic
 Grain-fed
 Light weight
 Mild flavor
 Hair sheep may be uniquely suited
to grass-fed and organic production
systems because of their resistance
to internal parasites.

53.  An Introduction to Hair Sheep Production
www.slideshare.com/schoenian
 Hair Sheep Primer from Sheep 201
www.sheep101.info/201/hairsheep.html
 Proceedings 2005 Hair Sheep Workshop at VSU
www.sheepandgoat.com/hairsheepworkshop/

54. Thank ewe for your attention.