My flock currently consists of almost 80  Katahdin X Dorper ewes and one registered Dorper ram. This year, I divided the ewes into three groups for breeding.

 

Group #1: Lambed in December. (Pictures at Available Lambs tab) These ewes all bred back in the heat of summer after having lambs in April- no grain, little pasture. 2012 was extraordinarily hot and dry here in southern Missouri. This group had mostly twins (a few singles and triplets), nice sized, vigorous lambs. I wean at about 60 days.

 

Group #2: Will be lambing in February.

 

Group #3: Will lamb in mid April-May. This group are yearlings born in April, 2012.

 

We have found high percentage Katahdin ewes to be excellent mothers, easy breeders and good milkers that require minimal work on our part. We give CDT vaccinations twice a year, worm when needed and rarely trim feet. Dorper was introduced to add more meat and growth to the lambs. I alternate registered Dorper and Katahdin rams to keep the Katahdin percentage fairly high in replacement ewe lambs.

 

Crossbreeding results in hybrid vigor and improves gains and carcass qualities of lambs without sacrificing maternal traits. We still find twins to be the norm and have very few lambing problems. It is like Christmas during lambing- wake in the morning and see what was delivered between midnight and 5 AM! Lambs are hardy and vigorous- generally up trying to nurse before their momma gets them clean. They will start picking at her hay within a few days. Ewes will have udders like little Jersey cows on poor quality pasture or hay!