UNP-2082

ALABAMA A&M AND AUBURN UNIVERSITIES

Hair Sheep: Alternative Meat Production in the Southeast

Introduction

Sheep husbandry is a historical form of global livestock production and a well-established form of small ruminant production within the United States (US). Start-up costs for hair sheep are more affordable than beef or dairy cattle, and hair sheep are slightly easier to rear than goats. There is a year-round demand for meat from hair sheep as opposed to seasonal demands for meat goats, which creates a more stable market. Also, the general public tends to be more familiar with the preparation and consumption of lamb rather than goat meat. While many people are more familiar with wool-type sheep whose population currently surpasses that of hair sheep, the inventories of hair sheep are increasing at a greater rate than the meat goat inventory. Furthermore, there is some discussion about the meat from hair sheep having a more mild flavor and desirable fatty acid composition. With appropriate management and marketing, hair sheep production can be a viable enterprise that can be done solely or with mixed species.

Hair sheep are unique varieties of sheep (Ovis aries) that grow hair or fur type fiber and not the crimped hair commonly known as wool. Hair sheep are often compared to the mouflon, a subspecies of wild sheep with short hair.

A flock of Kathadin-Dorpher hair sheep crosses on winter forages.

www.aces.edu/urban

Originating from Africa and the Caribbean, hair sheep are more heat tolerant and better suited for production in the Southeast. Although similar to wool sheep, they are raised for meat or hides rather than wool. Even within breeds of hair sheep some have a more wooly coat than others. However, they do not require shearing, are less expensive regarding upkeep, and have a reputation for being more gastrointestinal parasite tolerant. Also, their grow-out rate or average daily gain is significantly higher compared to meat goats. Therefore, hair sheep offer a certain appeal to people looking to raise small-ruminants with minimal maintenance.

Hair sheep tend to be year-round breeders rather than seasonal breeders. They are likely to breed back 30 days after lambing. And like all small ruminants, their gestation period isapproximately 5 months or 150 days. Utilizing an accelerated breeding system should result in 3 lambings or production cycles in two years.

Intact mature male sheep are called rams and mature female sheep are called ewes. A castrated male sheep is called a wether, and younger sheep of either gender are called lambs. A full-sized adult ram can easily range from 150-250 pounds, and an adult female can easily range from 100-200 pounds. Healthy birth weights can range from 6-10 pounds; however, there are variables such as breed and number born per lambing (birthing). Lambs of hair sheep are known for their vigor from birth to adulthood.

Hair sheep prefer a mixed diet of grasses, legumes, forbs, and browse. They actually perform more efficiently with grazing as their sole source of nutrition, opposed to a strictly grain-based diet. While on a grain-based diet, they develop undesirable excess fat. Their vegetative flexibility makes them adaptable to

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a wide variety of pasture and browse situations, making for a more sustainable livestock enterprise.

The fibrous coats of hair sheep are more hair-like than wool, therefore their short hair-like coats make them more suitable for warmer climates rather than cold climates. While they can be sheared at the onset of summer, they generally do not need shearing and will shed off their minimal coats during the summer. The hair-like consistency of their coats is not worth collecting as a fiber product; they are solely intended to be meat animals and their hides for leather. While majority of hair sheep breeds tend to be white, others offer colors of brown or black, and crossbreeding may provide some mixed colors.

While wool sheep production is very common, they have drawbacks. They are fine for wool production and require shearing on an annual basis (prior to the heat of summer). Finding someone to shear wool sheep can be difficult and expensive and the market for their wool is limited. While consumption of meat from wool sheep is common, opinions vary whether the meat from wool sheep or hair sheep is more palatable.

Close-up of St Croix hair sheep

Characteristics of Hair Sheep

Hair sheep have prehensile lips that allow them to pluck vegetation in browse or forb situations and their upper lip is split which makes it easier for them to grasp leafy material. Like all ruminants they:

• Have lower front teeth and a hard upper palate that allow them to bite blades of grasses or leaves of legumes

• Use their back teeth to chew and grind vegetation or feed

• Have a complex digestive system that involves a four-chambered stomach, with each chamber further breaking down vegetative intake

• Have the ability to regurgitate their bolus or cud which allows for additional chewing and salivation.

Many hair sheep breeds originate from Africa and South America, which genetically makes them predisposed to being tolerant of heat and humidity. The more popular breeds of goats originate from South Africa and New Zealand and Australia. Hair sheep tend to be more parasite resistant than goats or wool sheep. The variety of breeds among goats and sheep is quite interesting, and each has unique features, colors, and advantages or disadvantages. Most domesticated sheep breeds and genders are naturally polled (without horns).

Understanding sheep behavior tendencies is important to moving them about and should minimize stress on the animal and the handler. Behavior tendencies include:

• Flight instinct that causes them to move away from situations, which makes them nervous;

• Good hearing and sensitivity to noise; they are easily stressed and tend to move away from loud noises;

• Excellent peripheral vision, which allows them to see much around them;

• Poor depth perception, so shadows and dips in the ground may cause them to hesitate when moving;

• A strong flocking instinct, so they may become agitated when separated from the herd;

• The desire to move out of the dark and into well-lit areas;

• A preference to move uphill when disturbed, which makes herding a challenge; and

• An excellent sense of smell, which makes them cautious at times.

The advantages of raising hair sheep include:

• Year-round breeding• Vigorous small ruminants with faster grow-

out rates compared to goats• Forage adaptability• Lower nutrient requirements• Year-round demand for the meat

Hair sheep adapt well to mixed species grazing situations, which is desirable for vegetative control. Therefore, they can be used in browsing situations where reduction in

Hair Sheep: Alternative Meat Production in the Southeast 3

undergrowth is needed. Sheep are more likely to remain inside a fence than goats. Also, hair sheep do not require tail-docking. Their tails are not thick and wooly as found on wool sheep. This feature makes their tails less prone to becoming messy and tail docking is optional.

The disadvantages of raising hair sheep include:

• Strong flight instinct that limits their ability to serve as show animals. However, this varies from breed to breed and among individual animals. With frequent and gentle handling they tend to overcome this flighty disposition.

• Hair sheep breeds are less likely to have insulating capabilities that would protect them from colder climates.

Common US Breeds

• Barbados Blackbelly: The Barbados Blackbelly matures early, breeds year-round, and are prolific. While lacking the growth rate and muscling of conventional sheep breeds, they have value in crossbreeding programs to improve reproductive efficiency and parasite resistance.

• Dorper (white and black-headed): The Dorper is the fastest growing and the heaviest-muscled hair sheep breed currently found in the US. The Dorper adapts well to hot, dry climates. However, they tend to be less resistant to parasites and do not shed as well as other hair sheep. However, their carcasses are superior to any other breed of hair sheep.

• Katahdin: The Katahdin is the best “all-around” hair sheep in the US, as it combines the best attributes of the Caribbean hair sheep with those of the traditional meat-type wool breeds. They have a larger body frame and are valued for their parasite resistance and reproductive efficiency. Katahdin ewes cross well with other breeds to produce superior market lambs. Crossing the genetics of the Katahdin with St. Croix provides a great meat animal with a lighter bone frame.

• Saint Croix: Known for their tolerance to internal parasites and quick turnaround time for breeding after lambing, the Saint Croix hair sheep breed is highly productive. They are considered the most parasite resistant breed. They reach puberty early, breed back quickly, and produce large litters. Weakness of this breed is their lighter body frame, unrushed growth, and slighter muscling, but in crossbreeding programs, the St. Croix has much to offer with commercial meat animal production.

Above: 6 year old St Croix ram and 4 month old sons

Barbados Blackbelly

ram

Katahdin eweand lambs

Black-headedDorper

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• Other Breeds: Other hair sheep breeds found in the US include the California Red, Royal White, and Wiltshire Horn. However, their popularity is somewhat limited.

Breed Management

Facilities

Provision of facilities is very practical for hair sheep. Design should include:

• Accessible buildings with adequate loafing space (approximately 24 sq ft/adult)

• Fences that utilize woven and electric wire• Electric fence charger• Catch pens• Optional working chute• Secured storage areas for grain-based

feeds, hay, medicines, and relevant tools and supplies.

The design should also be affordable, practical, energy efficient, and reduce stress on owner and animals. A well-built pole barn enclosed on three sides should provide adequate protection during inclement weather. Additional space for a nursery may be necessary to insure bonding between mother and newborns. The facilities budget should also include purchases for water vessels and feed and mineral feeders as needed. For more detailed information and photos, please review the Alabama Extension publication Goat & Sheep Facilities online at http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/U/UNP-0103/UNP-0103.pdf.

Nutrition

Hair Sheep have similar fundamental nutritional needs as most ruminants, which include energy, protein, vitamins, minerals, and continual access to fresh, clean water. Constant access to fresh water is critical to keeping animals hydrated and for the dispersion of nutrients throughout the body. Sheep will consume 4% of their body weight on a daily basis, which includes forages and browse, grain-based feed, and hay. Year-round availability of quality forages should meet the majority of those needs. That will include an assortment of cool and warm season forages, grasses, legumes, and possibly some small grains. Any cool and warm season forage, grasses, legumes, and small grains that test at 10-14% protein and greater with 50% total digestible nutrients (TDNs) will readily meet the basic nutritional needs of hair sheep at all stages of production. For additional information on nutrient requirements, please review the Alabama Extension publications titled Nutrient Requirements of Sheep and Goats at www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-0812/ANR-0812.pdf and the Digestive System of Goats at www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/U/UNP-0060/UNP-0060.pdf.

Year-round availability of mineral supplements kept in the dry is essential to good health, productivity, parasite resistance, and etc. While loose mineral is recommended, a mineral block or tub will suffice. Mineral supplement is crucial to maintaining healthy productive animals. Salt blocks are unnecessary.

There may be times when forage availability is limited and nutrition needs to be supplemented with hay or grain-based feeds. Again, 10-14% protein and 50% or more TDNs remain adequate. The following table will highlight nutrient needs based on stage of production.

This style of facility will provide adequate shelter for any young or adult sheep

Katahdin hair sheep grazing

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Table 1. This table provides some general information on protein needs. For more specific information at various stages of production, visit http://www.sheep.cornell.edu/management/feeding/nrctable.html

Table 1: MeeTing ProTein requirMenTs for sheeP

Protein Ranges Stage of Production 8-10% 10-12% 12-14%

Maintenance (nonlactating adult) X

Adult, breeding season flush X

Developing (<1 year) X

Lactating X

Remember, sheep become fat more easily than goats. Heavier sheep may have difficulty breeding, conceiving, and lambing.

Health

When actively involved in livestock production, a working relationship with a local veterinarian is essential. Their expertise can be utilized for an over-the-phone consultation, office visits, and medicinal recommendations (both on and off-label). They should always be your go-to person for professional veterinarian services. If you cannot find a local veterinarian who is knowledgeable about the health of small ruminants, see if you can cultivate a working relationship with one who is willing to learn.

Scrapie is a concern among the small ruminant industry. Scrapie is a fatal, degenerative disease that affects the nervous systems of sheep and goats. It is one of several transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, related to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or mad cow disease). Although occurrences are rare, it is something to respect. Visit http://www.eradicatescrapie.org/index.html to learn more about this disease.

Vaccinations and parasite control are the two primary aspects of health control and management. Annual CD&T vaccinations for adults and booster shots for newborns are

sufficient in most situations. The CD in CD&T stands for Clostridium perfringens types C & D, which are bacteria or microflora normally found in the digestive tract of ruminants. However, when excessive amounts of grain are consumed the bacteria can rapidly reproduce in the animals, producing large quantities of toxins that result in Enterotoxemia that can be fatal. The T in CD&T stands for Tetanus, which can also be fatal. For more details see Alabama Extension publications Enterotoxemia (Overeating Disease) in Sheep and Goats at www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/U/UNP-0089/UNP-0089.pdf and the Vaccination Protocol for a Goat Herd at www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/U/UNP-0090/UNP-0090.pdf.

Gastrointestinal parasite infestation will be the primary risk with keeping animals healthy. Barber pole worms and coccidian are the two primary culprits when it comes to internal parasites. For more information see Alabama Extension publications Haemonchus contortus (Barber Pole Worm) Infestation in Goats at www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/U/UNP-0078/UNP-0078.pdf and Coccidiosis in Goats and Prevention at www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/U/UNP-0109/UNP-0109.pdf. Treatment is readily available. However, a management system of quality forages and forages high in tannins, rotational grazing, and sufficient nutrition and minerals are essential to minimizing problems with gastrointestinal parasite infestations.

External parasites such as lice and mites can be occasional problems. Barn sanitation, pasture rotation, and occasional treatment with insecticide powder as needed could help to minimize lice or mite infestation.

Marketing

Direct sale of animals from the farm and indirect sales through livestock sale barns are the two most common marketing options. Fair market sale prices are dependent upon variables such as seasonal demand, gender, age, weight, and body-condition grading. Seasonal demand tends to be highest prior to the Christmas and Easter seasons. Faith-based demand tends to be highest prior to Muslim holidays. Generally, a young, intact male lamb, between 60 to 80 lbs, and a marketing score of one or two will bring a higher price. There are always exceptions to this generalization. For more information see Alabama Extension publications Direct and Indirect Marketing Options for Small Ruminant

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Producers at http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/U/UNP-0096/ and Niche Marketing for Small Ruminants at http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/U/UNP-0098/UNP-0098.pdf.

There are always several marketing strategies that include raising and selling pure breeds to expand genetic pools, breeding stock for carcass quality, and plain meat animals for terminal markets. Never limit your production system to one market. While better quality animals should be retained for breeding stock, culls should be designated as meat animals.

Miscellaneous

Keep in mind that hair sheep are like goats when it comes to the issue of obesity. They become fat on the inside prior to becoming visibly fat on the outside. Do not starve your sheep to avoid obesity. There is a fine balance in maintaining ideal body weight. A malnourished animal will more rapidly lose body condition and experience diminished health. Most buyers do not want an animal that has excess body fat and are less likely to pay a premium price. Try to attend a workshop on body-condition scores to learn more about managing body condition. A body score of three to four is ideal.

When goats and sheep are raised in the same setting, social dominance by goats tends to occur. This is due to goats more aggressive behavior. Goat with horns have a slight advantage.

Predation from coyotes and neighborhood dogs are the main concern. Fencing that utilizes a combination of woven and electric wire is a good barrier, along with a fence charger that offers five or more joules should provide sufficient shock to discourage predatory animals and people. A trained guardian dog or donkey provides additional protection for your

Guardian animals in the form of donkeys or guard dogs are essential to protecting sheep and work best in pairs

animals. Guardian dogs and donkey should be expected to attack predatory animals, not just bark or bray at them.

Conclusion

Sheep production has an extensive history and much potential for future growth. When evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of each breed make sure to consider the advantages of cross-breeding to gain hybrid vigor, improved growth rates, and opportunities for terminal markets. This strategy has well-served the cattle and goat industries. Hair sheep have their advantages over cattle, goat,and wool sheep production.

Among some hair sheep breeds you will notice that parasite resistance is common factor; however, this only applies to encounters with stomach worms. Like all forms of livestock, coccidian remains a health threat with the potential to compromise the longevity of young animals.

This publication provides a general overview of hair sheep. You can obtain additional information online, in printed materials, atworkshop on body-condition scores to learn more about managing body condition. A body score of three to four is ideal.

Breed Organizations & Website

Here are a few websites that contains additional information on hair sheep breeds.

North American Hair Sheep Associationhttp://www.hairsheep.org

American Dorper Sheep Breeders’ Societywww.dorper.org

Barbados Blackbelly Sheep Association International www.blackbellysheep.org

Katahdin Hair Sheep International, Inc.www.katahdins.org

St. Croix Hair Sheep International Associationwww.stcroixhairsheep.org

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Reference

Mouflon. (2015, January 16). In: Wikipedia: The free encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mouflon.

National Institute for Animal Agriculture. (2001, August). Scrapie factsheet. Retrieved from http://www.eradicatescrapie.org/About%20Scrapie/Fact%20Sheet.html.

Oklahoma State University Board of Regents. (2008). Hair sheep breeds. Breeds of Live-stock. Retrieved from http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/sheep/.

Schoenian, S. (2014). Sheep 201: A begin-ner’s guide to raising sheep. Retrieved from http://www.sheep101.info/201/hairsheep.html.

Schoenian, S. (2014, December 23). Separat-ing the sheep from the goats. Sheep101.info. Retrieved from http://sheep101.info/sheepandgoats.html.

Schoenian, S. (2013, March 23). Naked sheep. Sheep101.info. Retrieved from

http://sheep101.info/hair.html.

Schoenian, S. (2009, December 21). Small ruminant info sheet. Retrieved from http://www.sheepandgoat.com/articles/hair-sheepupdate.html.

Sheep. In: Wikipedia: The free encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheep.

Robert Spencer, Urban Regional Extension Specialist, Alabama A&M University; and An Peischel, PhD, Small Ruminant Specialist, Tennessee State University

For more information, call your county Extension office. Look in your telephone directory under your county’s name to find the number.

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University), is an equal opportunity educator and employer. Everyone is welcome!

Revised, January 2016; UNP-2082© 2016 by Alabama Cooperative Extension System. All rights reserved.

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