The average birth weight for twins is 7lbs. St Croix sheep are active and vigorous without any tendency to be wild. Updated: Oct 4, 2021. They are hair sheep, recognized for their good meat quality by Slow Food USA—who placed the breed on the Arc of Taste, an international catalog of endangered heritage foods. St. Croix sheep were introduced to River Ridge pastures in the Spring of 2018.
It in the spring for the local birds to use as nests. The St Croix remains a closed breed; however there have been recent imports of some animals and semen from the Island of St. Croix (USVI). The ewes can breed back one month after lambing, and ewes can produce two lamb crops per year. In Hillsdale County. St. Croix sheep are prolific breeders averaging two lambs every breeding season and the lambs have high survivability. Katahdin sheep also require little to no maintenance on their hooves and even share the same parasite-resistant tendencies as the St. Croix breed. Of Homespun Hill Farm, is fortunate enough to shepherd the rare breed of. Although the mother had mastitis on one side, her triplets survived, and she nursed the three lambs all the way to weaning time. Croix sheep are extremely mild in flavor because of their fine grained, low fat meat. St. Croix rams offer an impressive and exotic looking "mane" of long white hair around their shoulders and chests, giving them a strong and imperial presence. To learn more about St Croix sheep or to find a breeder near you, visit the St. Croix Hair Sheep Breeders website. As the flock grows, experimentation with multi-species grazing with our cattle may be attempted.
How Big Are St Croix Sheep? How and Where to Buy. The breeds of sheep we raise are non-selective grazers – meaning when managed correctly the sheep do a great job eating all types of forage in the pastures. Grass Lake Michigan 49240. Canal Winchester - OH. St. Croix ewes are wonderful mothers, often birthing twins and. If you come for a visit you may well be greeted by "Tiny, " our friendliest lamb! Michigan Shepherds News. Ewe lambs will be available for shepherds to begin expanding their flocks. Less parasite issues means healthier animals and a better quality product for the end consumer.
St. Croix sheep offer many advantages over conventionally raised breeds. The sheep are also vitally important in breaking up the parasite cycle. We currently have a small flock of St. Croix Hair Sheep. This versatile breed of sheep is also used for cheese and milk production on some farms. This second group of sheep provided the foundation animals for the modern St Croix breed. The highlight of the breeding season was the birth of triplets to ewe #374 which included our "Tiny"—a 3. Four months later, River Ridge completed its first breeding season in April 2020 with the arrival of 52 healthy lambs from 28 ewes. The St Croix sheep breed originated in the Virgin Islands and as a result it is sometimes referred to as the Virgin Island White. View all Featured Ads. You can purchase our grass-fed and grass-finished lamb on the farm by the cut or we also offer our customers the opportunity to purchase in bulk by the whole animal.
Over the years, we have shepherded several breeds. Of sheep, and we have found the St. Croix to be low-keyed (not flighty). CHARACTERISTICS OF ST CROIX HAIR SHEEP. Info taken from the St Croix Hair Sheep Breeders website). The breed is recognized as threatened by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, with fewer than 1000 registrations per year (categories include: Critical / Threatened / Watch / Recovering). In November 2019, a St. Croix ram (SF 327) from Stauber Farm in Bethania, NC visited our flock for six weeks.
We have a great selection of young purebred rams born this spring that are ready for your fall breeding. Sheep play a critical role in the management of our pastures by bridging the grazing gap between grass loving cows and briar loving goats. Why Raise St. Croix Sheep? Your dream farm starter herd. One hour south of Lansing. With no shearing costs, strong parasite resistance, no fly strike, high lamb survivability, good mothering instincts and good flocking, the St. Croix Sheep has a lot to offer shepherds in the US. The meat is also very mild in flavor because they do not deposit a large amount of fat into their muscles. Selection criteria for these foundation animals included: white coats, average to above-average conformation, average to above-average body size, and lack of horns in both sexes. South Boardman - MI. They too are hair sheep and require zero sheering. Pricing and availability. Caribbean hair sheep, such as the St. Croix, are prolific and breed throughout the year and thus are of value to the U. sheep industry. Carcass composition of St Croix is similar to that of Rambouillet, but the St Croix have a 23% higher carcass yield due to smaller bone and less fat. The breed association has about 120 active members.
Mature rams have a lion-like mane that may fall down to their knees. St. Croix has a slower growth rate than many meat breeds, which have been selected for rapid growth and large body size. A second importation from the Island of St. Croix (US Virgin Islands) of 22 bred ewes and 3 rams was initiated by Dr. Warren Foote of Utah State University (USU), Logan UT in 1975. Sheep are dead-end hosts for many species of internals parasites for cattle and cattle are dead-end hosts for many species of internals parasites of sheep. We have another property across from us leased as well that we are using to rotate grazing on. As a result, we get increased pasture utilization which in turn increases soil fertility allowing us to grow more forage. Likewise, Katahdin sheep have very similar characteristics. No formal census of inbreeding levels or lineages within the breed has been conducted. A Few Facts About St. Croix Hair Sheep. Harbor Springs - MI.
They are all wonderful breeds of hair sheep that offer many advantages to our grass-centered, holistic approach to farming. Sheep & Equipment Sale. Positive benefits of St. Croix breed: Highest Parasite Resistance No Shearing (they shed naturally) Produce easily on grass/hay alone Early Puberty Highly Fertile Good Flocking Instincts Hoof Rot Resistant Fly Strike Resistant Non-Selective Grazers Polled Good Temperament Heat and Cold Tolerant Fine Grained Low Fat Meat Please call, text or email for additional information. Edwardsville - IL - MI. Their hair coat is smooth in summer and thicker with mixed hair and downy undercoat in winter. They are also known for their resistance to intestinal parasites. Hickory Corners - MI.
We raise on our farm a combination of Saint Croix sheep, Katahdin sheep, and a St. Croix-Katahdin cross. Are you ready to buy? They are also prolific breeders and routinely have triplets and even quadruplets. Birth weights for twins average 7 lbs. Sponsors & Exhibitors. St. Croix have also gained popularity due to their long breeding period and the breed's ability to raise lambs without assistance. The St. Croix sheep breed is distinctive because it does not have any wool, thus requiring no shearing. We also make scheduled monthly deliveries in the city so please contact us for delivery dates and locations.
Their meat is tender with a mild flavor. Replacement ewe lambs. Resistance is what St. Croix sheep are well known for. While many breeders enjoy the production of wool, others view annual shearing as a costly expense. There is no need to sheer because the St. Croix grow an undercoat during the winter months and shed it in the spring. Excellent way to promote parasite resistance into your flock! Back to the full Directory. Farmer Debbie, aka the American Lamb Lady. Stay tuned for updates and scroll down for a look at our flock and a photo with their winter coats!
Growth ahead in 2022!! Michael Piel of Maine first brought one ram and two ewe "Virgin Island White" sheep into the U. S. in the 1960s, for use in the formation of the Katahdin breed. They are very well adapted to the Kansas summer. The breed standard calls for the St. Croix to be white. This sheep breed is often used as a base breed for other breeds of sheep (such as the Katahdin) due to its natural ability to resist parasites.