We have been raising both the Katahdin and Dorper hair sheep for several years. We find that the Dorper greatly improves the growth rate of our lambs while keeping a wonderful mild taste. We find the taste of wool sheep much stronger (tastes like the barn floor smells) due to presence of lanolin in the wool. Our hair sheep taste much like pork.
We find Katahdins and Dorpers are very hardy and prolific. Mothers do a great job raising their lambs. They will eat both our grass and underbrush very well. They are MUCH more docile than the few Barbados we once tried. I use my sheep for stock dog training as well and they work nicely for my dogs.
As the wool market continues to drop, we have found the hair sheep market quite demanding and profitable. We do have many ethnic buyers in our area that like the hair sheep just fine.
