Easycare Hair Sheep
Easycare sheep also referred to as Composite IV are ½ Romanov, ¼ Katahdin, ¼ White Dorper hair sheep that were developed at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (U.S. MARC) in Nebraska to create a very efficient, low maintenance, high productive hair sheep.
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The vision for Easycare sheep is to genetically improve production efficiency, health, and well being in pasture-lambing systems. These goals were achieved by developing a maternal line to:
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Raise twins and triplets on pasture without the need for human intervention
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Balance prolificacy with ewe mothering ability and lamb behavior to improve lamb survival
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Produce hair to eliminate shearing
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Have short tails to avoid docking
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Be polled to avoid injury or removal of horns
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Be less susceptible to diseases
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Breed out of season
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Our Management
We practice Non-Selective Ultra High Density Grazing(UHDG) or Total Grazing. This essentially means that our sheep and cattle finish their plates before they are given the next course.
Our paddocks are rotated 1-4 times per day with stocking density occasionally reaching 1,000,000 lbs/acre depending on the season and weather conditions. The goal is that the paddock looks like a putting green that had manure spread across it when they are moved, while the sheep maintain gut fill and optimum body condition. The paddock then gets a very long rest period ranging from 30 days up to an entire growing season before the animals return.
Adapted genetics are very important for this style of grazing. Our sheep are expected to maintain good body condition and be bred back each year. With consistent paddock moves and long rest periods, our sheep do not require the use of synthetic dewormers.
This style of grazing allows us to have double the stocking density of other grazing systems with very little winter hay costs.
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If you are interested in purchasing rams or ewes, please visit our livestock sales page for availability.
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