St. Augustine Sheep Geared To Southern Heat

2019 - Volume #43, Issue #2, Page #07

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Finding a sheep breed that produces quality meat with parasitic resistance and that can handle heat is a challenge for Florida farmers. That’s why Ron Taber spent about 15 years developing the St. Augustine breed, starting in the late 1990s.
    After raising wool breeds in Washington, he and his wife, Ruth, moved to Florida to live in a nicer climate. They became familiar with hair breeds during a trip to Zimbabwe, Africa, so they purchased Barbados Blackbelly and St. Croix ewes. The problem was they were small and it took too much time to get lambs to market weight. Ron liked the size and qualities of the Dorper, which came to the states from South Africa in the mid 1990’s, but it had parasite problems. So, they started breeding Dorper rams to his St. Croix ewes.
    “Our goal was to have good meat fairly quickly,” Ruth says.” The muscle on the Dorper is outstanding. The St. Croix hair sheep have much better parasite resistance, and the ewes are good mothers.”
    Ron bred back their first offspring with St. Croix rams, did line breeding, and kept the best ewes to build up his flock. He named the breed after the saint, whose writings he studied and respected.
    Ron died in 2004, but Ruth continues his work, saving the best ewes for breeding and selling lambs directly to customers.
    “St. Augustine sheep are easy to handle with nice temperaments - including the rams. I select for temperament,” she says. “They flock well together when moved from field to field.”
    The St. Augustine breed consistently has twins and works well for an accelerated lambing schedule of every 8 mos. Thanks to the St. Croix genetics, they come in a variety of colors. Most have hair that starts to fall off in February. Some have a strip of wool on the back from Dorper genetics.
    Taber raises her flock on 56 acres of year-round grass and supplements with corn and soybean meal in dry or cold periods. Ewes weigh about 150 lbs. and lambs wean at 55 lbs. in 60 days. By 90 days they weigh 65 lbs. or more and are ready to market.
    Taber sells her lambs live to ethnic market customers and breeds ewes once a year so that 70 to 90-lb. rams will be ready for the Muslim feasts of Ramadan and Eid Mubarak. She also sells to Hispanic and Greek customers.
    About a year ago, she set up the St. Augustine Sheep Association to recruit growers and promote the breed. Ewes that have lambed once sell for $350. Currently Taber has about 100 ewes that she and a hired hand care for.
    She will gladly talk about the breed to interested sheep producers.

    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, St. Augustine Hair Sheep Association, Calovine Farm, 15205 W. Hwy. 316, Williston, Fla. 32696 (ph 352 528-4843; www.staugustinehairsheep.com; ruthtaber@embarqmail.com).

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St Augustine Sheep Geared To Southern Heat LIVESTOCK Sheep/Goats Finding a sheep breed that produces quality meat with parasitic resistance and that can handle heat is a challenge for Florida farmers That’s why Ron Taber spent about 15 years developing the St Augustine breed starting in the late 1990s After raising wool breeds in Washington he and his wife Ruth moved to Florida to live in a nicer climate They became familiar with hair breeds during a trip to Zimbabwe Africa so they purchased Barbados Blackbelly and St Croix ewes The problem was they were small and it took too much time to get lambs to market weight Ron liked the size and qualities of the Dorper which came to the states from South Africa in the mid 1990’s but it had parasite problems So they started breeding Dorper rams to his St Croix ewes “Our goal was to have good meat fairly quickly ” Ruth says ” The muscle on the Dorper is outstanding The St Croix hair sheep have much better parasite resistance and the ewes are good mothers ” Ron bred back their first offspring with St Croix rams did line breeding and kept the best ewes to build up his flock He named the breed after the saint whose writings he studied and respected Ron died in 2004 but Ruth continues his work saving the best ewes for breeding and selling lambs directly to customers “St Augustine sheep are easy to handle with nice temperaments - including the rams I select for temperament ” she says “They flock well together when moved from field to field ” The St Augustine breed consistently has twins and works well for an accelerated lambing schedule of every 8 mos Thanks to the St Croix genetics they come in a variety of colors Most have hair that starts to fall off in February Some have a strip of wool on the back from Dorper genetics Taber raises her flock on 56 acres of year-round grass and supplements with corn and soybean meal in dry or cold periods Ewes weigh about 150 lbs and lambs wean at 55 lbs in 60 days By 90 days they weigh 65 lbs or more and are ready to market Taber sells her lambs live to ethnic market customers and breeds ewes once a year so that 70 to 90-lb rams will be ready for the Muslim feasts of Ramadan and Eid Mubarak She also sells to Hispanic and Greek customers About a year ago she set up the St Augustine Sheep Association to recruit growers and promote the breed Ewes that have lambed once sell for $350 Currently Taber has about 100 ewes that she and a hired hand care for She will gladly talk about the breed to interested sheep producers Contact: FARM SHOW Followup St Augustine Hair Sheep Association Calovine Farm 15205 W Hwy 316 Williston Fla 32696 ph 352 528-4843; www staugustinehairsheep com; ruthtaber@embarqmail com

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