Considering raising sheep ? If so , you might need to think about selecting the Katahdin as your breed of choice .
The Katahdin is not the sheep breed to select if you be after on bring up sheep for wool . However , it is a great alternative for farm looking to particularise in marrow and milk yield . This insensate - hardy sheep is live and loose to manage .
However , is it the right sheep for your penury and goals ? I ’ll tell apart you what you need to get laid in this guide to the Katahdin sheep breed .
What Are Katahdin Sheep?
Katahdin sheep were first develop in the middle of the 20th C . This was when a farmer , innovator , and amateur geneticist named Michael Piel recognize his interest in farm a truly one - of - a - kind sheep breed .
Piel , a resident of northern Maine , wanted to raise sheep that could be used for more utilitarian design than for woolen or meat production alone .
He want sheep that would use up all kinds of botany alternatively of typical forage grasses so that they could be used to graze power line rather than having to spray or mow down the giantism .
He began search hairsbreadth sheep in dear . His plans let in breeding a combination of ewes from Tunis , Suffolk , Hampshire , Southdown , and various African strain . In his selections , Piel sought trait such as hair exploitation ( rather than wool ) , meat conformation , flocking instinct , and in high spirits fertility rate .
By the seventies , Piel succeeded in make a brilliant center sheep that did not need to be sheared . He named them Katahdin sheep after the tallest peak in the state . Later , he improved upon the breed by cross them with Wiltshire Horn sheep to meliorate their size of it and osseous tissue social system .
Later , the breed was further ameliorate upon by Paul and Margaret Jepson of Vermont , who sweep their Katahdins with St. Croix sheep for extra hair feature .
Uses for Katahdin Sheep
Today , due to the study of Piel and other Katahdin breeders , Katahdin sheep are known as being hardy , low - upkeep sheep that adapt well to a variety of conditions . They are prized for their lambing ability and their carcass that are lean and meaty . In fact , they can grow up to 250lbs . Very picayune of that weighting consist of blubber and most of it is instead high - quality centre .
Because Katahdins do not raise a fleece , they do not take to be sheared . They are efficient sheep that can even be used to grapple land . gentle and well handled , they are typically raise for meat but can occasionally be raised for Milk River as well .
fledged ewes are commonly about 120 - 160lbs , while rams can be anywhere between 180 - 250lbs . Usually , lambs are ready for slaughter when they are around 95 - 115lbs .
Benefits of Raising Katahdin Sheep
These are some of the best reasons to raise Katahdin sheep – though the inclination is by no way exhaustive !
1. No Need to Shear
One of the most obvious benefit of raising Katahdin sheep is that they do not take to be shear on an annual or twice - per - twelvemonth cornerstone .
Shearing add an extra disbursal to raising sheep , and if you do not intend to focalise on woolen production and make the setup for yearly sheering , have a strain that does not require shearing is the better option .
Rather than developing shining coats of fleece , they put on duncical winter coats made of politic hair . This coating helps to keep them warm during the winter months but once spring arrives , they throw the coat to be able to withstand the heat and humidity .
The pilus of Katahdin sheep can alter in the texture and length among individuals and it can be just about any colour . normally , though , it will consist of common outer fibers and an undercoat of fine woolen fibers . When the atmospheric condition turn dusty and the day distance shortens , the pilus will become quite thick , but as presently as the springiness arrives , much of this will be shed .
2. Parasite Resistance
Although Katahdin sheep are n’t 100 % resistant to parasites , they are much more parasite - resistant than most other breeds . In fact , some discipline suggest that Katahdin sheep , along with other hair’s-breadth sheep , are immune to internal and external parasites like thebarber ’s pole worm .
While you may still ask to plow your Katahdin flock for parasite , this can usually be done on a far less intensive base . In fact , parasites can often be prevented with simple management technique like pasture rotation instead of chemical dewormers .
3. Mothering Instincts
Katahdin ewes are prized for their excellent mothering instincts . Theylamb well , often lambing successfully on their own , on pasture , with little intervention from the sheepman . The lambs have a tendency to be lively upon birth and are vigorous growers , too .
Katahdin ewes ordinarily put up twin , each of whom will be around 8lbs on intermediate . However , 3 and quadruplets are rough-cut , too , specially among well - manage flocks .
4. Milk Production
Despite the fact that Katadins often suffer multiples when they lamb , ewes are ripe at lambing without assistance and have high Milk River production .
Ewes have more than enough Milk River for their lambs and therefore are often praised for their milk output as well as for their meat .
5. High Ram Fertility
Both Ewe and rams are known for their exceptional fertility . Both reach pubescence early and can breed for long stop of prison term before they become too previous to do so . Rams are fast-growing breeders and are unique in that they are fertile year - rung ( most rams multiply only seasonally ) .
6. Land Management
Because they were originally bred to rake light touch under top executive lines , Katahdin sheep are often raise for land management purpose . They will eat a lot of stuff that other sheep wo n’t disturb , conduce many Katahdin producer to describe them as being more “ goat”-like than other sheep breeds .
Because Katahdin sheep will wipe out just about anything , they be given to be less costly to feed , too . That being said , superior pasturage will cut the need to put up supplementary feed , like grain , so the better the pasture quality , thelower your cost of productionwill be , too ( and you ’ll also have healthier sheep ! ) .
7. Personality
eventually , Katahdin sheep are light to bring off . They are gentle , so they are not difficult to handle ( unlike other more primitive breeds , such asIcelandic sheep ) . However , they also do well when they are left to their own devices .
Challenges of Raising Katahdin Sheep
Although the benefits far preponderate the disadvantage , there are a few challenges to erect Katahdin sheep that you should be aware of .
1. Poor Flocking Instinct
Flocking inherent aptitude is the power of sheep to abide by each other and to herd together . This is a highly desirable characteristic to look for when you are raising sheep on large pastures . This is where the scourge from predatory animal tends to be high .
Katahdin sheep are n’t the pathetic “ flockers , ” but they are n’t the expert , either . In some regard , this lack of aflocking instinctcan make it more challenging for you to wish for your sheep , as they will be more difficult to move .
On the other manus , a weakened flocking instinct pee it potential for you to raise pocket-sized group of sheep , which is n’t always possible in sheep with strong inherent aptitude .
2. No Wool Production
Of course , since Katahdin sheep are hair sheep , the wool production is not what you would find with woolen breed . You wo n’t get much fibre from these sheep at all . This is far from tough if you want to raise sheep for meat . However , it ’s an important circumstance to make if you design on raising sheep for fibre .
3. Breeding
One other matter to be aware of when raising Katahdin sheep is that they are less seasonal than other sheep breeds . This means you might not always have a great idea of when your ewes have been bred . You could have lamb in the tardy fall , or in the spring . If you favor to know precisely when your lambs are going to be born , this might not be the idealistic breed for you .
Is the Katahdin Sheep Right For Me?
Although there are a few disadvantages to raise a great deal of Katahdins , these sheep are , for the most part , some of the fearless and easiest to raise .
If a depleted - alimony flock of marrow producers is what you ’re after , this Maine aboriginal is the way to go when selecting your ideal breed .
Was this article helpful?
What went wrong?
This article contains wrong information
This clause does not have the information I am appear for
How can we improve it?
We appreciate your helpful feedback!
Your solution will be used to better our subject . The more feedback you give us , the well our Sir Frederick Handley Page can be .
