Katahdin is a rather new breed of sheep found in American. It was developed by an amateur geneticist called Michael Piel in the 50s. The farm where Michael did his development was located near Mt. Katahdin in Maine so he named the animals after the mountain. The breed is a cross between British breeds and another breed of hair sheep. To get the best Katahdin sheep Kentucky is the right place to check out.
Registrations, transfer numbers, and surveys reveal that this breed makes up the highest proportion of all sheep meat consumed in USA. The animals should not be mistaken with goats because of the resemblance because they have 54 chromosomes unlike goats which have 60. Infact, cross-breeding with goats cannot produce fertile pregnancies. Mouflon, the ancestor of current day sheep resembled goats a lot and may be the cause of the goat-like appearance.
This breed of animals can have any single color or a mixture of several colors forming different patterns. Major colors however are red, brown, white, and black. Of the four colors, white is the commonest and spots of different patterns may be observable in the white coat. The color does not imply any variations in production or any other traits. The breed association does not also discriminate basing on color.
Naturally, the breed is polled and does not grow horns. However, since the animals were developed from Wiltshire Horn breed, some may develop horns or scurs as a residual influence. The breed association and most breeders prefer polled animals. Standards that regulate the species allow horns and scurs. Some may also develop milk goiter, which is perfectly normal in well performing lambs. The goiter should not be misdiagnosed for iodine goiter, bottle jaw, or an abscess.
These animals were developed under very cold, mountainous conditions. This gives them a high ability to survive under cold conditions. They also show high adaptability to a wide spectrum of weather conditions. For instance, they survive under cold conditions by developing a thick coat which insulates the body against heat loss. In warm regions, they develop a slightly lighter coat. To maintain suitable body temperatures, the right nutrition must be fed to the animals.
Katahdin has many attractive qualities that other breeds lack. For instance, crutching, tail docking, and shearing are not necessary. Gastro-intestinal parasites are also well resisted against by these animals. Reproduction traits and body fitness are also very good. Fertility, mothering capability, prolificacy, and milk production are all high. The meat has very good taste and quality.
Lambing is very high in these animals although it is affected by several factors. Some of the factors include nutrition, season of breeding, and age. A mature ewe will however lamb more than two lambs per lambing on average. Poor body condition can affect the number of lambs and ability to lamb adversely. Ewes that are raising two or three lambs should be fed on feeds with more nutrients to compensate for the milk fed to young ones.
Breeding should be started at 12 months of age. Weight should be based on more when deciding time of breeding than the age. Rams achieve breeding age at 7 to 8 months after birth.
Registrations, transfer numbers, and surveys reveal that this breed makes up the highest proportion of all sheep meat consumed in USA. The animals should not be mistaken with goats because of the resemblance because they have 54 chromosomes unlike goats which have 60. Infact, cross-breeding with goats cannot produce fertile pregnancies. Mouflon, the ancestor of current day sheep resembled goats a lot and may be the cause of the goat-like appearance.
This breed of animals can have any single color or a mixture of several colors forming different patterns. Major colors however are red, brown, white, and black. Of the four colors, white is the commonest and spots of different patterns may be observable in the white coat. The color does not imply any variations in production or any other traits. The breed association does not also discriminate basing on color.
Naturally, the breed is polled and does not grow horns. However, since the animals were developed from Wiltshire Horn breed, some may develop horns or scurs as a residual influence. The breed association and most breeders prefer polled animals. Standards that regulate the species allow horns and scurs. Some may also develop milk goiter, which is perfectly normal in well performing lambs. The goiter should not be misdiagnosed for iodine goiter, bottle jaw, or an abscess.
These animals were developed under very cold, mountainous conditions. This gives them a high ability to survive under cold conditions. They also show high adaptability to a wide spectrum of weather conditions. For instance, they survive under cold conditions by developing a thick coat which insulates the body against heat loss. In warm regions, they develop a slightly lighter coat. To maintain suitable body temperatures, the right nutrition must be fed to the animals.
Katahdin has many attractive qualities that other breeds lack. For instance, crutching, tail docking, and shearing are not necessary. Gastro-intestinal parasites are also well resisted against by these animals. Reproduction traits and body fitness are also very good. Fertility, mothering capability, prolificacy, and milk production are all high. The meat has very good taste and quality.
Lambing is very high in these animals although it is affected by several factors. Some of the factors include nutrition, season of breeding, and age. A mature ewe will however lamb more than two lambs per lambing on average. Poor body condition can affect the number of lambs and ability to lamb adversely. Ewes that are raising two or three lambs should be fed on feeds with more nutrients to compensate for the milk fed to young ones.
Breeding should be started at 12 months of age. Weight should be based on more when deciding time of breeding than the age. Rams achieve breeding age at 7 to 8 months after birth.
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