Katahdin sheep were developed in the United States on Piel Farm in the state of Maine. Michael Piel, an amateur breeder was responsible for the development in the early 1950s. Piel focused on sheep even though he enjoyed raising livestock in general. Since the time of development, this breed of animals has gained popularity in the whole world and it can be found almost everywhere. As such, when one needs Katahdin sheep for sale Kentucky is the location to consider visiting because there are many specialists in the area.
Katahdin are preferred by many farmers because they are a superior breed. The advantages of these animals are the topic of discussion in this article so that one can understand why they are preferred by many. The first advantage comes from the animals being hardy and low maintenance. They can survive in a variety of environments easily.
The development of Katahdins was partly to achieve a breed that does not require being sheared. The vision of Piel was to develop a breed that would not force farmers that wanted to raise sheep for meat to raise a flock for wool at the same time. Therefore, the carcasses produced by the breed are lean and meaty, which is perfect meat for consumption for many people. The flock can also be raised for utility purposes besides production purposes.
This breed has a medium body size. The weight of a healthy, well-fed ewe can go as high as 160 pounds, even though typical ones weigh starting from 120 to 155 pounds. Males weigh much more, ranging between 180 and 250 pounds in weight. Newly-born lambs weigh ten pounds on average.
Females have exceptional mothering ability. They give birth in a vigorous and alert manner and they lamb with a lot of ease. In general, ewes reach the age of puberty rather earlier and remain productive for a very long time. They are protective mothers and have plenty of milk to feed their young ones. Most ewes will give birth to twins and they may occasionally give birth to triplets or quadruplets.
Rams exhibit aggressiveness in breeding, remaining fertile all year round. Several ewes can be serviced by a single ram satisfactorily. One cycle of exposure will leave most ewes fertile. Thus, concerning mating, the work of the farmer is made easier. The animals can be bred in pasture lambing or foragebase management systems.
These animals have a high level of adaptability. Partly, the high adaptability is due to the places where the parents used in breeding originated. The coat grows thick and heavy during cold winter months to keep the body warm and starts to shed as winter nears an end. The coat will shed entirely before winter ends completely in preparation for warm summer months. Tolerance to humidity and heat is high because of the characteristics of the coat.
A high level of tolerance to internal and external parasites is another advantage of Katahdins. Comparison studies between this breed and other breeds have revealed that katahdins are more tolerant to parasites. As such, only minimal parasite treatment is needed to keep a flock healthy and safe from both internal and external parasites.
Katahdin are preferred by many farmers because they are a superior breed. The advantages of these animals are the topic of discussion in this article so that one can understand why they are preferred by many. The first advantage comes from the animals being hardy and low maintenance. They can survive in a variety of environments easily.
The development of Katahdins was partly to achieve a breed that does not require being sheared. The vision of Piel was to develop a breed that would not force farmers that wanted to raise sheep for meat to raise a flock for wool at the same time. Therefore, the carcasses produced by the breed are lean and meaty, which is perfect meat for consumption for many people. The flock can also be raised for utility purposes besides production purposes.
This breed has a medium body size. The weight of a healthy, well-fed ewe can go as high as 160 pounds, even though typical ones weigh starting from 120 to 155 pounds. Males weigh much more, ranging between 180 and 250 pounds in weight. Newly-born lambs weigh ten pounds on average.
Females have exceptional mothering ability. They give birth in a vigorous and alert manner and they lamb with a lot of ease. In general, ewes reach the age of puberty rather earlier and remain productive for a very long time. They are protective mothers and have plenty of milk to feed their young ones. Most ewes will give birth to twins and they may occasionally give birth to triplets or quadruplets.
Rams exhibit aggressiveness in breeding, remaining fertile all year round. Several ewes can be serviced by a single ram satisfactorily. One cycle of exposure will leave most ewes fertile. Thus, concerning mating, the work of the farmer is made easier. The animals can be bred in pasture lambing or foragebase management systems.
These animals have a high level of adaptability. Partly, the high adaptability is due to the places where the parents used in breeding originated. The coat grows thick and heavy during cold winter months to keep the body warm and starts to shed as winter nears an end. The coat will shed entirely before winter ends completely in preparation for warm summer months. Tolerance to humidity and heat is high because of the characteristics of the coat.
A high level of tolerance to internal and external parasites is another advantage of Katahdins. Comparison studies between this breed and other breeds have revealed that katahdins are more tolerant to parasites. As such, only minimal parasite treatment is needed to keep a flock healthy and safe from both internal and external parasites.
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This article collected, selected and written by: Author Van Hoc
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