Animal domestication is among the most critical happenings in the history of humankind. The sheep, albeit not being the first animals to be domesticated by mankind have been seen as very important. There exist a number of sheep breeds scattered all over the globe, with some being indigenous and others exotic. For example, in Maine in the United States, katahdin sheep are indigenous. Here are facts regarding katahdin hair sheep for sale.
History shows that this breed of domestic sheep derives its name from the highest peak of Mount Katahdin. Its emergence in the United States is placed in the 1950s. In order to achieve various desirable characteristics seen today various breeds of sheep were cross bred. Among the breeds used were Wiltshire Horn, Suffolk and St. Croix sheep. The animals used were selected basing on factors like flocking instinct, high fertility, meat-type conformation, and hair coat.
A number of factors contributed to the rise in popularity of this breed in America and other areas on the globe. For starters, this breed does not need shearing, an advantage especially to commercial shepherds. The activity is normally very pricey in addition to wool being very cheap. Katahdin ancestors the St. Croix sheep is believed to have contributed to the hair coat quality.
According to history, the initial katahdin breeder had to bring the Wilshire Horn from England. This was aimed at improving the size and quality of their carcasses. In terms of weight, mature ewes weigh between 125 and 185 pounds. Rams, on the flip side are often bigger and weigh between 180 and 250 pounds. On average, lambs weigh 8 pounds at birth, though this is dependent on a number of factors that may result in a disparity.
Parasite resistance is another trait the breed inherited from their parents. For this reason, unlike other breeds the katahdin is able to resist internal and external parasites. In turn, when they are managed well, they do not require a lot of parasite treatment. Thus, the breed is usually high productive and low cost.
The productivity of this breed is almost comparable to none considering that ewes and rams exhibit early puberty. Besides this, they have long productive life. It is quite normal for fully grown ewes to have twins and occasional quadruplets or triplets. The protective mothering instinct of ewes is quite strong. Most of them do not need assistance with lambing.
Most ewes have ample milk for their lambs. Their mothering instinct is so strong that they rarely reject lambs. As for rams, they are among the most aggressive breeders. In general, they are fertile throughout the year. As such, they have the ability of settling huge numbers of ewes within the first cycle of exposure. Considering this, a flock should consistently lamb year round when the selection is done properly.
In conclusion, the katahdin sheep can thrive in different environments due to its strong survival instincts. The breed is able to grow winter coats to protect them from the cold weather. However, when in high temperature environment, their hair coat enables them to flourish and survive. One can raise them under either pasture lambing or grass/forage management systems.
History shows that this breed of domestic sheep derives its name from the highest peak of Mount Katahdin. Its emergence in the United States is placed in the 1950s. In order to achieve various desirable characteristics seen today various breeds of sheep were cross bred. Among the breeds used were Wiltshire Horn, Suffolk and St. Croix sheep. The animals used were selected basing on factors like flocking instinct, high fertility, meat-type conformation, and hair coat.
A number of factors contributed to the rise in popularity of this breed in America and other areas on the globe. For starters, this breed does not need shearing, an advantage especially to commercial shepherds. The activity is normally very pricey in addition to wool being very cheap. Katahdin ancestors the St. Croix sheep is believed to have contributed to the hair coat quality.
According to history, the initial katahdin breeder had to bring the Wilshire Horn from England. This was aimed at improving the size and quality of their carcasses. In terms of weight, mature ewes weigh between 125 and 185 pounds. Rams, on the flip side are often bigger and weigh between 180 and 250 pounds. On average, lambs weigh 8 pounds at birth, though this is dependent on a number of factors that may result in a disparity.
Parasite resistance is another trait the breed inherited from their parents. For this reason, unlike other breeds the katahdin is able to resist internal and external parasites. In turn, when they are managed well, they do not require a lot of parasite treatment. Thus, the breed is usually high productive and low cost.
The productivity of this breed is almost comparable to none considering that ewes and rams exhibit early puberty. Besides this, they have long productive life. It is quite normal for fully grown ewes to have twins and occasional quadruplets or triplets. The protective mothering instinct of ewes is quite strong. Most of them do not need assistance with lambing.
Most ewes have ample milk for their lambs. Their mothering instinct is so strong that they rarely reject lambs. As for rams, they are among the most aggressive breeders. In general, they are fertile throughout the year. As such, they have the ability of settling huge numbers of ewes within the first cycle of exposure. Considering this, a flock should consistently lamb year round when the selection is done properly.
In conclusion, the katahdin sheep can thrive in different environments due to its strong survival instincts. The breed is able to grow winter coats to protect them from the cold weather. However, when in high temperature environment, their hair coat enables them to flourish and survive. One can raise them under either pasture lambing or grass/forage management systems.
About the Author:
You can get excellent tips for picking a sheep breeder and more information about Katahdin hair sheep for sale at http://www.stablerockkatahdins.com now.
Comments
Post a Comment