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.
Katahdin were developed partly to be a breed that does not need shearing. Piel envisioned a breed that would produce good, high quality meat while not making it mandatory for farmers to raise animals for wool at the same time. Thus, the breed produces lean, meaty carcasses that many people find good for consumption. Besides production, the animals are also raised for utility 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.
The level of adaptability in these animals is very high. The regions from where the parents used in the original breeding partly contribute to the high adaptability. The coat thickens during cold winter season and sheds during summer. Thus, the animal can survive in either climate well. Tolerance to heat and humidity is also very high because of the quality of the coat.
Another benefit presented by Katahdins is high tolerance to external and internal parasites. Studies to compare parasite tolerance between this breed and others indicate that Katahdins are more tolerant to both types of parasites. Therefore, minimal parasite is necessary for them to survive.
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.
Katahdin were developed partly to be a breed that does not need shearing. Piel envisioned a breed that would produce good, high quality meat while not making it mandatory for farmers to raise animals for wool at the same time. Thus, the breed produces lean, meaty carcasses that many people find good for consumption. Besides production, the animals are also raised for utility 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.
The level of adaptability in these animals is very high. The regions from where the parents used in the original breeding partly contribute to the high adaptability. The coat thickens during cold winter season and sheds during summer. Thus, the animal can survive in either climate well. Tolerance to heat and humidity is also very high because of the quality of the coat.
Another benefit presented by Katahdins is high tolerance to external and internal parasites. Studies to compare parasite tolerance between this breed and others indicate that Katahdins are more tolerant to both types of parasites. Therefore, minimal parasite is necessary for them to survive.
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