Information On Katahdin Rams For Sale

By Michael Collins


Katahdins are a breed of sheep that dates back to the 20th century after being developed by Mr. Perl. They were derived from the mountain of Maine Katahdin. This is one of the highest mountains in the whole of the United States. The attainment of the breed involved crossing several different breeds with St. Croix breed. Suffolk is one of the breeds that were used in the experiment. Here are some facts on Katahdin Rams for Sale.

The breed is uniquely hard, requires minimal maintenance and does not demand to shear, as it does not habituate flees. The ram is supposedly medium sized and very efficient for production being favourite for its lean meat production. The suitability of the breed is clearly visible on the basis of grass/forage based management systems.

One of the fundamental qualities that makes farmers domesticate this breed of sheep is its temperament. Katahdins usually are not violent but will exhibit a high degree of docility when being handled around the farmer. Unlike other breeds, the Katahdins will allow the medicine to be administered, pesticides and any other processes that play part in maintaining good health in sheep.

Many farmers prefer the breed because they are able to adapt very fast. The fast adaptability is a trait inherited from the original ancestors that were crossed to attain this breed. The ancestors responsible for the superior adaptability came from the Caribbean Island. Even though there are many adaptability traits, one of them includes being able to grow thicker fur during cold seasons to insulate against cold. This happens every winter.

The Katahdin ram will usually weigh between 200 and 250 pounds but the weight is highly determined by various factors. These include health of the animal, feeding habit and other factors that are attributable to the general weight of the animal at any given time. If the weight goes below 180 pounds that should serve as a signal to the farmer that the ram is either sick or has incubated several parasites internally.

The carcase produced by the ram has a very high quality and is very marketable worldwide. In comparison to other breeds, the meat produced is usually very marketable. The meat will fetch several times more than meat from other breeds on the market. However, the quality of meat is also highly dependent on the age of the animal. Old animals tend to have a poorer quality of meat compared to their younger counterparts.

Similar to the ewes, the rams usually exhibit early puberty, which translates into longer productive life. If the flock is managed well, it should be in a position to produce 200 percent of lamp crop. The rams remain active and reproductive throughout the year. As such, they can serve several ewes, something that saves the farmer the cost of having to keep multiple rams in a flock.

The coat of the rams usually differs in color and texture from one animal to the other. However, in general, the ram has a coarse outer fiber and a fine woolly undercoat. The fur becomes thick and longer during cold conditions where there is minimal sunlight. This way, they stay warm and are able to survive even the most extreme weather conditions.




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