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 records that this breed was named after the highest peak of the mountain Katahdin. It was first developed during the 1950s in the United States. Different breeds of sheep were cross bred to attain the new desirable characteristics that Katahdins exhibit today. The st. Croix, Suffolk, and Wiltsshire horn sheep were some of the breeds that were used for breeding. The breeders considered factors such as hair coat, high fertility, flocking instinct, conformation and meat-type when selecting the breeding stock.
The popularity of this breed soared in America and other parts of the world for various reasons. First, for commercial shepherds and anyone else they do not require shearing. Shearing can be expensive in some parts and also considering the low price of wool. The hair coat trait is thought to have come from their St. Croix sheep ancestors.
It is recorded that in order to improve the size and quality of katahdins, the first breeder introduced an Englinsh descent sheep, the Wiltshire Horn. Mature ewes weigh between 125 and 185 pounds and since rams are larger, they weigh about 180 to 250 pounds. At birth, a young one is usually about 8 pounds but can weigh more or less depending on a number of factors.
Another important trait inherited from their ancestors is resistance to parasites. As such, they have higher tolerance to both external and internal parasites compared to other breeds. This means that under proper management they will need minimal parasite treatment. As a result they are not only low-cost option but also highly productive.
Ewes show early puberty. This makes them rank top in productivity. They live long and are very productive. It is normal to some extent for mature ewes to give birth to twins and sometimes triplets and quadruplets. They have quite strong mothering instinct. Most do not need assistance to lamd.
Ewes are mostly able to produce a lot of milk for their lambs. They hardly ever neglect their young ones as a result of strong mothering instinct. Rams are fertile all year round. For this reason, they are able to settle high numbers of ewes by the first cycle. When the selection is done well, a flock should have the capacity to give rise to new young ones throughout the year.
Finally, the breed is hardy. This means it may adjust to different conditions. They grow winter coats in the cold season. This offers protection against the cold. Hair coat allows them to persevere and survive in high temperature zones. They can be nurtured on pasture lambing or grass/forage management system.
History records that this breed was named after the highest peak of the mountain Katahdin. It was first developed during the 1950s in the United States. Different breeds of sheep were cross bred to attain the new desirable characteristics that Katahdins exhibit today. The st. Croix, Suffolk, and Wiltsshire horn sheep were some of the breeds that were used for breeding. The breeders considered factors such as hair coat, high fertility, flocking instinct, conformation and meat-type when selecting the breeding stock.
The popularity of this breed soared in America and other parts of the world for various reasons. First, for commercial shepherds and anyone else they do not require shearing. Shearing can be expensive in some parts and also considering the low price of wool. The hair coat trait is thought to have come from their St. Croix sheep ancestors.
It is recorded that in order to improve the size and quality of katahdins, the first breeder introduced an Englinsh descent sheep, the Wiltshire Horn. Mature ewes weigh between 125 and 185 pounds and since rams are larger, they weigh about 180 to 250 pounds. At birth, a young one is usually about 8 pounds but can weigh more or less depending on a number of factors.
Another important trait inherited from their ancestors is resistance to parasites. As such, they have higher tolerance to both external and internal parasites compared to other breeds. This means that under proper management they will need minimal parasite treatment. As a result they are not only low-cost option but also highly productive.
Ewes show early puberty. This makes them rank top in productivity. They live long and are very productive. It is normal to some extent for mature ewes to give birth to twins and sometimes triplets and quadruplets. They have quite strong mothering instinct. Most do not need assistance to lamd.
Ewes are mostly able to produce a lot of milk for their lambs. They hardly ever neglect their young ones as a result of strong mothering instinct. Rams are fertile all year round. For this reason, they are able to settle high numbers of ewes by the first cycle. When the selection is done well, a flock should have the capacity to give rise to new young ones throughout the year.
Finally, the breed is hardy. This means it may adjust to different conditions. They grow winter coats in the cold season. This offers protection against the cold. Hair coat allows them to persevere and survive in high temperature zones. They can be nurtured on pasture lambing or grass/forage management system.
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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.
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