The domestication of animals is said to be one of the most crucial happenings that have taken place in the history of man. Sheep are included in the fold even though they were not the first animals to be domesticated by man. A number of different breeds of sheep exist worldwide. There are those that are indigenous while others are exotic. For example, katahdin is an indigenous sheep found in Maine, USA. Choosing 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.
There are numerous reasons why the breed has been popular in a number of places in the world, America included. To begin with, a feature considered by commercial keepers and other individuals is the lack of need for shearing. In some locations, it costs a lot to shear yet wool costs very little. The nature of the hair coat is assumed to have been inherited from St. Croix sheep from which they descent.
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.
An additional key trait passed down from the ancestors of the katahdin sheep is resistance against parasites. They are highly tolerant to both internal and external parasites. As a result, if proper care is provided, less parasite treatment will be needed. The implication is that they are cheap but very productive.
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 produce enough milk for the young ones. They seldom reject lambs due to their heightened mothering instinct. Rams on the other hand form part of the most aggressive breeds. They are generally fertile all year round. Thus, they have the capacity to settle numerous ewes on the first mating contact. For this reason, flocks need to lamb yearly with the proper selection.
To finalize, this breed is hardy and therefore can adapt to a wide range of environments. In cold climates, they grow winter coats which provide protection against the cold. On the other hand, their hair coats enable them to tolerate and thrive in places with high temperatures. They can be raised under forage/grass management systems or pasture lambing.
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.
There are numerous reasons why the breed has been popular in a number of places in the world, America included. To begin with, a feature considered by commercial keepers and other individuals is the lack of need for shearing. In some locations, it costs a lot to shear yet wool costs very little. The nature of the hair coat is assumed to have been inherited from St. Croix sheep from which they descent.
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.
An additional key trait passed down from the ancestors of the katahdin sheep is resistance against parasites. They are highly tolerant to both internal and external parasites. As a result, if proper care is provided, less parasite treatment will be needed. The implication is that they are cheap but very productive.
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 produce enough milk for the young ones. They seldom reject lambs due to their heightened mothering instinct. Rams on the other hand form part of the most aggressive breeds. They are generally fertile all year round. Thus, they have the capacity to settle numerous ewes on the first mating contact. For this reason, flocks need to lamb yearly with the proper selection.
To finalize, this breed is hardy and therefore can adapt to a wide range of environments. In cold climates, they grow winter coats which provide protection against the cold. On the other hand, their hair coats enable them to tolerate and thrive in places with high temperatures. They can be raised under forage/grass management systems or pasture lambing.
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment