The second half of the twentieth century in America was characterized with the development of a unique domesticated animals. Katahdins were the result of this work. The breed was first raised in north central Maine near mount Katahdin, thus the name. The research work and breeding was done by amateur geneticist called Micheal Piel. His sole goal was to come up with a breed of sheep with better hair coat, good flocking instinct, high fertility and meat type conformation.
The research was directed on replacing wool with hair coats. Non-wool producing breeds were needed since shearing was costly and wool fetched low prices. The resulting breed had improved mothering abilities compared to the parents. For people who need tough and hardy yet docile Katahdin sheep Kentucky offers the right solution. It exhibits higher resistance to endo-parasites and exo-parasites. It is easier to handle since it is docile.
Healthy and mature females weigh between 160 to 120 pounds. A mature male has its weight varying between 250 to180 pounds. Most twins have a mean weight of eight pounds at the time of birth. Ewes give bear twins, although they might give birth to triplets or quadruplets sometimes. The protective instinct among females is better.
A year is the earliest period an ewe can be mate on condition that it has attained the necessary weight and size. Focus should be placed on weight and not size. When lambs are two-thirds the size of a mature ewe they may be bred. A first-time mother must be fed and held separately from continuing mothers until its lambs is weaned. This is an important on teaching them to be better mothers.
Males and females mature first and have prolonged productive life. Males are good breeders with the ability to fertilize throughout the year. A single male can serve several ewes within the first phase of exposure. Both ewes and rams can be used for crossbreeding. First generation offspring between katahdin and any breed of wool sheep is covered with wool fleece.
It takes approximately 3 generations or even more depending on the type of crossbred wool animal to have lambs with purebred features like shedding hair coats. The lengths and textures of hair coats vary on each sheep. Kentucky katahdins are born with many either pure or sorts of shades. Brown, red, black and white are the commonest shades. Some have spots or unique patterns.
Lambs produce quality healthy lean meat. Fatty acid content of their meat is influenced by diet. Their meat is rich in both essential omega 6 and 3 fatty acids. They derive fatty acids from the grass they feed on, although a diet with certain oils and fats can serve the same purpose. Information on the type of oils and fats to feed them on should be given by a qualified veterinary. This is important for health purposes.
The hardy feature and feeding habits observed in goats is also seen in Katahdins. They consume anything from weeds to soft barks of deciduous plants. They stand on their behind feet to peel tree barks and access leaves. They are quite destructive when not under control. Young katahdin sheep have a behavior of climbing on anything from hay to plants. To avoid waste, bale rings ought to be installed round trees or plants to be protected.
The research was directed on replacing wool with hair coats. Non-wool producing breeds were needed since shearing was costly and wool fetched low prices. The resulting breed had improved mothering abilities compared to the parents. For people who need tough and hardy yet docile Katahdin sheep Kentucky offers the right solution. It exhibits higher resistance to endo-parasites and exo-parasites. It is easier to handle since it is docile.
Healthy and mature females weigh between 160 to 120 pounds. A mature male has its weight varying between 250 to180 pounds. Most twins have a mean weight of eight pounds at the time of birth. Ewes give bear twins, although they might give birth to triplets or quadruplets sometimes. The protective instinct among females is better.
A year is the earliest period an ewe can be mate on condition that it has attained the necessary weight and size. Focus should be placed on weight and not size. When lambs are two-thirds the size of a mature ewe they may be bred. A first-time mother must be fed and held separately from continuing mothers until its lambs is weaned. This is an important on teaching them to be better mothers.
Males and females mature first and have prolonged productive life. Males are good breeders with the ability to fertilize throughout the year. A single male can serve several ewes within the first phase of exposure. Both ewes and rams can be used for crossbreeding. First generation offspring between katahdin and any breed of wool sheep is covered with wool fleece.
It takes approximately 3 generations or even more depending on the type of crossbred wool animal to have lambs with purebred features like shedding hair coats. The lengths and textures of hair coats vary on each sheep. Kentucky katahdins are born with many either pure or sorts of shades. Brown, red, black and white are the commonest shades. Some have spots or unique patterns.
Lambs produce quality healthy lean meat. Fatty acid content of their meat is influenced by diet. Their meat is rich in both essential omega 6 and 3 fatty acids. They derive fatty acids from the grass they feed on, although a diet with certain oils and fats can serve the same purpose. Information on the type of oils and fats to feed them on should be given by a qualified veterinary. This is important for health purposes.
The hardy feature and feeding habits observed in goats is also seen in Katahdins. They consume anything from weeds to soft barks of deciduous plants. They stand on their behind feet to peel tree barks and access leaves. They are quite destructive when not under control. Young katahdin sheep have a behavior of climbing on anything from hay to plants. To avoid waste, bale rings ought to be installed round trees or plants to be protected.
About the Author:
You can visit www.stablerockkatahdins.com for more helpful information about To Find Good Katahdin Sheep Kentucky Should Be The Place To Visit.
No comments:
Post a Comment