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For Quality Katahdin Sheep For Sale Kentucky Is The Way To Go

By Carol Anderson


Katahdin sheep is a breed of hair sheep that was developed on Piel Farm in the state of Maine, United States. The development was done by an amateur breeder named Michael Piel in later 1950s. Piel enjoyed raising livestock and sheep became one of his specialties. Since its development, the breed has spread all over the US and into the whole world over. Thus, when in need of the best Katahdin sheep for sale Kentucky is a good place to visit.

Katahdin offer superiority that makes them preferable by any farmer. This article presents information that shows advantages of this breed that make people to want it. First, these animals are hardy and low maintenance. The rate of adapting to new environments is fast and the process happens more easily with minimal difficulty.

Part of the reason why katahdins were developed was to produce a breed that does not need shearing. Piel wanted to enable farmers to raise flocks for meat without being forced to raise the same flocks for wool too. Thus, katahdins were meant for meat production and not wool. That is why they have lean, high-quality meat liked by many. Flocks may be used for utility reasons apart from production 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.

The mothering ability of females is exceptional. They lamb vigorously, easily, and remain alert during the whole process. The age of puberty is reached much earlier by ewes and they remain productive for long. When they give birth, ewes become very protective and supply plenty of milk for their lambs. Lambs are usually given birth in twins, and in occasional situations, triplets or quadruplets may be birthed.

Rams are aggressive breeders and they remain fertile all months of the year. A single ram can service a huge number of ewes with ease. Most ewes will be fertilized at the first cycle of exposure. This makes the work of the farmer easier when it comes to mating. Breeding can be done in grass/foragebase or pasture lambing management systems.

The adaptability of these animals is very high. This feature results partly from the places of origin where the animals used during breeding were derived. When temperatures grow cold, they develop a thick winter coat, which remains until when winter ends. At the end of winter, the thick coat is shed in preparation for hot summer months. The characteristics of the coat give them high tolerance to humidity and heat.

A high level of tolerance to internal and external parasites is another advantage of Katahdins. Comparison studies between this breed and other breeds have revealed that katahdins are more tolerant to parasites. As such, only minimal parasite treatment is needed to keep a flock healthy and safe from both internal and external parasites.




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