The 20th century especially in its mid-years in United States featured engineering of new breeds in the agricultural sector. This saw the introduction of domestic sheep called katahdins. The animal was first reared in Maine regions close to Katahdin mountain, hence the naming. The crossbreeding and research was under an amateur geneticist named Micheal Piel. His major objective was to develop a type of sheep with high fertility, meat type conformation, better flocking instinct and good hair coat.
His research work was directed at producing ewes and rams with hair coats and not wool. Non-wool producing breed was required because of the high cost of shearing and the low price of wool. The new breed had better mothering qualities compared to their parents. For hardy and docile Katahdin sheep Kentucky is worth visiting. They show high resistance to both internal and external parasites. Being docile they are easy to handle.
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 time frame in, which females can be bred on condition that they must have attained the recommended size and weight. Emphasis must be put on weight but not size. When females are 2/3 the normal size of mature ewes it the ideal time to breed them. A first-time mum ought to be fed and managed in seclusion away from mature females until the lambs are weaned. This is a better way of building their protective instinct.
Females and males mature early and show prolonged productive life. Rams are reliable breeders with the capability of fertilizing the whole year. A single ram may serve many females in the first wave of exposure. Females and males may be applied in crossbreeding. First time generation lambs between katahdins and other breeds of wool sheep are covered with wool fleeces.
It takes about three generations or more depending on the breed of interbred wool animal to develop offspring with purebred characteristics such as shedding hair coats. The texture and length of hair coats differs on every sheep. Katahdins appear in several pure or a combination of different colors. Red, brown, white and black are some of the common colors. Some have unique patterns or spots.
Lambs provide healthy quality lean meat. Fatty acid quantity of their meat is determined by diet. Their meat has both important omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. They obtain fatty acids from the grass, though diets with particular oils and fats may achieve the same purpose. Details on the kind of oils or fats to give them must be prescribed by a licensed veterinary. This is crucial for health reasons.
Katahdins are tough animals with eating habits similar to that of goats. They eat anything ranging from smooth barks of deciduous trees to weeds. They stand on hind legs to reach leaves and strip tree barks. They can be destructive if not controlled. Katahdin lambs have a habit of climbing on hay and any plants. To prevent this, bale rings should be placed around trees and plants that a person wishes to protect.
His research work was directed at producing ewes and rams with hair coats and not wool. Non-wool producing breed was required because of the high cost of shearing and the low price of wool. The new breed had better mothering qualities compared to their parents. For hardy and docile Katahdin sheep Kentucky is worth visiting. They show high resistance to both internal and external parasites. Being docile they are easy to handle.
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 time frame in, which females can be bred on condition that they must have attained the recommended size and weight. Emphasis must be put on weight but not size. When females are 2/3 the normal size of mature ewes it the ideal time to breed them. A first-time mum ought to be fed and managed in seclusion away from mature females until the lambs are weaned. This is a better way of building their protective instinct.
Females and males mature early and show prolonged productive life. Rams are reliable breeders with the capability of fertilizing the whole year. A single ram may serve many females in the first wave of exposure. Females and males may be applied in crossbreeding. First time generation lambs between katahdins and other breeds of wool sheep are covered with wool fleeces.
It takes about three generations or more depending on the breed of interbred wool animal to develop offspring with purebred characteristics such as shedding hair coats. The texture and length of hair coats differs on every sheep. Katahdins appear in several pure or a combination of different colors. Red, brown, white and black are some of the common colors. Some have unique patterns or spots.
Lambs provide healthy quality lean meat. Fatty acid quantity of their meat is determined by diet. Their meat has both important omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. They obtain fatty acids from the grass, though diets with particular oils and fats may achieve the same purpose. Details on the kind of oils or fats to give them must be prescribed by a licensed veterinary. This is crucial for health reasons.
Katahdins are tough animals with eating habits similar to that of goats. They eat anything ranging from smooth barks of deciduous trees to weeds. They stand on hind legs to reach leaves and strip tree barks. They can be destructive if not controlled. Katahdin lambs have a habit of climbing on hay and any plants. To prevent this, bale rings should be placed around trees and plants that a person wishes to protect.
About the Author:
If you want the best source for Katahdin sheep Kentucky has to offer, come to Stablerock Katahdin. Contact us early if you are interested in this years registered Katahdin ewe lambs, and you can find us online right now at http://www.stablerockkatahdins.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment