Raising Katahdin Hair Sheep For Sale
Everyone the world over want to make it big in their chosen business or professions. Right now you have a bit of land under your name. You want to raise some katahdin sheep, put up a katahdin hair sheep for sale sign, and wait for the money to come in. This is a noble dream and goal, but you will need a bit of information that an article like this can give so do read on.
Katahdins strangely enough despite their foreign sounding name comes from right here in the United States. It is named after Mt. Katahdin, the highest peak in Maine. It is a domestic breed of sheep developed in the late 1950s by Michael Piel who crossbred selected St. Croix sheep with other breeds including the Suffolk. In time two genetic varieties of the Katahdin arose, one being very hairless and raised primarily for meat, while the other which has hair and produces the highest quality wool.
Sheep do not also require so much land for grazing when compared to other livestock such as cows. A basic rule of thumb is to have at least one acre for every six heads that you have. So for the case of 100 sheep, be prepared to allocate at least 30 acres. These animals also give birth on average every four to five months a year, so you can expect a doubling of your entire flock in less than a year, especially if a majority of them are ewes.
The main strength of the Katahdin is that it can adapt to most environments. In addition to this they are also very resistant to parasites as well. This latter trait of course was inherited from its St. Croix parents. These very admirable trait, plus the fact that it is a fairly low maintenance breed, makes this particular sheep quite popular for those starting out in commercial shepherding.
Most katahdins will have a 200% lamb crop, which means that 200% of its offspring can be marketed or be good enough for breeding. In layman terms, just think of it as two lambs per ewe. Thus if you are using this breed for meat purposes, the highest value it can have is if the lamb is sold at less than a year old.
These animals are considered as medium to large sized grazing stock. Upon maturity the males can get as large as 114 kilos, while females around 72 kilos. They are fairly easy to handle and manage despite their large size and a beginning shepherd will have no problem with a starter flock. A starter flock is basically twenty ewes and one ram.
Once you have decided on getting a starter flock, then you will need to have three things prepared ahead of time. First you should prepare a sheep proof fence to corral your sheep in. Next you will need either one or more guardian dogs to keep away predators and other creatures. And lastly but most importantly you will need a lambing shed or shelter for future lambs from your ewes.
In sum this article has given you some basic ideas about raising this kind of sheep. It may also help further if you will do further market analysis to see if it is a viable venture for you or not. In, any case always try to get as much information as possible.
Katahdins strangely enough despite their foreign sounding name comes from right here in the United States. It is named after Mt. Katahdin, the highest peak in Maine. It is a domestic breed of sheep developed in the late 1950s by Michael Piel who crossbred selected St. Croix sheep with other breeds including the Suffolk. In time two genetic varieties of the Katahdin arose, one being very hairless and raised primarily for meat, while the other which has hair and produces the highest quality wool.
Sheep do not also require so much land for grazing when compared to other livestock such as cows. A basic rule of thumb is to have at least one acre for every six heads that you have. So for the case of 100 sheep, be prepared to allocate at least 30 acres. These animals also give birth on average every four to five months a year, so you can expect a doubling of your entire flock in less than a year, especially if a majority of them are ewes.
The main strength of the Katahdin is that it can adapt to most environments. In addition to this they are also very resistant to parasites as well. This latter trait of course was inherited from its St. Croix parents. These very admirable trait, plus the fact that it is a fairly low maintenance breed, makes this particular sheep quite popular for those starting out in commercial shepherding.
Most katahdins will have a 200% lamb crop, which means that 200% of its offspring can be marketed or be good enough for breeding. In layman terms, just think of it as two lambs per ewe. Thus if you are using this breed for meat purposes, the highest value it can have is if the lamb is sold at less than a year old.
These animals are considered as medium to large sized grazing stock. Upon maturity the males can get as large as 114 kilos, while females around 72 kilos. They are fairly easy to handle and manage despite their large size and a beginning shepherd will have no problem with a starter flock. A starter flock is basically twenty ewes and one ram.
Once you have decided on getting a starter flock, then you will need to have three things prepared ahead of time. First you should prepare a sheep proof fence to corral your sheep in. Next you will need either one or more guardian dogs to keep away predators and other creatures. And lastly but most importantly you will need a lambing shed or shelter for future lambs from your ewes.
In sum this article has given you some basic ideas about raising this kind of sheep. It may also help further if you will do further market analysis to see if it is a viable venture for you or not. In, any case always try to get as much information as possible.
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Get an overview of important factors to keep in mind when choosing a sheep breeder and more information about Katahdin hair sheep for sale at http://www.stablerockkatahdins.com now.
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