Why Katahdin Hair Sheep?

There are a few reasons that we chose Katahdin’s for our sheep on the farm. For starters we absolutely knew that we did not want to be shearing. I learned all about that in 4-H and really just did not want to mess with it. If we did not have plans for the wool, I just did not see the reason to mess with wool sheep.
​
What is a hair sheep? A hair sheep is exactly what it sounds like! It grows hair instead of wool. And this hair actually sheds in the spring time, allowing the sheep to be cooler for the spring and summer months. The hair will grow back in the fall to keep them warm over the winter.

Katahdin’s traditionally used only for meat production as a mid sized breed but are also used for milk in some areas. Ewes typically have good maternal instincts, which is a good trait when you want to your farm to run itself. If you are constantly ending up with bottle babies and hand rearing animals, there is going to be a lot of time that is better spent.

A great trait of the Katahdin’s is they are great grazers. One of our goals when picking our ruminants was to make sure Stephen did not have to spend too much time mowing each week. We believe we have put together a great group of livestock that will keep our soil and grass healthy, while also keeping it trimmed to a manageable level.

Katahdin’s are adaptable to many climates and are proven to be resistant to parasites that usually plague other sheep breeds. This is highly dependent on the genetics of your given sheep, but is part of the breed as well.

We have enjoyed our Katahdin’s so far! And definitely enjoy their lean and mild flavored meat!