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KATAHDIN SHEEP
Katahdin sheep are a breed of hair sheep developed in the United States. The Katahdin breed originated at the Piel
Farm in north central Maine where Michael Piel was an innovator and amateur geneticist who enjoyed raising livestock. Katahdin
are hardy, adaptable, low maintenance sheep that produce superior lamb crops and lean, meaty carcasses. They do not
produce a fleece and therefore do not require shearing. They are medium-sized and efficient, bred for utility and for
production in a variety of management systems. Ewes have exceptional mothering ability and lamb easily; lambs are born
vigorous and alert. The breed is ideal for pasture lambing and grass/foragebased management systems. They have demonstrated
wide adaptability. They were derived from breeds that originated in the Caribbean and British Islands and the state
of Maine was their original home. In cold weather, they grow a very thick winter coat, which then sheds during warm
seasons. Their smooth hair coat and other adaptive characteristics allow them to tolerate heat and humidity well.
Katahdins are also significantly tolerant of internal and external parasites and if managed carefully require only minimal
parasite treatment.
Katahdins are docile so are easily handled. They exhibit moderate flocking instinct.
Live weight of a mature ewe in good condition usually ranges from 120 to 160 pounds; a mature ram will weigh 180 to 250
pounds. Average birth weight of twins is about 8 pounds.
Lincoln
The present-day Lincoln is said to be the result of crossing the Leicester and the coarse native sheep of Lincolnshire. Not all breeders cared for the greater refinement and increased quality that
Leicester blood introduced, but in the end, market demand resulted in improved carcasses and higher quality wool. The old
Lincolnshire sheep was gradually modified by cross breeding and selection toward a more useful sheep than the extremely large
and thin-fleshed sheep originally found in the area. Many breeders had a part in the improvement of the Lincoln sheep, but
probably the most constructive breeders were members of the Dudding family of Great Grimsby in Lincolnshire, because this
family bred Lincoln sheep for a period of about 175 years. The flock was not dispersed until 1913 and furnished many animals
for export to other countries, particularly to Argentina.
The Lincoln was first imported into the United States at the close of the eighteenth century.
The Lincoln has never become a very popular breed in the United States but has had its importance in the centralized states
and Idaho and Oregon producing purebred, grade, or crossbred rams for use on fine-wool range ewes. The breed has been more
generally popular in Canada than in the United States.
The Lincoln is usually referred to as the world's largest breed of sheep. There is little question that
the breed is entitled to this distinction because the average weights of the breed are in excess of those of other breeds,
although a few individuals of other breeds may sometimes equal their weights. Mature Lincoln rams should weigh from 250 to
350 pounds (113-160 kg), and mature ewes will range in weight from 200 to 250 pounds (90-113 kg). Lincolns are rather rectangular
in form, are deep bodied, and show great width. They are straight and strong in the back and cover thickly as mature sheep.
They sometimes lack fullness through the leg and appear somewhat upstanding when in short fleece.
The fleece of the Lincoln is carried in heavy locks that are often twisted into a spiral near the end.
Lincolns should be very well wooled to the knees and hocks, and occasionally some individuals carry wool below these points.
The staple length in Lincolns is among the longest of all the breeds, ranging from eight to fifteen inches (20-38 cm) with
a yield of 65 to 80 percent. The fleece usually parts over the back on lambs and sometimes on older sheep. Lincolns
produce the heaviest and coarsest fleeces of the long-wooled sheep with ewe fleeces weighing from 12 to 20 pounds (5.4-9kg).
The fleece has a numeric count of 36's - 46's and ranges from 41.0 to 33.5 microns in fiber diameter. Although coarse and
somewhat hair-like, the fleece does have considerable luster.
The Lincoln has a large, lean, well-muscled carcass. The Lincoln is to be considered only average in
prolificacy. Because the mature ewes are easy feeders, they sometimes become over-conditioned and do not breed as readily
as breeds that have less aptitude to take on fat. Lincolns are hearty eaters and make excellent use of an abundance of high-quality
roughage or pasture. Modern breeders have selected for a more active and stylish kind of Lincoln that does not become over-conditioned
so easily. The color markings of the Lincoln should be clear white, and the head is larger and bolder than that of the other
long-wooled breeds. The breed has developed a forelock between the ears and when protected for show, this becomes quite pronounced.
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Ewes and rams exhibit early puberty and generally have a long productive life. Mature ewes usually have twins, occasionally
producing triplets or quadruplets. A well-managed and selected flock should produce a 200% lamb crop. Rams are
aggressive breeders, generally fertile year round, and can settle a large number of ewes in the first cycle of exposure.
With selection a flock can consistently lamb throughout the year. The Katahdin ewe shows a strong, protective mothering instinct,
usually lambs without assistance, and has ample milk for her lambs.
Lambs produce a high quality, well-muscled carcass that is naturally lean and consistently offers a very mild flavor.
Lambs are comparable to other medium-sized maternal breeds in growth and cutability. Lambs are desirable for specialty
markets at a variety of ages and weights, wethers are appropriate for conventional North American markets at 95 to 115 pounds.
The hair coat of the Katahdin varies in length and texture among individuals and can be any color or color combination.
It generally consists of coarse outer hair fibers and an undercoat of fine wooly fibers that becomes very thick and longer
if cold weather sets in and day length decreases. This undercoat and some hair naturally sheds as temperature and day
length increase seasonally, leaving a shorter, smooth summer coat.
Rambouillet
The history of the Rambouillet sheep is a fascinating one that began more than two centuries ago. The Rambouillet
breed originated with Spain's famed Merino flocks, which were known from the earliest times as producers of the world's finest wool. The Spanish government
was so protective of their Merino flocks that any exportation was forbidden.
This policy changed in 1786, however, when the King of Spain granted a request from the government of France
and sent 359 carefully selected rams and ewes to help improve the native French stock. The sheep were sent to the Rambouillet
farm near Paris where, according to government records, they have been bred since 1801.
Other Merino sheep were introduced into Germany during the last quarter of the 18th century, and German breeders made extensive
use of Rambouillet sires as the sheep's fame spread throughout Europe. That is why many present day American Rambouillets
can trace their ancestry back to either German von Homeyer flocks or the flocks of Rambouillet, France.
Mature Rambouillet rams weigh between 250 and 300 pounds (113-135 kg), ewes range from 150 to 200 pounds (68-90
kg). Mature ewes will have a fleece weigh of 8 to 18 pounds (3.6-8.1 kg) with a yield of 35 to 55 percent. The
fleece staple length will vary from two to four inches (5-10 cm) and range in fiber diameter from 18.5 to 24.5 microns or
60 to 80 for the numerical count.
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