Ridgetop
Herd Master
At auctions what you buy is what you get. The auction can only tell buyers what they have been told by the sellers. I tell the auction what I am bringing in and supply tag numbers on the transport slip with the information. I keep a copy of the slip as well. If the sellers think their sheep are Katahdins, that is what they will tell the auction. If they are crosses and one breed is popular, they may tell them that breed. Usually they just dorp them off and it is anyone's guess.
Registered Katahdin breeding standards require full shed and can be any color. By selecting for shedding as you breed your Katahdins or Katahdin crosses, you will eventually reach that goal. The Katahdin stud book is open and you can breed up to registered stock through recorded grades. By breeding a registered ram or ewe to Katahdin crosses and other breeds for 4 generations you can end up with registered sheep. Progeny with one registered parent can be recorded with the Katahdin organization as recorded grades. I believe it takes 4 generations of recorded grade Katahdins (bred to registered rams at each generation) to reach registered status. At that point, I you need to have your 4th generation recorded grade inspected by a Katahdin inspector to be approved for full registration status. The hair coat and full shed is the main inspection point. Baymule & Mike CHS please correct me on this.
Starting your sheep project with grades is a good way to learn about raising sheep without the expense of investing in registered stock. If you decide to eventually have a registered Katahdin flock, adding registered rams is the most economical way to proceed through recorded grade to registration. Ask Baymule about this process.
If your sheep grow out a lot of wool they are probably not pure Katahdins. If they shed partially, they may be Katahdin/Dorper crosses.
I don't know about Katahdins, since I have white Dorpers, but you won't have a true picture of shedding in Dorpers until they are 2 years old. And shedding can vary from year to year depending on the weather. Dorpers don't carry a heavy wool coat like wool sheep, and there are hairs mixed in the wool which makes if a poor wool for spinning. By now Dorpers/White Dorpers have shed out. Some Dorpers will be completely shed out while others have the mohawk along the spine. Dorper breed requirements are a mix of wool and hair. All hair/no wool is against the standard, and the South African breeders prefer the mohawk over the spine for protection against their weather and thorns. Here are some pix of my White Dorpers in various stages of shedding - Partially shed out ewe in front, others in various stages behind.
Bottom picture shows many clean shed ewes while others are carrying mohawks or blankets. Lambs don't carry a lot of wool but don't have a proper shed out until they are yearlings.
I have reached 30% fully shedding in my White Dorper flock. I prefer this full shed but have to make sure that I keep the correct % of wool and hair blend. In Dorper shows most people slick shear BUT you have to leave enough of the coat so the judge can determine that there is both wool and hair on the back.
Congratulations on your sheep purchase! Let us know what happens.
Registered Katahdin breeding standards require full shed and can be any color. By selecting for shedding as you breed your Katahdins or Katahdin crosses, you will eventually reach that goal. The Katahdin stud book is open and you can breed up to registered stock through recorded grades. By breeding a registered ram or ewe to Katahdin crosses and other breeds for 4 generations you can end up with registered sheep. Progeny with one registered parent can be recorded with the Katahdin organization as recorded grades. I believe it takes 4 generations of recorded grade Katahdins (bred to registered rams at each generation) to reach registered status. At that point, I you need to have your 4th generation recorded grade inspected by a Katahdin inspector to be approved for full registration status. The hair coat and full shed is the main inspection point. Baymule & Mike CHS please correct me on this.
Starting your sheep project with grades is a good way to learn about raising sheep without the expense of investing in registered stock. If you decide to eventually have a registered Katahdin flock, adding registered rams is the most economical way to proceed through recorded grade to registration. Ask Baymule about this process.
If your sheep grow out a lot of wool they are probably not pure Katahdins. If they shed partially, they may be Katahdin/Dorper crosses.
I don't know about Katahdins, since I have white Dorpers, but you won't have a true picture of shedding in Dorpers until they are 2 years old. And shedding can vary from year to year depending on the weather. Dorpers don't carry a heavy wool coat like wool sheep, and there are hairs mixed in the wool which makes if a poor wool for spinning. By now Dorpers/White Dorpers have shed out. Some Dorpers will be completely shed out while others have the mohawk along the spine. Dorper breed requirements are a mix of wool and hair. All hair/no wool is against the standard, and the South African breeders prefer the mohawk over the spine for protection against their weather and thorns. Here are some pix of my White Dorpers in various stages of shedding - Partially shed out ewe in front, others in various stages behind.
Bottom picture shows many clean shed ewes while others are carrying mohawks or blankets. Lambs don't carry a lot of wool but don't have a proper shed out until they are yearlings.
I have reached 30% fully shedding in my White Dorper flock. I prefer this full shed but have to make sure that I keep the correct % of wool and hair blend. In Dorper shows most people slick shear BUT you have to leave enough of the coat so the judge can determine that there is both wool and hair on the back.
Congratulations on your sheep purchase! Let us know what happens.
we’re making progress with her. She has been difficult to catch lately so when she runs from me I really make her run hard, it works!! Yesterday she tried to evade me by zigzagging in and out of the barn, I played lead mare and decided it was MY barn and I didn’t want her anywhere near it, so I chased her out into the pasture and lunged at her anytime she took a step near the barn. After two minutes of keeping her away, i let her walk into the barn and she stood there while we got her haltered. She’s in for a rude awakening that she is not the boss.
and I definitely will be!
