Breed
Standards
Katahdin Sheep originated in the
late 1950's in the USA. They
are named after Mt Katahdin in Maine and were developed by Michael Piel.
Katahdins are a recognized breed of
shedding sheep and are registered through the Canadian Livestock Records
Corporation. Standards are
set out in the CKSA Breed Guidebook available for viewing at www.katahdinsheep.com
Registered animals are inspected by a certified CKSA
inspector to ensure breed conformation and hair coat standards are met. Only 100% pure Katahdin Sheep may be registered.
Recently a new by-law has been
implemented pertaining to registering and line breeding.
The amended by-law will now require that a service ram not be
related to the ewe or to her parents. Formerly, the ram could also not
be related to any of the ewe’s grandparents. This will allow a number
of sheep that were formerly disqualified for line breeding to be
registered. Parents of a service ram must not be immediately related
either to the serviced ewe, her parents, or to any of her 4
grandparents.
The ideal Canadian registered
Katahdin Sheep is polled and has a coat that sheds completely seasonally
and is naturally free of visible woolly fibers in the summer. It is a
heavily muscled animal with strong, thick legs, long loin, good depth,
good overall size, and proportionally balanced throughout.
Katahdin
Sheep have been shown at major agricultural fairs throughout the Prairie
Provinces. And, 2010 will mark the 15th Showing of Katahdins at the
Canadian Western Agribition in Regina, SK. |
