Breeding Stock from our extensive pasture reared-pasture raised model.
The katahdin flock selected and maintained by World Shepherd places emphasis on a balanced animal with good meat production and yield characteristics. We expect twins after the first year and with the vigor to survive outside year round without artificial structures for shelter.
We take advantage of mixed woods and pasture paddocks in our system. Mixed pine and hardwood areas are bedding grounds, shade, and provide pine straw for lambing. We manage timber, pasture, watershed lakes, natural springs, and sheep in our sustainable production system.
Good flocking instinct and docile temperament insure ease of handling. Guardian dogs are used in each paddock.
We take a tough approach on selection. A successful breeder is ruthless and relentless in removing any cull faults or any animal that is unproductive.
With high rainfall in our Piedmont section of Georgia, our sheep must survive parasite challenges and have strong feet and legs. Foot issues have no place in our system. We make use of fecal egg counts and growth rate in selection.
Respiratory disease is non-existent in our flock. We do not use antibiotics for this purpose.
The flock is vaccinated against Clostridial diseases but the most significant protection from Clostridial entities comes from allowing the flock to be ruminants and by not feeding simple sugars, cereal grains, or molasses. Supplements occasionally come in the form of dehydrated alfalfa, soy hull pellets, and lespedeza pellets. Routinely sampling tissue concentrations of copper and selenium is helpful in supplying correct mineral nutrition.
When our lambs are processed for the customer, each is identity preserved and ACTUAL yield data is used in selection criteria for future matings.
Each year the lower end of our eweling flock for parasite resistance and growth rate goes to slaughter. This insures that we stay focused on a strain of sheep that requires a minimum of management inputs.
We sell breeding stock and breeding stock genetics. This is available in the form of live animals, embryos, and semen.
The breed . The stock. The Lamb . ……..the Concept.
The Katahdin breed began by intent to be woolless, meat type, high fertility , and high flocking instinct. It has a short but rich history with roots in Maine ,the home to Mount Katahdin, Africa, the Virgin Islands , and the British Isles.
Maine, Vermont , and Arkansas can all lay some claim to enhancement and improvement of the breed. “A meat sheep that does not require shearing”.
The stock.
A single purpose sheep. Meat. Flavorful,tender,wholesome.
Bred on pasture, lambed on pasture, raised on pasture. Able to thrive in a wide band of latitudes, this North American sheep can produce in most of the Americas. There are desert hair sheep that thrive with little or no rainfall.
The Katahdin can compete in desert conditions and in tropical conditions.
It’s carribean heritage allows it to compete in the presence of high rainfall and high parasite challenge. Dry or wet….. a prolific competitor. Solid wide mouth and head. Designed by the Creator to graze and browse efficiently. Medium height, lots of thickness on a level well balanced top line. Efficient locomotion with strong tough hooves and feet. Their skin is thicker than most wool sheep. There is no need for crutching,shearing, and lots of handling. The ewes twin without assistance in variable weather conditions with bonding jugs and raise nearly all the lambs. Milk production is good and mastitis is rare. A sound ram of known heritage can handle a large number of ewes in his harem. Lambing intervals should be tight.
It is routine to lamb in spring and fall with a majority preferring spring.
