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Welcome to the Red Barn Katahdin's Breeders Page. We began this “hobby” of raising sheep that has turned into a passion with 20 bred ewes in the fall of 1999 and now run about an 80 head ewe flock on 14 acres. We have our pasture divided into 13 paddocks that we rotational graze May thru October. November-January feeding often consists of average (cost effective) grass hay. February- Weaning quality alfalfa hay, shell corn is used when needed for ewes during lactation. We typically lamb February-March each year with lambs ready for new homes by mid May.
Our farm’s biggest strength begins with our ability to produce functional, well balanced ewes that consistently have AND RAISE twins and triplets unassisted. We have achieved a 240% lamb crop the last 3 years. In turn those lambs must take to pasture and grow at an acceptable rate until such time they are sold as breeding stock or sold to the local meat market. We have been involved with the NSIP (National Sheep Improvement Program) for 5 years. Our Maternal Milk EPD and Lbs of lambs weaned EPD is what helps us achieve this. Many of our ewes and almost every lamb ranks in the 90th percentile for these traits. This means ewes that have plenty of milk to feed triplets and the instinct to raise them. More lambs at weaning equals more money in your pocket when it comes time to sell your animals. When hay is 150.00 a ton and corn is pushing 5.00 a bushel…..well every lamb counts!
We are a Certified Scrapie Free Flock with a May 2000 Date
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We keep accurate production records on our flock and carefully select replacement animals to improve production and consistency each year. Records include birth weights, 60 day weights, 120 day weights, birth types and ewes lambing ease. We select for balanced, positive EPDs, with hair coat and hoof color being the tiebreakers. ;)
Thanks for checking with us.
Steve, Melissa, Katie, Chelsea, Megan and Paige
3450 Quail Ave
Manly, Iowa 50456
(641)420-7535
redbarnkatahdins@yahoo.com
***When emailing please check your junk mail/spam mail for replies.***
For more information and photos check out our website at:
http://www.redbarnkatahdins.250x.com
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Photo 1: A view of our front pastures.
Photo 2: Ewe lambs on a warm summer evening.
Photo 3: Ewes & lambs coming back from pasture.
Photo 4: Ewes at the feeders on a winter morning.
For sale 6/25/09
Registered QR/RR Ewe Lambs. Born March to May. Codon testing pending, but at least QR on all lambs. $200 to $300 ea, discounts for quantity purchases of 10 or more.
Registered QR/RR Ram Lambs. 300-500 Each. This years crop looks to be exceptional. Over 10 Rams with pedigree EPDs in the 95th percentile for 60 and 120 day weights, Maternal Milk and total lbs of lamb weaned.
50+ commercial Ewes and Ewe lambs. Call for pricing
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Katahdin