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We have a mixed flock of around 100 ewes, mostly Ile de France, Dorset and Polypay-cross commercial ewes. Katahdins were added in 2003. NSIP participation started in 2006 and included the previous years’ records. We have about 35 Katahdins and crosses lambing in April and May 2009. We like their mothering ability, prolificacy, moderate size for great feed conversion, plus good feet and hair coats. Their easy-care traits fit well in our pasture-based system.
The 40-acre farm is located in beautiful southwestern Wisconsin and was purchased from descendants of the original settlers. It is mostly rolling pastures with a small dairy bank barn built in 1917, a spring-fed creek that runs through most of the pastures, with trees and two small woodlots for great shade. The sheep have access to shelter when needed. Sheep heaven!
Several friends and neighbors have recently joined the Katahdin family. We share stock and resources among us, including rams and knowledge. The Katahdin Expos have been great learning experiences.
Present goals are to:
1. Grow the registered and purebred flock carefully.
2. Keep good records on individuals and how they are producing. Concentrate on easy-care ewes and good weaning rates. Cull the poor performers now and replace them with something better, or breed them to terminal sires.
3. Have stock checked for scrapie susceptibility and parasite resistance traits.
4. Promote sheep in general and Katahdins in particular. Also advocate the use of trained stock dogs to make life easier. In our case this means Border collies for herding and Polish Tatras for flock protection.
5. Investigate ways to add value to anything we produce.
6. Keep learning. Maybe that should be goal 1!
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We should have some ewe lambs available from the spring 2009 crop. Ram lambs are usually by advance reservation only. Most of them are castrated for management reasons. Wethers available for stockdog training, butcher lambs, pasture management, etc. We do refer inquiries to other local producers.
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Photos:
Tia TCW 114 with her triplet daughters sired by Dave SAU 246 (top left)
Cocoa BAN 03-28 with twin ewe lambs (center left)
Cinnamon PNP 06-40 with ram lamb PNP 07-512 (bottom left)
Head ram Yogi JF 07024 (bottom right)
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Katahdin