Katadin Sheep- a hair sheep.  They shed their wool (hair).  They are more disease and parasite resistant than other sheep, and therefore easier for an old couple (like us) to care for them.  However, it is said that they are more skittish than other breeds of sheep. And it seems that is a true statement in our case at least. 

We have a pact, Allen and I, that every animal on the farm has to serve a purpose.

About 2 years ago, we bought a Ram and Ewe Katadin sheep.  The purpose was to raise our own lamb for the freezer.   

Of course, our first lamb was a ewe lamb and so we kept her for breeding.  Delyla (on the left above) with her first lamb Ruthy.  Delyla's mother died last summer and so we replaced her with the ewe (on the right above), Grace.  Grace had her first ram lamb this past February and we had him processed for the freezer in September.  Now we have 3 ewes and the ram.  So far, the sheep have had their lambs without help.  They are very protective mothers.

This is Clyde.  He is full Katadin Ram Sheep.  He does not let us pet him or help him shed.  He is VERY protective of his girls.  Most of the time he stays in a pen alone next to them so he can see them.  (We made that mistake once - story to follow) He was about a year old here in this picture and has continued to grow.  We had to get help this Spring to trim his feet.  I thought I would try to pet him once and he rammed my arm so hard I thought he broke it.  But I love the colors that he produces in the lambs.  They have his thick muscled structure as well.  In my opinion, that muscle makes a bigger, better steak.

The Power of CLYDE 

It was Summer, we had a smaller pasture that the grass had grown up a bit, so we decided to put Clyde in there to eat that area down.  It was a ways away from the ewes, but he should have been able to see them.  The pasture was built with Cattle panels, and we thought it was strong.  It also had an electric wire across the top. We got him moved in and secured the gate, fresh water, all the things... and went about our day. 

 Awhile later towards evening, I happened to glance out towards the barn and there he was in all his magnificent glory, standing next to the ewe pen trying to figure out how to get in with them.  I got Allen and we went out there not sure what we were in for.  He is huge and he is NOT NICE!  He had tried to head butt us on several occasions.  We discovered the Cattle panel had been torn away from the post and bent in HALF mind you, so that he could be FREE!  Those panels are not easy to bend either.  We put him back in the pen that he had been in before moving him and he was very happy to be near his girls once again.  So, lesson learned - - - Don't put a Ram sheep where he can't see his flock.  At least this guy.

 

 

One of the smaller steaks

from our first lamb.