Katahdin are a breed a hair sheep developed in the United States. They originated at the Piel Farm in north central Maine where Michael Piel was an innovator and "amateur geneticist". He began making inquiries about hair sheep after seeing pictures in a National Geographic of West African hair sheep which he would later import for crossbreeding. He mixed Cheviots, Suffolks (with the help of LSU), and many others to try and produce the lamb he was looking for. In the early 1970s, Piel felt he had come close to his goal of a "meat sheep that did not require shearing." He called them Katahdin sheep after Mt. Katahdin, the highest peak in Maine. In October 1975, Piel imported a handful of Wiltshire Horn sheep from Wales via Canada. The first crosses were born in 1976. The crossing continued even after his death in December of 1976 with Barbara Piel. Paul and Margaret Jepson of Vermont were looking for Wiltshire Horn Stock in the 1970's and after getting acquainted with the Piels, decided the Katahdins would suit them better. Their flock became the first satellite flock away from the Piel farm. Interest in Katahdins grew and by 2008, the Katahdin Hair Sheep International which was incorporated in 1985, had registered over 75,000 sheep in North America with over 500 members.

History of the Katahdin Hair Sheep

Breed

Helpful Links

Katahdin Hair Sheep International (KHSI) KHSI Register Sheep - with registration forms & info. A Guide To Katahdin Hair Sheep Premier Supplies Armstrong Ag & Supply, Dean Armstrong 740-357-3367 Sydell Equipment American Lamb Sheep 101 Sheep 201 USDA Sheep Auction Reports Lamb Burgers Becoming a Trend USDA Sheep Reports Ask USDA
Contact Information: Jean AdamsPromotion and Web Contact   (337) 515-4240
© 2024 South Central Katahdin Association • All Rights Reserved • No portion of this website may be reproduced without the express written consent of SCKA.
South Central Katahdin Association South Central Katahdin Association
Katahdin are a breed a hair sheep developed in the United States. They originated at the Piel Farm in north central Maine where Michael Piel was an innovator and "amateur geneticist". He began making inquiries about hair sheep after seeing pictures in a National Geographic of West African hair sheep which he would later import for crossbreeding. He mixed Cheviots, Suffolks (with the help of LSU), and many others to try and produce the lamb he was looking for. In the early 1970s, Piel felt he had come close to his goal of a "meat sheep that did not require shearing." He called them Katahdin sheep after Mt. Katahdin, the highest peak in Maine. In October 1975, Piel imported a handful of Wiltshire Horn sheep from Wales via Canada. The first crosses were born in 1976. The crossing continued even after his death in December of 1976 with Barbara Piel. Paul and Margaret Jepson of Vermont were looking for Wiltshire Horn Stock in the 1970's and after getting acquainted with the Piels, decided the Katahdins would suit them better. Their flock became the first satellite flock away from the Piel farm. Interest in Katahdins grew and by 2008, the Katahdin Hair Sheep International which was incorporated in 1985, had registered over 75,000 sheep in North America with over 500 members.

History of the Katahdin Hair Sheep Breed

Katahdin Hair Sheep International (KHSI) KHSI Register Sheep - with registration forms & info. A Guide To Katahdin Hair Sheep Premier Supplies Armstrong Ag & Supply, Dean Armstrong 740-357-3367 Sydell Equipment

Helpful Links

South Central Katahdin Association South Central Katahdin Association Contact Information: Jean Adams, Promotion and Web Contact  (337) 515-4240
© 2024 South Central Katahdin Association • All Rights Reserved • No portion of this website may be reproduced without the express written consent of South Central Katahdin Association.