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
© 2024 South Central Katahdin Association
• All Rights Reserved •
No portion of this
website may be reproduced without the
express written consent of SCKA.
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
•
American Lamb
•
Sheep 101
•
Sheep 201
•
USDA Sheep Auction Reports
•
Lamb Burgers Becoming a Trend
•
USDA Sheep Reports
•
Ask USDA
Helpful Links
© 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.
