Starting a Registered Katahdin Sheep Flock!

Katahdin sheep have been a part of our farm almost as long as our farm has been a farm, but there has always been room for improvement. This summer we took a big step towards that improvement by purchasing a new Katahdin Ram and well as 8 ewes and 4 ewe lambs ... the biggest thing? They are all registered! I have a lot to learn, and I'm stepping into something that I said I wouldn't do ... have registered livestock!
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[@Rubyred1216]

There’s something deeply satisfying watching someone else struggling to herd their sheep 😂. Our two sheep escaped this morning and whoa, that was an adventure lol.

[@rafterh2181]

If you don't use a dog you can't herd sheep, but you can train them to follow you. For a few days feed them from a bucket and call them with whatever call you choose. Then when you want to pen them just walk into the pen or barn and call them they will run to you at full speed! This works with even wild sheep.

[@joshminton7278]

Good lookin sheep! Keep workin hard man you’re doin great!

[@TheBeginningFarmer]

Thanks for the encouragement!

[@wolfeyessouls7965]

I found my German shepherd to be a valuable asset to moving my katahdins...keeping them calm ...couldn't do it without my dog❣ Beautiful sheep. Mine have been so hardy.I'm impressed with this breed of sheep. Haven't milked them yet, that's next...My ram stays with the ewes all the time and is great at taking in coyotes. But most part my GSDs handle the predators for me. Enjoy your sheep, good call getting them.🐑🙂❤

[@littlewrenpastures3692]

I’m sure this is something you already know but feed them where you want to corral or sort them and when they associate you with food it’ll be much easier to get them where you want. It has worked well for me. Enjoyed your video!

[@curtcarlson83]

I use grain to get them in it works every time they can't resist it

[@iwantosavemoney]

I got 10 registered katahdin ewes about 3 months and bought a ram a couple weeks ago.

[@TheBeginningFarmer]

That's awesome! I wish I could have purchased a few more, but this is as far as the money would go ;) I will grow from within ... or the farm where I bought these from ended up keeping a small flock, so I can probably bring in some unrelated ewe lambs next year.

[@iwantosavemoney]

@@TheBeginningFarmer well I have not put the ram in with them yet I might want a few less after the lambing process and am learn and growing but really like them.

[@TheBeginningFarmer]

We too have like our Katahdins for the most part I'd say, and our customers have loved the meat ... which is very important to us ;) I'm hoping I can grow the flock a little bit in coming years, but we'll see how much the pastures can handle.

[@rickayers3150]

Never raised them. Have been thinking about raising Dorper though.

[@TheBeginningFarmer]

I do not know much about the Dorpers, but I assume many of the hair sheep breeds have some similar lineage way down the line and some planned breeding to get the characteristics they wanted.

[@shannond9945]

Why not open your wire ‘gate’ the other way..le: into the paddock....making a wider area to force them into? From experience though, some half decent stock yards are necessary, so commit when you can. I am currently rebuilding a small home made setup that was inadequate from day 1, as I was trying to save money....but paying for it now having spent so much time working harder than I needed to.

[@TheBeginningFarmer]

Good catch ... I typically do, but the post that the panel connects to rotted off at the ground (that is why it is a wire gate now and not a steel tube gate). That area was made with good intentions, but not executed well. It is on the list of things to upgrade for sure ... to be useful for pigs, sheep, and cattle.

[@shannond9945]

@@TheBeginningFarmer You are much braver than Me. I am just working the sheep for now, figuring I can trade for beef or pork. Cows are a whole different level of beast. They eat sooooooooo much more than the sheep...not to mention the effect on fencing, etc. We are in pretty poor pasturelands though, which also comes into the equation. Also currently working on ‘training’ a Border Collie to help with herding....but she is a work in progress. On a long rope, she is already a help though, as when the sheep look to blast past me, she closes the door....without then being able to chase and cause issues beyond those which she was supposed to help correct. 😂

[@TheBeginningFarmer]

@@shannond9945 I have a farmer friend that trained his herding dog for his pastured pig operation. He would use the dog to help sort sows … that would be my ultimate goal!!

[@rafterh2181]

would you please get a good border collie or even better a Kelpie you killing me watching you trying to work these sheep. A dog will spoil you!

[@michelefritchie6198]

Get yourself a couple of herding dogs.

[@Shiloh3498]

Where is your farm?

[@throwback336]

I like the sheep... with carrots and potatoes. I'd rather raise them then goats, but my daughter likes goats so we've got some.

[@TheBeginningFarmer]

Goats is one thing we’ve never had, but we came close to dairy goats until we ended up with our bottle heifer. Now we’ll just milk her in rev future.

[@richardheinen1126]

There is a “black sheep of the family” 🤣

[@TheBeginningFarmer]

Yeah, there is a black ewe and a black ewe lamb ... they were kind of hard to pass on because they were so unique in their coloring :)

[@circlethewagons]

@@TheBeginningFarmer Unique you say, I agree. I find it quite disturbing that the color is NOT on the registration papers. Every registered animal I own or have owned the color is ALWAYS listed on the registration papers, but not with the Katahadins and I would really like it added. Considering the price you have to pay to register the lambs and 25 extra bucks to name it, I feel short-changed, plus the annual cost of membership 50 some odd $. What's your feelings ?