A Brief History of the Katahdin Sheep
The Katahdin breed began in the late 1950's when a man by the
name of Michael Piel of Maine imported a small number of African
Hair Sheep from St. Croix in the Virgin Islands. His intent was to
develop a better sheep for meat production. His goal was selecting
for hair coat, meat type, conformation, high fertility, and flocking
instinct.
After many crosses, in the early 1970's Michael selected 120
ewes from his flock and called them Katahdin sheep after Mt.
Katahdin, Maine's highest mountain.
In October 1975 he imported the Wiltshire Horn sheep from
Wales to add size and bone to the Katahdin.
In the mid 1970's the first satellite flock of Katahdins were
created with a purchase of Katahdins by Paul and Margaret Jepson of
Vermont. The Jepson's incorporated the St. Croix sheep into their
flock in the early 1980's.
Later the Wiltshire Horn genetics were lessened in the
Katahdin breed as the presence of horns were not desired.
As time has progressed on, the Katahdin sheep has become well
established with over 75,000 registered Katahdins in North America.
The breed has spread to Central and South America, Southeast Asia,
the United Kingdom, and the Caribbean.
Razeck Farms Sheep Credentials