Katahdin sheep
The Katahdin is an American meat sheep with a hair coat that sheds each spring, so it never needs shearing. It is medium-sized (ewes 120–160 lb, rams 180–250 lb), docile and easy to handle, copes well with heat and humidity, and showed more parasite resistance than the wool sheep it was compared with in Arkansas trials. Ewes usually have twins and lamb without help; lambs were listed at $250–600 in autumn 2026 classifieds.
- Temperament
- Docile, Easily handled
- Cold tolerance
- Heat tolerance
Is the Katahdin right for you?
Good fit if
- You want meat lambs and don't want to shear or can't find a shearer
- You live somewhere hot and humid
- You're new to sheep and want a docile, low-maintenance breed
- You want ewes that twin and lamb on pasture without help
Poor fit if
- You want wool. Katahdins grow hair that sheds
- You want a sheep that flocks tightly. The flocking instinct is moderate
Appearance and varieties
A Katahdin is a medium-sized, heavily muscled sheep with a hair coat and an alert look. The coat can be any colour or combination of colours, and length and texture vary between sheep. A ram's neck may carry a mane of hair.
In autumn, as days shorten and the weather cools, a thick undercoat of fine woolly fibres grows under the coarse outer hair. In spring the undercoat and some hair shed, leaving a short, smooth summer coat. The breed standard prefers a coat free of permanent woolly fibres.
Polled sheep are preferred, but horns and scurs are acceptable. Tails are preferably left undocked except on market lambs.12
Temperament and handling
Oklahoma State describes Katahdins as docile and easily handled, with a moderate flocking instinct. Ewes have a strong, protective mothering instinct and usually lamb without help.2
Animals vary within a breed. Treat this as what to expect, not a promise, and meet the animal before you buy if you can.
Production numbers
What our sources report for the breed. If two sources disagree, you see the full range.
| Measure | Typical | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lamb crop | Up to 200% in a well-managed flock; mature ewes usually twin2 | |
| Birth weight | About 8 lb for twins2 | |
| Market weight | Wethers 95–115 lb for conventional North American markets2 | |
| Breeding season | Rams generally fertile year-round; with selection a flock can lamb throughout the year2 | |
| Gestation | About 147 days7 | Sheep in general; varies by breed. |
Housing, feed and health
Housing
For sheep in general, UMass Extension says they can cope with harsh weather without a building if they have forage, water and protection from the wind, but recommends housing for winter lambing. Its recommended pen space is 10–14 sq ft per ewe, 16–20 sq ft per pair of ewe and lambs and 20–30 sq ft per ram.
Wisconsin Extension recommends a high-tensile electric fence of at least five strands, spaced about 6, 5, 5, 8 and 10 in from the ground.67
Feed
Oklahoma State calls the Katahdin ideal for pasture lambing and grass- and forage-based systems.
For sheep in general, Wisconsin Extension says the key is good forage and clean, fresh water, with dry hay in winter and some supplemental grain. Ewes need more and better feed in the last 4–6 weeks of pregnancy and the 6 weeks after lambing, and fresh water every day for the 6 weeks before lambing.27
Health
Katahdins are notably tolerant of internal and external parasites, and Oklahoma State says that with careful management they need only minimal parasite treatment. The breed society reports trials in Arkansas in which Katahdins showed significantly more parasite resistance than the wool sheep they were compared with.
For sheep in general, Wisconsin Extension says hooves may need trimming two or more times a year, and that new animals are the most common way disease gets into a flock. Work out a biosecurity plan with your vet before you buy.
This is a starting point, not veterinary advice. If a sheep stops eating or seems unwell, call a vet who treats sheep, or your county extension office.217
Price and where to buy
| Quality | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Lamb, registered or commercial | $250–$6004 |
| Adult ewe | $325–$38045 |
| Ram, yearling or older | $225–$5504 |
Per animal, from classified ads read on 17 October 2026; the breed society's ads are dated August to October 2026. In the breed society's ads, lambs born in 2026 were listed at $250–600 (a registered ram lamb at $400, commercial ewe lambs at $250, a ewe lamb at $600); registered ewes two to three years old at $325–375 and commercial ewes at $350; rams at $225–550. A Farm and Dairy ad, which shows no date, offered ewes from that spring's lambs to three years old at $380 each. Registered stock usually costs a little more than commercial stock.
Where to look
Start with a breeder you can visit. Nobody pays to be on this list.
| Seller or directory | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Katahdin Hair Sheep International classifieds | Breed society | Dated ads from members, kept up for 60 days |
| Katahdin Hair Sheep International membership directory | Breed society | |
| National Sheep Improvement Program Katahdin breeder map | Directory | Breeders recording performance data with NSIP |
| Farm and Dairy classifieds | Classifieds |
Similar breeds
| Breed | Ewe weight | Ram weight | Beginner | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Katahdin (this breed) | 120–160 lb | 180–250 lb | $225–$600 | |
| Dorper | 156–209 lb | 205–233 lb |
History
Michael Piel of north central Maine wanted a meat sheep that didn't need shearing. In November 1957 he imported three hair sheep lambs from St. Croix in the Virgin Islands and began crossing them with Tunis, Southdown, Hampshire, Suffolk and other breeds, selecting for hair coat, meat conformation, fertility and flocking instinct.
In the early 1970s he picked about 120 of his best ewes and called them Katahdins, after Mt. Katahdin, Maine's highest peak. Wiltshire Horn blood was added from 1975 for size, but it brought horns and a flightier temperament, and the flock was later selected away from it. Heifer Project International built a large flock in Arkansas in the 1980s.
Katahdin Hair Sheep International was incorporated in 1985 as the breed association and registry. By the end of 2020 it had registered and recorded nearly 173,000 animals, and since 2001 it has been among the top six US sheep registries by animals registered each year.12
Common questions
Do Katahdin sheep need shearing?
No. They grow hair rather than a fleece. A thick woolly undercoat grows in winter and sheds on its own in spring.21
How big do Katahdin sheep get?
A mature ewe in good condition usually weighs 120–160 lb and a mature ram 180–250 lb.2
How much does a Katahdin sheep cost?
In classified ads read in October 2026 (the breed society's dated August to October 2026), lambs were listed at $250–600, adult ewes at $325–380 and rams at $225–550. Registered stock usually cost a little more than commercial.45
Are Katahdin sheep good for beginners?
They are docile and easily handled, need no shearing and are tolerant of parasites, and ewes usually lamb without help.2
How many lambs do Katahdin ewes have?
Mature ewes usually have twins and sometimes triplets or quadruplets. Oklahoma State says a well-managed flock should produce a 200% lamb crop.2
Do Katahdin sheep have horns?
Polled sheep are preferred, but horns and scurs are acceptable under the breed standard and are recorded at registration.1
More sheep breeds and guides
- Other breeds: Dorper, Valais Blacknose
- Compare all 3 sheep breeds
Sources
The small numbers beside each fact point to one of these.
- Katahdin Hair Sheep International, About: Breed Origin & History, Breed Standards.
- Oklahoma State University, Breeds of Livestock: Katahdin Sheep (archived copy).
- BreedBarn, Editorial rating, method on the editorial policy page.
- Katahdin Hair Sheep International, Classifieds (updated 16 October 2026).
- Farm and Dairy, Classifieds: Sheep, livestock, pets and equipment.
- UMass Extension, Housing and Working Facilities for Sheep.
- University of Wisconsin-Extension, Guide to Raising Healthy Sheep (A3858-02).
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