"Shetahdin" sheep babies arrive
MHF coins a unique name for a promising crossbreed
Here are screenshots from a couple of quick internet searches that suggest we’ve coined a new sheep breed name:
I hate to use a pretentious sounding term like portmanteau but that’s what we’ve done here, merging Shetland with Katahdin.
We are not the first farmers to cross Shetland and Katahdin sheep breeds, but we might be the first to name them “Shetahdin.”
Shetland sheep originate from the Shetland islands in the North Sea, north of Scotland. The weather there is terrible and the terrain is rocky and rugged. Accordingly, Shetland sheep are known for their hardiness and their ability to thrive on marginal landscapes. They develop thick wool and must be shorn at least yearly.
Katahdin sheep (named for Mount Katahdin in Maine, the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail) are a breed of hair sheep - i.e., that develop a fuzzy winter coat that sloughs off and doesn’t need to be shorn. Katahdins possess genetics from tropical breeds (African and Caribbean) adapted to warmer climates, and they are larger and grow faster than Shetlands and thus yield more meat.
Here in Wilkes County NC we experience hot and cold weather extremes with the seasons. Our “Shetahdins” are ideally suited to the variable seasonal challenges, combining the cold weather toughness of the Shetlands with the hot weather tolerance and growth rate of the Katahdins. Both breeds display good parasite resistance, particularly in rotational grazing systems that break the “parasite cycle.” Our hybrid flock is intended to produce an advantageous mix of quality fleece and well marbled meat with a delicious neutral (not “gamey”) flavor. They are relatively calm (sheep can be skittish) and accustomed to handling and being led by humans, and adapt well to electric netting enclosures.
All that technical stuff is nice, but the real reason we raise them is that the lambs are unbelievably cute!
Our first member of this newly-named class of sheep is little Helene, born during her namesake hurricane last fall:
Helene’s half-sister-cousin arrived earlier this month, a healthy big lil ewe lamb we named Jemima:
Both of these girls born to sister Shetland ewes have Katahdin Abe as their dada.
And Shetland ram Moh, not to be outdone, has given us a ram lamb from Katahdin mama Everest. Rachael named him Yeti.
One night Shetland Priscilla blessed us with Shetahdin twins (girl and boy) also from dada Abe.
Our first crop of spring Shetahdin lambs have formed a fun little playgroup.
Then mama Shallot produced this humongous stonk of a ramling, that because of his size and splotches we are naming Holstein.
Meanwhile, Shetland parents Moh and Canela have given us a precious little purebred Shetland ramling, Champurrado. (Who may end up becoming heir to Moh’s kingdom someday…)
And then from our spicy subcontinent line of Shetahdins, Shetland mama Masala brought forth Shteahdin baby Chana…
And finally as warmer weather approaches a gratefully shorn Dobie gives birth to this lil Shetahdin eweling, rounding out our Spring lambing season…
With all the Shetahdin focus we can’t neglect that during Lambapalooza ‘25 our dependable goat mama Miranda gave birth to triplets…
And don’t worry our herdsman-in-training is making sure the new goatlings feel welcome and loved…
Our five-year anniversary farm day is coming up last Saturday in April. Hope you can make it! Tell your friends!
And be sure to check out our farm products for sale.
Ahem - Shetland weather is not terrible. It’s just very Scottish.