People involved in sheep breeding are trying to invent the best breed, for this they cross different breeds. Thus, the Catumsky sheep turned out. While they are kept only in Russia, it is quite possible that they will soon be glorified abroad.
Description
This breed was created only in 2013 by crossing Romanovsk sheep and catadines. Romanov sheep perfectly tolerated the abrupt changes in climate and brought a lot of lambs at a time. But since the fur is now worthless, because there are artificial materials that are no worse than the sheepskin, but much cheaper. Romanov’s meat is not bad, but it’s not enough for production to pay off.
At a Russian agricultural enterprise called Katumy, they began to think how to invent a sheep that would be resistant to our climate, unpretentious in food, bring a lot of lambs and also with good weight gain, but not fatty tissue. Nowhere in Russia was there such a breed; they found it in the United States of America. They have the same problem as in Russia: there is no demand for fur, but it is great for good lamb meat.
In America, the elite breed Katadin was bred. Catadine sheep were transported from the United States to Leningrad, where they were crossed with Romanov sheep. This was done to achieve the best taste of meat.
When creating the Katumsky breed, there was a tough selection, where the unfit sheep were simply rejected. Today it is difficult to call this breed approved, since it has not yet been included in the group of a new breed, but still these sheep have distinctive features:
- the coat is the same as that of any wild animal;
- the palatability of the meat is excellent, and the aroma is delicate;
- the multiplicity that came from the sheep of the Romanov breed;
- Lambing occurs twice a year;
- these sheep perfectly muscle, and a lamb in one month weighs up to 15 kilograms.
Katumi meat smooth-haired sheep
Katumsky sheep of fawn and light red color
Katumsky sheep are smooth-haired, and only in the cold season do they have an undercoat
Lambs have fast growth and weight gain
The meat of such sheep does not have a specific smell, like lamb, and even resembles veal in taste.
Sheep productivity
The Katumsk sheep were created for meat, because it is lean and tender, somewhat similar to veal. Even in adult sheep and sheep, meat does not deteriorate and does not acquire a specific smell. If the animal does not have adequate nutrition, it will still gain weight quickly. Compared to other fur-bearing breeds that spend feeding not only on muscle mass, but also on the skin, in Katum sheep, all the usefulness goes to meat.
In addition to meat, katumskie uterus gives milk during lactation, which is also, like cow's, useful for newborn lambs and people. Its quantity is less than that of the cow and it happens in the uterus only in the lactation period, which is observed twice a year. But since farmers keep dozens of sheep, there is milk all year round.
Caring for katumsky sheep
In winter, for this species of animals you need a warm room, and in spring you can keep sheep under a canopy. The flock needs to be placed closer to the sun, and most importantly, that the stall is dry. In extreme heat, it is advisable to place a fan, this is important for their maintenance. The best temperature in the stall is from 10 to 15 degrees.
It is important not to forget about vaccinations, although sheep are resistant to diseases, but still, like other animals, they need vaccinations that a veterinarian will do. They, like other sheep, can suffer hoof infections, so care must be taken to ensure that the sheep is not exposed to moisture for a long time.
Feeding
Katumsky sheep are not picky in their diet, they can eat different herbs and those that other large animals abandoned. It is important to ensure that the place where the flock grazes is not wet and damp. Since this can adversely affect the stomach, liver and, most importantly, the hooves.
Summertime feeding
In winter, sheep are used to chewing hay, straw and mixed feeds, so in the summer, the animal should gradually get used to the new diet. For seven days you can’t give a new type of food, it is during this period that the body will get used to certain foods and will be ready to accept a new one. Grass alone is not enough for them, it is necessary to feed with vitamin and mineral supplements by age.
Feeding in the winter
The sheep themselves in the winter will not be able to eat, the owner should worry about this, making sure that they receive all the necessary useful substances. The main ration should be hay and straw mixed with the necessary impurities.
Hay needs to be fed every day, with pregnant lambs enough 700 grams, lactating ones 900 grams, and young lambs 600 grams per day.
Grass can be fed in unlimited quantities, the same applies to water. We must not forget about salt, it should be present in the diet of animals 15 grams per head.
Feeding Tips:
- Straw is treated with water with ammonia, then chopped and poured with boiling water.
- Vegetables are important for the proper functioning of all organs, especially the stomach.
- Salt must be added to any food.
- Hay is allowed to be mixed with straw.
How to feed the sheep:
Feed | Pregnancy (first half) | Pregnancy (second half) |
Hay | 1 kg | 2 kg |
Straw | 1 kg | 500 g |
Branch feed | 500 g | 1 kg |
Vegetables | 1 kg | 1,5 kg |
Food waste | 1, 5 kg | 1,5 kg |
Concentrates | 350 g |
The table shows the feed standards of young animals:
Feed | from 6 to 8 months | from 8 to 10 months | from 10 to 12 months |
Hay | 1 kg | 1.2 kg | 1,5 kg |
Vegetables | 1 kg | 2 kg | 2 kg |
Branch feed | 1 kg | 1 kg | |
Concentrates | 200 g | 250 g | 300 g |
The vegetables that are meant in feeding are potatoes and beets, other vegetables are not recommended to be given to sheep and rams.
Breeding
This variety is very hardy, they can walk for a long time, moving to other pastures and even climb the hills. For such animals, you do not need to look for a special place where the grass grows high, because thanks to the narrow muzzle, they can bend and chew grass near the ground.
Judging from the above, it is clear that it is profitable to breed Katumsky sheep. They can happen when the weight reaches 80% of an adult animal, which occurs mainly in four months. 30 days before mating, the sheep is fed with the best grass, concentrates and, if necessary, compound feed.
The first two weeks of life, the lamb eats exclusively mother's milk, and then he can be offered hay, carrots and potatoes, but previously chopped. It is necessary to feed them separately from adult animals, but you can’t separate them from your mother for a long time. When the young sheep are distributed in separate enclosures, they still need to be brought to their mother for half an hour or an hour every three hours. As you increase, the number of visits is shortened, and gradually reduces to zero.
Advantages and disadvantages
Katumsky sheep have positive aspects:
- a large weight of an adult (males up to 110 kg, and females 80);
- the coat is short, but it is too early to consider them smooth-haired;
- no need to bother with a haircut;
- unpretentious in feeding;
- this breed is very rarely sick;
- a sheep can bring two or even three lamb at a time;
- tolerate severe winters, but if the room protects from the wind;
- Katumsky sheep live for 10 years;
- calm nature.
There are also disadvantages of Katum sheep:
- genetics is heterogeneous, that is, there is an admixture of two species;
- signs may break down;
- a great need for fresh grass, and on an ongoing basis.
In conclusion, we recommend watching an interview with farmer Oleg Lebedev, who brought the Catum sheep breed:
As you can see, Katumsk sheep have a lot more pluses than minuses, so it is very profitable to breed this breed mainly because of meat. It comes out a lot from one sheep or a ram, and the taste is so amazing and delicate that it is impossible to come off. Although this variety has not yet been registered, it is already in great demand in Russia.