Khatadin flock value?

[piker]

Hi- the auction service I call for has a sale coming up for an amish family that's leaving the state. There are 30+ Khatadin ewes, some with lambs, on the block. Can anyone tell me what they are worth? It's almost impossible to find anything but suffolk mix up here (NE Missouri).
Thanks!

[NWMO]

Just curious. I am on the other side of the state and only know of a few Katadin breeders in the Jamesport, MO area.......I would be curious to know approximate value also. Do you have a way of marketing the Katadins in your area?

[Bearfootfarm]

Their value depends on if they are registered or not, and if they are fullblooded or crossbred. They should probably be worth from $150-$300 fore ewes and meat lambs, and $300-$400 for breeding rams.
http://www.agriseek.com/sale/e/Lives...heep/Katahdin/

[Abouttime]

I spoke to a rep from a local county sheep assoc here in sw Va when they were having an auction in Jan and he told me that ewes with a 50% chance of being bred were going for $400-$600 in lots of three.

[wendle]

Not sure where you are , but hair ewes at a sale barn in this area(illinois) are lucky if they bring 40 per head. It is going to depend alot on their condition and if somebody else there is looking for hair sheep. Even the lambs often don't bring the same as other breeds of lambs. They get docked for being light as well as for not having wool.
Here is a link for Kalona sale barn in Iowa, that's not too far from where you are so the prices might be similar. I've seen hair sheep listed on this site , when other lambs were going for over a doller a pound, the hairs were going for .74 a pound.
http://www.agriculture.state.ia.us/kalonash.html

[wendle]

It might depend on if they are being sold as registered breeding stock with history and ages too, don't know if they will do that at that auction,

[piker]

I had about $150 in mind. I'm sure they are not registered. We'll probably allow bidders to bid on one and then go as deep as they want. Then tie them all together and see which way brings the most money. I can't imagine any sheep around here selling in the $400 to $600 range, but it would sure make the auctioneer look good! If they sold for $40 or $50 a head I'd be tempted to buy them up myself.

[Abouttime]

I am newly interested in sheep and have never sold any, but I believe this market may be high because there is a local grocery chain that is actively seeking farmers to provide them.

[littlebitfarm]

Originally Posted by wendle

Not sure where you are , but hair ewes at a sale barn in this area(illinois) are lucky if they bring 40 per head. http://www.agriculture.state.ia.us/kalonash.html

I got 95 for my 8 month old Katahdin rams at a Central Illinois salebarn this summer. Got 100 last year. Haven't been docked for tails either.

Good ewe cheap is $100. Just goes up from there!

Kathie

[eieiomom]

Here's a copy of an ad posted on a Yahoo sheep list this morning , didn't know if it might help .......



"We are selling about 20 ewes,15 or so lambs, and 1 ram. They
are a predominately Katahdin mix. We're asking $150 for the ewes
and ram and $100 for the lambs. Take all for $125 each.

We're in Talala, Ok - 30 minutes north of Tulsa."

[wendle]

Generally going through a sale barn adult ewes won't bring as much as lambs, 8 months old is still a lamb so lamb price. I've noticed yearlings will bring more than adult ewes. Some katahdins look more like barbados, and some have a meatier build, that would probably have an effect on sale barn price. It will also depend on if there are private buyers looking for ewes. Part of why Ewes might bring less at a sale barn especially this time of year is because people might not know that they aren't culls.
Katahdins sold privately as breeding stock will command higher prices.
Below is prices for last Wednesday at Kalona, Ia. which usually is a little higher than the sale barns near me. Notice the replacement ewes are blackface with some weight on them for Feb lambing meaning they can see that they are bred, or possibly have lambs at their side. They are only going for 110.00 , probably good ewes since they are in the replacement category. Blackface tend to go much higher than hair sheep. If nobody is looking for hair sheep for breeding they would go in the slaughter category. You just never know for sure though until you get there. Time of year you buy will make a difference too, looks like sheep market might be just a little bit down, so probably a good time to buy.

Slaughter Ewes: 19 HD

U.S. 1-3 Good and Utility 160-200 lbs. 35.00-39.00

Utility 80-140 lbs. 30.00-36.00



Replacement Ewes: 5 HD

Black face, 183 lbs., 4-5 yrs., Feb. lambing 110.00/hd

[Jerseygirl]

My father use to say that it is "worth what someone will pay for it" with that being said, I just sold 60 of my registered Katahdin ewes for $350.00 each.
We live in Holmen,WI and this family came from Kentucky to get them...not only once, but three times in the past three years. Over the past 6 years we have sold to folks all over the US. We do not show nor are we in the spotlight. We are just honest hard working people trying to keep the Katahdin breed alive. It has to do with the quality of sheep, if they are registered, and you have a good reputation as a honest herdsman or woman. We are a certified scapie free farm and that also adds value as someone who purchases your animals can retain the certification as long as they are not mixing with other sheep who are not certified.
I have also seen some good sheep go for less, depending on the time of year and if they need a new home right away. My girls were between 3-5 years old with records of twins and triplets. Ewe lambs would sell for less. I still have some of my rams for sale and kept two of my prize ewes as pets. We are diversifing and are getting ready for our Jersey girl to calf. Then the adventure begins!
Judith

[piker]

"It's worth what someone will pay" is my standard answer when folks ask about value on anything. Auctions are a funny thing in that once the bidding starts e-bay and book values are pretty useless.
I sure appreciate all the feedback on price and quality.