 Alberta Katahdin Sheep Association
Executive
- President
Lynette Kreddig
Box 486
Mayerthorpe
, AB
T0E 1N0
Phone: 780-786-4754
Fax: 780-786-4754
Email: Lynette Kreddig
Provincial Director for CKSA
- Vice
President
Greg Sebree
Box 43
Vegreville
, AB
T9C 1R1
Phone: 780-658-2417
Fax: 780-658-2618
Provincial Director CKSA
- Secretary/Treasurer
Val Sebree
Box 43
Vegreville
,
AB
T9C 1R1
Phone: 780-658-2417
Fax: 306-658-2618
- Director
Phillip Anderson
Box 222
Coronation, AB
T0C 1C0
Phone: 403-578-2554
Email: Phillip Anderson
- Director
Joan O'Meara
Box
4
, Site 304, RR 3
Onoway
, AB
T0E 1V0
Phone 780-967-4614
Email: Joan O'Meara
Membership
-
Phillip
& Sharalynn Anderson
(Willow View Enterprises)
Box 222
Coronation, AB
T0C 1C0
Phone: 403-578-2554
Email: Phillip
Anderson
-
Sandra
Baker Anderson
(KB Katahdins)
RR 2
Bluffton, AB
T0C 0M0
Phone: 403-843-4281
Fax: 403-843-4286
-
Rose Kountry Katahdins
Reinhard
Ginther
Box 36
Ohaton, AB
T0B 3P0
Phone: 780-672-8262
-
Lynette & Frank Kreddig
(Franklyn Farm)
Box 486
Mayerthorpe, AB
T0E 1N0
Phone: 780-786-4754
Website: Franklyn
Farm
Email: Lynette
Kreddig
-
Joan
O'Meara
(J+J Katahdins)
Box 4, Site 304, RR 3
Onoway, AB
T0E 1V0
Phone: 780-967-4614
Email: Joan
O'Meara
-
William
& Irene Robinson
Box 5057
Drayton Valley, AB
T7A 1R3
Phone: 780-542-2087
- Greg
& Val Sebree
(Sebree Farm)
Box 43
Vegreville
, AB
T9C 1R1
Phone: 780-658-2415
Fax: 780-658-2618
- Steiner
& Beverly Tangedal
Box 7687
Edson
, AB
T7E 1V8
Phone: 780-723-5984
Fax: 780-723-1992
Email: S or B Tangedal
-
Les
& Marilyn Trautman
51432 Rg. Rd. 273
Spruce Grove
, AB
T7Y 1H7
Phone: 780-963-5235
Fax: 780-963-8100
Email: Spruce Park
Several great Katahdin events finished the year of 2007 off
well. An excellently run show in Regina (Agribition) had a very
nice number of Katahdins showing and the sale went well with some very
good prices. Katahdin lamb featured on an Edmonton based
cooking show (Access and CLT) called "Simple, Fresh, Delicious" with an
interview being done on the Franklyn Farm over the raising of lamb for a
market wanting to eat products grown closer to home. As a guest speaker
at the Alberta Sheep Breeder's Association "Sheep Symposium" Lynette
Kreddig also spoke on the raising of lamb for that same market and also
on being name branded on the menu of the La Ronde Room restaurant.
Small steps but the breed is here to stay and gaining in popularity
especially with the increasing costs associated with raising livestock.
The border is still closed for
purebred sheep into the USA. Exports of embryos and semen will
have put Katahdins into several new countries this coming year including
the UK.
Markets in
Alberta
vary with location and if you are considering raising sheep give producers near you a call to check the possibilities in your area. We
are fortunate in
Alberta
that we do have a federal slaughter plant (Sunterra Meats) at Innisfail.
The new pricing index is putting Katahdins over the bench mark of 100 to
an average of above 106. Current
prices being paid can be found on several web sites or the Western
Producer paper. You should talk to them first if
you are looking at selling finished lambs in larger numbers.
Some producers are marketing
Katahdin Lamb to restaurants, Farmer's Markets, direct from the farm (Farmgate)
and through markets in other provinces such as BC. The Katahdin breed is
very suitable for grass based pasture raising, organic markets and where a
small flock is desired for your own use. Markets for unfinished
lambs are limited due to feedlots finding they do not compete well when
mixed with traditional breeds. Since lambing out of season is a strong
point with some lines of Katahdins, this too offers a good market
potential.
The Katahdin's reputation as a maternal breed is growing and
with a high rate for survival of lambs means more money in your pocket
and less work for you. Using terminal sires may also
increase the market lambs value. Make inquiries to find out what
breeds are being used and how it worked for some producers.
Some flocks are using records of production, genotyping and health
programs in their management. If you are looking at purchasing
quality Katahdins for breeding stock look for producers who are proud to
stand behind their stock by identifying and registering them.
Check on the CLRC website for members who are current for 2008 to ensure
their ability to pass on registration papers. Buying Katahdins
this way is a value added bonus that is difficult to have done once the
animal are removed from the original breeders property. Only the
original producer who bred that ewe can sign a breeding certificate or
authorize lambs from that union be accepted for registration. If
you are in any doubt as to whether Katahdins are able to be registered
ask for dam and sire's ID and check on the CLRC website as to whether
these sheep are in fact registered and also belong to the person selling
them or their lambs. You can also contact the CLRC to ask any
questions pertaining to the above or any other inquiries regarding
registration.
A a group, it is not easy for us to meet in
person being as we are so spread out and busy people but we do try and
keep in contact with emails and phone calls. The
Calgary Stampede Sheep Show held in early July is a good gathering place and any farm that will host a good old B B
Q' ed lamb event is always welcome.
If you are wanting a coat inspection done (see side bar coat
grading above) or have any questions
regarding Katahdins in Alberta, contact one of the directors or members
nearest you.
One thing that hasn't changed
however is the great taste experience that eating Katahdin lamb gives you.
And if you haven't tasted
Katahdin Lamb yet then what are you waiting for !!!
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