The Baalands flock consists of 38 purebred and crossbred
Katahdin ewes. For the 2013 lamb crop, three rams were used for
breeding: a purebred registered Katahdin yearling ram (Phelps)
from Triple L Farms (Virginia); a 5/8 Lacaune x 3/8 Katahdin ram
lamb (Spooner) from the Spooner Agricultural Research Center
(Wisconsin); and a 1/2 Katahdin x 1/4 Hampshire x 1/4 Suffolk
yearling ram (B-Ears). The purpose of the current breeding
program is to produce purebred registered Katahdins, as well as
crossbred lambs of two specific types: Katahdin "Mule" (3/4
Katahdin x 1/4 Blackface) and Katahdin "Dairy" (11/16 Katahdin x
5/16 Lacaune). The Baalands is a performance-oriented flock,
specializing in the production of replacement ewe lambs and
maternal sires. Selection is on the basis of maternal traits:
fertility, prolificacy, mothering ability, milk production,
udder conformation, longevity, and easy-care (no shearing, good
fleshing, minimal deworming, and minimal hoof trimming). The
goal of the Baalands is to raise Kat