These sheep are able to graze in the pasture in January, even if the grass is brown from the freezing temperatures, as there is no snow yet. And with the temperature reaching 30 today, they might not need their real heavy wool coats. Although they will need it by the end of the 10 day forecast with the predicted below zero temperatures and even cooler wind chills.
Sheep in Pasture
This lamb didn’t need a wool coat today with the temperature reaching 88, but it might want a thicker coat by the end of the week with the possible patchy frost.
No Wool Coat Needed
March is supposed to go out like a lamb, but it appears it will go out like a roaring lion as the snow has started this evening and the area is under a blizzard warning so not as a gentle lamb but definitely white.
Not Out like a Lamb
There are no horns on these critters for the deer hunters to find but there are some tails. The Katahdin breed of sheep was developed in the United States for a meat sheep that did not require shearing. In cold winter they grow a thick coat which is then shed in the warm seasons. Their name comes from Mt. Katahdin, the highest peak in Maine, the state where the breed was developed.
Katahdin Sheep
The wool coat would have felt good the other morning, but it is not needed on this nice afternoon. Although all too soon, the wool coat will be a blessing as the cool fall and colder winter days approach.
Wool Coats
With the nights getting down into the 40s, the regrowth of a wool fleece for these sheep probably feels much better this week than during last month’s hot and humid days.
New Winter Coats
Various sounds and smells can be found during summer weeks at county fairs, from the squeals emitting from the carnival rides or from the livestock barns plus the aroma of fair foods. At my local county fair, various judging occurred today including sheep and goats, and these critters are taking an earned rest afterwards.
Suffolk Sheep
Some critters have an advantage of having their own wool coats for this frigid spell and it helps with a little sun and facing out of the wind, but it still is cold out.
Wool Coats
At fairs and livestock shows around the state this week, the warm temperatures meant short sleeves and shorts type of weather and definitely not coat temperatures. So the wool breeds of sheep were wearing their “wool coats” in the hot weather compared to the meat breeds which have been sheared short.
Sheep Wearing Winter Coats
It was hard to decide if March came in like a lion or a lamb since there wasn’t sub-zero freezing temperatures, but the wind was blowing the new snow causing drifts across the road. But since weather could have been worse, I guess it was more of a lamb than a lion.
In Like A Lamb
