Katahdin sheep have coarse-hair coats and are raised for meat rather than for wool. Unlike wool breeds, they shed their winter coats and do not need to be sheared, which saves growers time and money.

The sheep is originally from Somali land. The breed is also a type of hair sheep, meaning they do not grow wool and tolerate heat better than woolen breeds and are raised primarily for mutton.

Sheep fall into four broad categories: mutton, wool, dairy and dual (multi) purpose: e.g. mutton and wool, or mutton and milk. Hair Sheep breeds include: Dorper, Persian Black Head, Red Masai and ...