History

Roots of the Shetland Sheep go back over a thousand years, probably to sheep brought to the Shetland Islands by Viking settler.  They belong to the Northern European short-tailed group which also contains the Finn sheep, Norwegian Spaelsau, Icelandics, Romanovs and others.  With the assistance of the RBST, Colonel Dailley of the African Lion Safari in Cambridge Ontario, Canada, imported 28 ewes and 4 rams from the Shetland Islands in 1980.  This is the base for the Shetland flocks in North America.  The first importation to the US was in 1986, and Shetlands have been increasing in popularity.

Purebred Shetlands are small and fine boned.  Adult ewes average 75-100 lbs and rams 125-150 lbs.  Lamb birth weight range is 4-10 lbs.  Ewes can breed the first year if well developed with singles expected from yearlings, twins usual for adults and triplets occasionally.  Ewes are excellent mothers--very protective, good milkers and known for their ease in lambing.  Lambs are up and running shortly after birth.  Breeding is generally later running November through April.  Rams are normally non aggressive.  Rams develop huge spiral horns while the ewes are usually naturally polled. Both rams and ewes can be very friendly and will wag their short, fluke-shaped tail when petted!  Shetlands do well on grass or alfalfa hay.

Wool

Shetland wool is the finest of any of the British sheep breeds.  Fleeces can weigh anywhere from 2-6 lbs with staple lengths varying from 2-1/2 to 6 inches. Fleeces can run in the 22-28 micron range but can vary from as low as 16 to as high as 60 on the outer coat of double coated sheep.  Their fleece has an open quality that makes it easy to spin.  A small spinner's flock can produce ultra-fine Shetland yarn for hand knits as well as coarser, but equally gorgeous yarns suitable for sturdy socks and warm outer garments and beautiful tapestry yarns.

Shetland sheep come in one of the widest varieties of colors and markings. There are 11 recognized colors and 30 recognized markings.  Many of these colors and markings still carry their original Scottish names such as Yuglet (color around the eyes different from the remainder of the body. Shetlands possess the moorit (brown) gene which is one of the dominant colors, along with white and black.  Shetlands have the ability to shed their fleece.  In the spring when the new fleece begins to grow, the old fleece starts to shed and rooing (hand picking) can be done at this time.

Shetlands are extremely hardy, the only breed of sheep that can withstand the harsh climate and meager grazing of the hill lands of the Shetland Islands.  They can adapt to a variety of forages and have evolved to become almost goat-like in their love of brush and browse.

Shetlands are perfect for smaller farms and acreages.  They are usually a calm, easy to manage breed.

We shear in mid-March and will have a variety of fleeces available at that time. Lambing started in mid-April.  We had some beautiful lambs from our ewes and an excellent type ram.

Wensleydale Sheep

The Wensleydale is a very large longwool sheep that originated in North Yorkshire, UK in the early 19th century. The Wensleydale breed has no horns with a distinctive blue head, face and legs. The ears are free of wool except for a well-developed forelock. The average mature Wensleydale ewes weigh up to 248 lbs. and the average ram is 299 lbs.

Wensleydale fleece is prized for its superb luster and is said to be "the finest and most valuable longwool in the world". The Wensleydale sheep has a "central checking" gene that has the ability to cause a major improvement in fleece and get rid of kempy fibers.

A Wensleydale ewe produces twins with very little lambing problems.

Cotswold sheep

The Cotswold sheep is an ancient longwool breed that has been traced back to flocks that grazed the Cotswold Hills during the Roman occupation. Cotswold sheep have a long lustrous fleece that if sheared yearly will measure 10-12 inches and weigh 11-13 lbs. The Cotswold fleece has been referred to as "poor man's mohair" because of its luster and ability to take dye well. The locks are often used for doll hair.

The Cotswold is a large breed of sheep with ewes weighing between 140 and 175 lbs. and rams weighing 175-250 lbs. They lamb out easily and are generally hardy and very sweet tempered.

At Big Sky Fiber Farm we have been breeding Cotswold ewes to ½ Wensleydale rams and getting some quality lambs. Check with us to see what is available.