Shetland Sheep
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Known now perhaps as much for their tail-wagging and affable personalities as their world class quality wool, the origins of these small sheep go back over 1,000 years to when the Vikings introduced them to the Shetland Islands. Today they are considered a primitive, or 'unimproved' breed, which means that they maintain natural hardiness, thriftiness, easy lambing, adaptability, longevity, and the ability to thrive under conditions that generic breeds might find intolerable. Shetlands are small, with adult rams ranging from 90-125 pounds and ewes 75-100 pounds. Rams have two handsome
spiraling horns, and ewes are polled (with rare exceptions). They are fine boned, agile, and their naturally short, fluke-shaped tails do not require docking. Fleeces weigh between 2 and 7 pounds, with a staple length of 3 to 8 inches - the finest and softest wool of any British breed, with a Bradford count in the upper 50's to lower 60's, and an average fiber diameter of 23 microns. They have the widest range of fleece color of any breed other than the Icelandic, from white to many shades of grey, browns, and black. We breed for the rarest and most unusual color combinations, as well as prolificacy and adherence to breed standards.
To see the List of Shetland Lambs and Yearlings for Sale Click Here |
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