Shetland (sheep)
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Shetland sheep have been on the Shetland Isles for over a thousand years, probably brought there by Viking settlers. They are Northern European short-tailed sheep, a group which also includes the Finnsheep, Norwegian Spaelsau, Icelandic, Romanov and others. Shetlands are classed as a landrace or "unimproved" breed.
Although Shetlands are small and slow growing compared to commercial breeds, they are hardy, thrifty, easy lambers, adaptable and long-lived. The Shetland breed has survived for centuries in difficult conditions and on a poor diet so they thrive in better conditions. Shetlands retain many of their primitive survival instincts so they are easier to care for than many modern breeds.
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[edit] Breed characteristics
The Shetland is one of the smallest British breeds. The ewes are usually hornless (polled) but the rams usually, but not always, have horns. The breed is noted for its fine, soft wool and the quality of its meat. They are small bodied animals with no wool on the face and nose, bright eyes and small erect ears. The legs are of medium length and finely boned. A distinguishing feature is the fluke-shaped tail, broad at the base and tapering to the point.
[edit] Average bodyweight
- Mature ram 45kg
- Mature ewe 35kg
[edit] Wool
The wool produced by the Shetland has historically been a valued commodity. Shetlands produce numerous shades of wool including white, moorit (moor red), skiela (brown-grey), fawn, grey and brown. It was this variety which was so commercially important to the wool industry of the Shetland Isles where natural wools are often used undyed. Tweed is also produced from the coarser Shetland wool but the Isles are best for their multi-coloured knitwear and for the traditional crocheted shawls which are so fine they will pass through a wedding ring.
Incidentally, the name "tweed" for the Scottish coarse woollen twill was acquired by accident. In about 1840, when checks were popular for trousers, an invoice for "tweel" sent from Hawick was misread as "tweed" in London and so a distinctive cloth acquired a specific name which it has retained ever since.
[edit] Fleece weight
- Average 1kg - 1.5kg
[edit] Lambs
On the poor grazing of the breed's native Isles the lambing percentage is about 130%. However, when the ewes are on better pasture, twin lambs are common.
[edit] Colours
Light Grey, Grey, White, Emsket - dusky bluish-grey, Musket - light greyish-brown, Shaela - dark steely-grey, Black, Fawn, Mioget - light moorit (honey toned, yellowish-brown), Moorit - shades from fawn to dark reddish brown, Dark Brown
