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Sheep Breeds    ›    Minor Sheep Breeds    ›    Shetland

Shetland Sheep Breed Information

Shetland Sheep Breed
Shetland history shows that this particular breed has been around for more than a thousand years and is a descendant of the Northern European Short-Tail. Other Northern European Short-tail sheep breeds include the Romanovs, Finn and Icelandic sheep.  They are known for their toughness, long lives and ability to adapt to all types of harsh environments. It is a small breed of sheep and said to be one of the worlds smallest. The Shetland is commonly used in wool production due to their vibrant wool and wide color variations. The Shetland has eleven primary colors and can have up to thirty markings. They shed wool during the early stages of summer or late springtime.

Minor Breeds
  • Black Welsh Mountain
  • Blueface Leicester
  • California Variegated Mutant
  • Clun Forest
  • Gulf Coast
  • Icelandic
  • Jacob
  • Karakul
  • Navajo-Churro
  • Scottish Blackface
  • Wiltshire Horn
  • Ouessant
Back to Directory of Sheep Breeds
Shetland Sheep Breed

Shetland Sheep Breed

Shetland Sheep Breed Information

MATURE BODY WEIGHT
Ram 90-125 lb
Ewe 75-100 lb

AVERAGE FIBER DIAMETER
Micron 19-29
USDA Wool Grade 54’s-70’s

GREASE FLEECE WEIGHT
Ewe 2-4 lb

YIELD
65-80%

STAPLE LENGTH
2 1/2 - 4"
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