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Sheep
The flock is pasture-raised and grass-fed, relying on rotational grazing practices to control parasites and limit the use of chemical de-wormers. The sheep are Certified Animal Welfare Approved along with their raw fleeces, roving, and yarn.
Shetland Sheep
Shetland sheep are a primitive breed native to the Shetland Islands of Scotland. They come in 11 colors and 30 different patterns with fleeces ranging from fine to coarse, offering quite a variety for fiber artists. Both ewes and rams can be horned or polled (hornless). They're seasonal breeders and typically lamb in Spring. Shetland sheep have naturally short tails as they are part of the Northern European Short-tailed group of sheep. Rams weigh 90-150lbs and ewes weight 75-100lbs. Although small, Shetlands are full of personality and are in your pocket for a snack. They are easy keepers, great mothers who lamb easily, have excellent parasite resistance, lovely fleeces, and flavorful yet mild meat. Shetlands are on the recovering list for The Livestock Conservancy.
I started my flock of registered Shetlands in 2020 with a focus on the rarer horned ewe genetics and sheep that meet the 1927 Breed Standard as clarified by Appendix A. I am a senior member (#121) and serve on the board with the Fine Fleece Shetland Sheep Association. My flock is micron tested annually, with fleeces coated during the winter months when hay is fed. My sheep have shown at the Mid-American Shetland Show, where they were judged and have placed under UK judges. In 2024, my homebred ewe Scotch Croft Kennedy took home Grand Champion under judge Brian Ridland.
Scotch Croft Kennedy
MASS Grand Champion 2024
Helder Herdwyck Twill
Herdwick Sheep
Herdwick sheep are a domestic breed native to the Lake District of England. They're a hardy breed traditionally raised on the fells where they are used to shape the landscape. Herdwicks are a dual-purpose breed used for wool and meat. Their unique wool, comprised four types of coarse fibers, is highly insulative and excellent for outer garments and rugs. Ewes weight around 100lbs, with rams around 165lbs. Lambs are born black and fade to grey or reddish-brown, with their hoar-frost legs and face providing a striking contrast against their body. Genetic analysis determined that Herdwick sheep are related to the Northern European Short-tailed sheep (like Shetlands, Icelandics, and Ouessant). The "Herdy smile" is always a happy sight to see and their tie to Beatrix Potter adds to their charm.
In 2025, the first purebred Herdwick sheep were born in Connecticut at Grass Hill Farm. Until then, only frozen semen was imported, meaning the majority of American Herdwicks are crossbred. I purchased my first Herdwick-cross ewes in 2021 from Helder Herdwyck Farm in New York in hopes of working on breeding up using imported semen from Lake District rams.