ejano Posted September 20, 2010 Report Share Posted September 20, 2010 I'm researching the different breeds of sheep with an interest in (very) small scale production for hand spinning. Does anyone have experience in raising Shetlands? Liz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthfieldNick Posted September 20, 2010 Report Share Posted September 20, 2010 I'll say what I have before about Shetlands: Vile little creatures with a penchant for escaping & roughly zero flocking instinct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejano Posted September 20, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2010 Oh my, that doesn't bode well --- I'd be happy to entertain suggestions for other breeds with a high quality wool for hand spinning? I'll say what I have before about Shetlands: Vile little creatures with a penchant for escaping & roughly zero flocking instinct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloria Atwater Posted September 20, 2010 Report Share Posted September 20, 2010 Sadly, the few Shetlands I did meet were ... interesting. They didn't flock well and they seemed quite feral in their attitudes. Not a all dog-friendly, either. Merino, Targhee and Rambouillet have good fine wool. They're rather large sheep, but they flock well, seem gentle and produce a nice fleece. Peeking around on Google, I see Corriedale, Cotswold and Romney also named as good for hand spinning. Hope this helps! Cheers ~ Gloria Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThunderHill Posted September 20, 2010 Report Share Posted September 20, 2010 Tunis[ian]? I don't know anything about good spinning wool personally. But there used to be somebody up the road from me with a small flock of high quality Tunis. Spinners would reserve the fleece from the same sheep year after year, and paid good money for the privilege. They seem to tolerate hot weather well and they're decent producers on the meat side. (I have two good Tunis/Katahdin cross ewes and they're so fat they jiggle when they walk, on nothing but eaten-down skanky summers-end grass pasture.) The downside is if you're aiming for that top quality level of fleece it means putting jackets on the sheep and no working them with dogs -- I guess you could work lambs and hoggs or any sheep whose fleece became less than perfect for any reason. Good luck with your project. LizS in SCPA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houndstooth Posted September 20, 2010 Report Share Posted September 20, 2010 It depends what kind of handspinning you're interested in doing. For next to the skin the finewools Gloria mentioned are good breeds, CVMs (Romeldales) are also a popular finewool breed. Finewool can be challenging to process for handspinning, and difficult to shear for the inexperienced. Longwools (Lincoln, Romney, Border Leicester) tend to be easier to process and shear, but the market can be a bit limited. A nice compromise can be Corriedales or Bluefaced Leicesters, they have fleeces that are a little more versatile, and tend to be easy breeds to raise. I raised Sheltands for a number of years, and agree with Ben about them, there is also a lot of variability in the breed in this country, with people breeding for very different traits. Probably the best thing would be to go to a sheep show that concentrates on wool breeds, and see what you like and talk to the owners about their characteristics. Also, see what fleeces are for sale, the prices, and what is actually selling - it will give you an idea of what people are looking for. Personally, I raise what I like to spin (Wensleydales), it makes it much easier for me to market my fleeces. I do coat my sheep, and work them with dogs, and have never had any problems with the fleeces getting damaged, but that could be different with a different fleece type. Angelique Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejano Posted September 20, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2010 There's sure a lot to learn.... Your suggestion of going to a sheep show is a good one...this is a project that needs to take some time There is a fiber mill in the county...I might start by wandering down there and talk with them about the different kinds of wool. Everyone around here seems to be into raising alpacas though... Liz It depends what kind of handspinning you're interested in doing. For next to the skin the finewools Gloria mentioned are good breeds, CVMs (Romeldales) are also a popular finewool breed. Finewool can be challenging to process for handspinning, and difficult to shear for the inexperienced. Longwools (Lincoln, Romney, Border Leicester) tend to be easier to process and shear, but the market can be a bit limited. A nice compromise can be Corriedales or Bluefaced Leicesters, they have fleeces that are a little more versatile, and tend to be easy breeds to raise. I raised Sheltands for a number of years, and agree with Ben about them, there is also a lot of variability in the breed in this country, with people breeding for very different traits. Probably the best thing would be to go to a sheep show that concentrates on wool breeds, and see what you like and talk to the owners about their characteristics. Also, see what fleeces are for sale, the prices, and what is actually selling - it will give you an idea of what people are looking for. Personally, I raise what I like to spin (Wensleydales), it makes it much easier for me to market my fleeces. I do coat my sheep, and work them with dogs, and have never had any problems with the fleeces getting damaged, but that could be different with a different fleece type. Angelique Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tea Posted September 20, 2010 Report Share Posted September 20, 2010 I added some shetland to my crossbreds. the 8 way cross I breed. They worked fine I like my crossbred wool for hand spinning. Can't have wool on the legs in my climate. Your dogs and your sheep will work it out. Mine did My suggestion is find some folks making and selling stuff that you like the handle of, ask them what they got. Don't like alpacas, my nieghbor is now eating his. Hey....I have info to send you on your grandmothers wheel. Send me an e-mail with your address. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejano Posted September 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2010 I added some shetland to my crossbreds. the 8 way cross I breed. They worked fine I like my crossbred wool for hand spinning. Can't have wool on the legs in my climate. Your dogs and your sheep will work it out. Mine did My suggestion is find some folks making and selling stuff that you like the handle of, ask them what they got. Don't like alpacas, my nieghbor is now eating his. Hey....I have info to send you on your grandmothers wheel. Send me an e-mail with your address. Thanks, Tea -- I will....and my husband would approve of the solution to the alpacas...he's highly allergic to them! Liz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeanne Joy Posted September 21, 2010 Report Share Posted September 21, 2010 Border Leicesters have exquisite fiber (soft and silky). They are sensible and nice to work with - fast, but not flighty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gcv-border Posted September 21, 2010 Report Share Posted September 21, 2010 Another fine-wool sheep breed = Cormo. I believe that they were developed in NZ or Australia and have Merino in their background. Beyond that I don't know anything about personality, "herdability" or meat characteristics. I just really like their wool. Jovi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mona Howard Posted September 24, 2010 Report Share Posted September 24, 2010 I know someone in AZ that has shetlands. I bought some crosses from her. They are not difficult to work if your dog doesn't pressure them too much. I am also wanting to learn how to spin. Romney wool is suppossed to be easy to learn on and Romneys are pretty common and should be easy to find. They are also docile and throw a decent lamb when crossed to a meat type ram. I just bought a DVD from Rural Route Videos a week or two ago titled "Working with Wool-Spinning". It was very well presented and easy to follow. I would recommend it. Mona/Virginia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsnrs Posted September 26, 2010 Report Share Posted September 26, 2010 Thanks for this info. My neighbor just got 4 ewes to help weed their vineyards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mona Howard Posted September 27, 2010 Report Share Posted September 27, 2010 I hope they don't help her vineyards too much!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejano Posted September 29, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2010 Mona, thank you for the video recommendation. I'll check it out! Liz I know someone in AZ that has shetlands. I bought some crosses from her. They are not difficult to work if your dog doesn't pressure them too much.I am also wanting to learn how to spin. Romney wool is suppossed to be easy to learn on and Romneys are pretty common and should be easy to find. They are also docile and throw a decent lamb when crossed to a meat type ram. I just bought a DVD from Rural Route Videos a week or two ago titled "Working with Wool-Spinning". It was very well presented and easy to follow. I would recommend it. Mona/Virginia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsnrs Posted October 1, 2010 Report Share Posted October 1, 2010 They plan to use them after the grapes are harvested. We'll see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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