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What Is A Coloured Sheep?
The term refers to natural pigment in the fleece of a sheep - jet black, steel grey, silver, cinnamon, fawn, chocolate and all shades in between. Most coloured lambs are born black (or brown), but many of them, particularly amongst the British breeds of sheep, become lighter in colour as they mature, providing an interesting range of natural colours in a flock. Below is a sample of sheep breeds where colours occur:
Fine Wool
MERINO
Australia's major sheep breed, which has made this country famous for the quality of it's wool. Originally from Spain, and landing in Australia in 1797, the Merino was bred in Australia to produce a fine wool fleece with counts ranging from 15 to 22 microns (80s or finer, to 60). Handspun Merino wool is used for baby clothes, shawls, and other fine knitwear. It is not suitable for heavy work jumpers, or even everyday work garments. The fleece is not widely used by inexperienced handspinners because the staple is short, and unless carefully selected, the wool tends to be sticky, but a skilled spinner can produce wonderful results. Selective breeding is now being conducted by ethical farmers to correct the skin fold and subsequent husbandry and well being issues that developed. Learn more about strains of Merino: Peppin, Saxony, South Australian and Spanish.
POLWARTH
A breed developed in Victoria, Australia from the 1880's by using an established crossbred sheep of the English Lincoln and it is assumed Saxony Merino (1/2 Merino, see Corriedale below). Merino rams were crossed with these (3/4 cross Merino). The Polwarth Sheepbreeders' Association of Australia was formed in Melbourne in 1919 and the studbook was closed in 1948. The Polwarth was named after the shire it was developed within in Western Victoria by the Dennis family. The sheep produces a bright, bulky fleece with a staple length of 100- 125mm averaging 23-26 microns (count of 58s to 60s). It is probably a more popular fleece with handspinners than the Merino because of staple length, and can be used for fine lightweight garments.
Medium wool
CORRIEDALE
A sheep bred simultaneously in New Zealand and Australia from the 1870's by crossing the Merino (assumed Saxony in Victoria) with the heavier English breeds the Lincoln/English Leicester/Romney (1/2 cross merino), with the Lincoln more widely used. The stud book for the Corriedale was closed in 1910. The Corriedale has a very large frame well covered with wool. It is second only to the Merino in numbers in Australia due to its' commercial production qualities. The medium fleece has a staple length of 125 - 150mm and averages 25-32 microns (wool count of 50s, 56s, 58s). Corriedales produce a lustrous long staple which is popular with beginner and experienced spinners and can be used for a range of handspun garments.
CORRIEDALE; 'BOND'
In NSW from 1909 parallel breeding was started with Saxony-Peppin Merino and Lincoln sheep. This crossbred was called the 'Commercial Corriedale' by the breeder, and later 'Bond Corriedale' after the breeders surname. The Bond Corriedale association was formed in 1984 with 8 studs listed in Australia in 2006 when the association webpage was last updated. In the craft world, the fleece is used for fine to medium weight garments. Breeding has selected for finer fleeces, thus these crossbreds may be 'Polwarth like' with wool averaging 22-28 microns (56s/58 count).
FINN SHEEP
Australian Finnsheep, a rare breed originally from Finland (where it is known as the finnish landrace), have been in Australia since the mid 1980's. A long-lived medium size friendly sheep not requiring tail docking due to the naturally short tail and often no crutching either due to their fleece-free breech and legs. Finnsheep have a soft high lustre fleece, they consistently achieve comparatively good commercial fibre prices, as well as being highly prized by handspinners.
GOTLAND
The Gotland sheep is named for the Swedish island of Gotland. It is a breed of Northern European short-tailed sheep, and was first established on the Swedish island of Gotland by the Vikings with Karakul and Romanov sheep brought back from expeditions deep into Russia and crossed with the native landrace sheep during the 1920s and 1930s. Gotland wool is fine, long, lustrous and dense. It can be varying shades of grey, from pale silver to a rich blue-gray to a dark charcoal or almost black. The fleece is typically 29 to 34 microns in diameter.
PERENDALE
Developed in New Zealand by crossing the Cheviot and the Romney and inbreeding to set the type. A medium sized sheep showing Cheviot characteristics, it produces a fleece 28-32 microns (50s to 56s count), approximately 120mm in length. In coloured flocks, the breed has declined in popularity in recent years, partly because of its flighty nature. The fleece is fairly springy and lacks the lustre of the British Longwool breeds. It is used by handspinners for medium weight garments.
Strong wool
ROMNEY
One of the major British Longwool breeds, the Romney came to Australia in 1872 from Romney Marsh in Kent. It has a large frame, heavy bone, and feet which have a good resistance to footrot. A tough, resilient sheep, it does very well in high rainfall, low lying country not suitable for most other breeds. The Romney is a quiet, easy care sheep which is easy to handle. The fleece is long and lustrous with a staple length of 175 to 200mm, with a wool count of 44s to 50s, and a fibre diameter of 30 to 34 microns. The wool is used by handspinners for medium to heavy weight garments, and is particularly good for beginners because of its length.
BORDER LEICESTER
The Border Leicester was developed by Robert Bakewell in England and imported to Australia in 1871. It is a big robust sheep with a large frame, and a deep barrel, and the head and legs are free of wool. It is easily recognised by the Roman nose. The average length of staple is 175 to 200mm and the accepted wool count is 44s to 46s. The fibre diameter is 32 to 34 microns. This is another of the British Strong wool breeds which produces a long lustrous fleece particularly good for beginner spinners. The wool is used for medium to heavy weight garments.
ENGLISH LEICESTER
Developed in England by Robert Bakewell around 1760, the breed was imported to Australia in 1838. A few years ago numbers had declined to the point where the breed was endangered, but due to the efforts of a few dedicated breeders, this is no longer the case. The English Leicester is hardy, placid and easy to handle, and is becoming very popular in Coloured flocks, particularly in high rainfall areas. The wool has a count of 40s/44s/46s with a fibre diameter of 32 to 35 microns, and a staple length of about 200mm. Hand spinners love the length and lustre of the wool and use it for medium to heavy weight garments. Like the Romney and Border Leicester, this sheep produces a long, easy spinning staple particularly suitable for beginners.
LINCOLN
Another of the British breeds of sheep, producing a heavy lustrous fleece of 170 - 300mm staple length and a count of 36s to 40s. The Lincoln is found world wide and has been used with the Merino to develop such breeds as the Corriedale and Polwarth. It is a docile, easy handling sheep with all the attributes of the other British Longwools and is suitable for high rainfall areas. The wool is very popular with weavers for use in rugs and wall hangings.
What Is The "Wool Count"?
This is the "Bradford Quality Count" which refers to the number of hanks of 560 yards (512 metres) in length which can be spun from one pound of a particular type of wool. A finer wool produces a greater length of yarn than a coarser (stronger) wool. Therefore, a finer wool has a higher quality number.
What Is "Micron"?
The measurement used to determine the diameter of a fibre is the micron (millionth of a metre). The finer the wool, the lower the micron of the fibre.
At agricultural and sheep shows in Victoria, coloured sheep are classified according to wool count and judged in sections for fine wool, (58s and finer) medium wool, (50s to 56s) strong wool, (48s to 38s) and rug wool (36s and stronger).
Wool Facts
Wool is a natural fibre with properties which make it superior to any synthetic fibre. It can absorb up to 35% of its own weight of moisture without feeling wet, and while it is absorbing moisture it generates heat. Synthetic fibres do not give out heat when they absorb moisture. Wool is strong, durable and resilient. It is also an excellent insulator. On the sheep, it traps enough air in its fibres to keep the animal warm in winter and cool in summer.It follows that it does the same for humans.
Over the past twenty five years, an interest has developed in the production of naturally coloured fleeces, initially for the handcraft market, but more recently also for commercial processing. Specialist breeders of coloured sheep have established flocks of many of the wool producing breeds with the specific purpose of growing fleece in a range of natural colours.
What Is A Coloured Sheep?
The term refers to natural pigment in the fleece of a sheep - jet black, steel grey, silver, cinnamon, fawn, chocolate and all shades in between. Most coloured lambs are born black (or brown), but many of them, particularly amongst the British breeds of sheep, become lighter in colour as they mature, providing an interesting range of natural colours in a flock. Below is a sample of sheep breeds where colours occur:
Fine Wool
MERINO
Australia's major sheep breed, which has made this country famous for the quality of it's wool. Originally from Spain, and landing in Australia in 1797, the Merino was bred in Australia to produce a fine wool fleece with counts ranging from 15 to 22 microns (80s or finer, to 60). Handspun Merino wool is used for baby clothes, shawls, and other fine knitwear. It is not suitable for heavy work jumpers, or even everyday work garments. The fleece is not widely used by inexperienced handspinners because the staple is short, and unless carefully selected, the wool tends to be sticky, but a skilled spinner can produce wonderful results. Selective breeding is now being conducted by ethical farmers to correct the skin fold and subsequent husbandry and well being issues that developed. Learn more about strains of Merino: Peppin, Saxony, South Australian and Spanish.
POLWARTH
A breed developed in Victoria, Australia from the 1880's by using an established crossbred sheep of the English Lincoln and it is assumed Saxony Merino (1/2 Merino, see Corriedale below). Merino rams were crossed with these (3/4 cross Merino). The Polwarth Sheepbreeders' Association of Australia was formed in Melbourne in 1919 and the studbook was closed in 1948. The Polwarth was named after the shire it was developed within in Western Victoria by the Dennis family. The sheep produces a bright, bulky fleece with a staple length of 100- 125mm averaging 23-26 microns (count of 58s to 60s). It is probably a more popular fleece with handspinners than the Merino because of staple length, and can be used for fine lightweight garments.
Medium wool
CORRIEDALE
A sheep bred simultaneously in New Zealand and Australia from the 1870's by crossing the Merino (assumed Saxony in Victoria) with the heavier English breeds the Lincoln/English Leicester/Romney (1/2 cross merino), with the Lincoln more widely used. The stud book for the Corriedale was closed in 1910. The Corriedale has a very large frame well covered with wool. It is second only to the Merino in numbers in Australia due to its' commercial production qualities. The medium fleece has a staple length of 125 - 150mm and averages 25-32 microns (wool count of 50s, 56s, 58s). Corriedales produce a lustrous long staple which is popular with beginner and experienced spinners and can be used for a range of handspun garments.
CORRIEDALE; 'BOND'
In NSW from 1909 parallel breeding was started with Saxony-Peppin Merino and Lincoln sheep. This crossbred was called the 'Commercial Corriedale' by the breeder, and later 'Bond Corriedale' after the breeders surname. The Bond Corriedale association was formed in 1984 with 8 studs listed in Australia in 2006 when the association webpage was last updated. In the craft world, the fleece is used for fine to medium weight garments. Breeding has selected for finer fleeces, thus these crossbreds may be 'Polwarth like' with wool averaging 22-28 microns (56s/58 count).
FINN SHEEP
Australian Finnsheep, a rare breed originally from Finland (where it is known as the finnish landrace), have been in Australia since the mid 1980's. A long-lived medium size friendly sheep not requiring tail docking due to the naturally short tail and often no crutching either due to their fleece-free breech and legs. Finnsheep have a soft high lustre fleece, they consistently achieve comparatively good commercial fibre prices, as well as being highly prized by handspinners.
GOTLAND
The Gotland sheep is named for the Swedish island of Gotland. It is a breed of Northern European short-tailed sheep, and was first established on the Swedish island of Gotland by the Vikings with Karakul and Romanov sheep brought back from expeditions deep into Russia and crossed with the native landrace sheep during the 1920s and 1930s. Gotland wool is fine, long, lustrous and dense. It can be varying shades of grey, from pale silver to a rich blue-gray to a dark charcoal or almost black. The fleece is typically 29 to 34 microns in diameter.
PERENDALE
Developed in New Zealand by crossing the Cheviot and the Romney and inbreeding to set the type. A medium sized sheep showing Cheviot characteristics, it produces a fleece 28-32 microns (50s to 56s count), approximately 120mm in length. In coloured flocks, the breed has declined in popularity in recent years, partly because of its flighty nature. The fleece is fairly springy and lacks the lustre of the British Longwool breeds. It is used by handspinners for medium weight garments.
Strong wool
ROMNEY
One of the major British Longwool breeds, the Romney came to Australia in 1872 from Romney Marsh in Kent. It has a large frame, heavy bone, and feet which have a good resistance to footrot. A tough, resilient sheep, it does very well in high rainfall, low lying country not suitable for most other breeds. The Romney is a quiet, easy care sheep which is easy to handle. The fleece is long and lustrous with a staple length of 175 to 200mm, with a wool count of 44s to 50s, and a fibre diameter of 30 to 34 microns. The wool is used by handspinners for medium to heavy weight garments, and is particularly good for beginners because of its length.
BORDER LEICESTER
The Border Leicester was developed by Robert Bakewell in England and imported to Australia in 1871. It is a big robust sheep with a large frame, and a deep barrel, and the head and legs are free of wool. It is easily recognised by the Roman nose. The average length of staple is 175 to 200mm and the accepted wool count is 44s to 46s. The fibre diameter is 32 to 34 microns. This is another of the British Strong wool breeds which produces a long lustrous fleece particularly good for beginner spinners. The wool is used for medium to heavy weight garments.
ENGLISH LEICESTER
Developed in England by Robert Bakewell around 1760, the breed was imported to Australia in 1838. A few years ago numbers had declined to the point where the breed was endangered, but due to the efforts of a few dedicated breeders, this is no longer the case. The English Leicester is hardy, placid and easy to handle, and is becoming very popular in Coloured flocks, particularly in high rainfall areas. The wool has a count of 40s/44s/46s with a fibre diameter of 32 to 35 microns, and a staple length of about 200mm. Hand spinners love the length and lustre of the wool and use it for medium to heavy weight garments. Like the Romney and Border Leicester, this sheep produces a long, easy spinning staple particularly suitable for beginners.
LINCOLN
Another of the British breeds of sheep, producing a heavy lustrous fleece of 170 - 300mm staple length and a count of 36s to 40s. The Lincoln is found world wide and has been used with the Merino to develop such breeds as the Corriedale and Polwarth. It is a docile, easy handling sheep with all the attributes of the other British Longwools and is suitable for high rainfall areas. The wool is very popular with weavers for use in rugs and wall hangings.
What Is The "Wool Count"?
This is the "Bradford Quality Count" which refers to the number of hanks of 560 yards (512 metres) in length which can be spun from one pound of a particular type of wool. A finer wool produces a greater length of yarn than a coarser (stronger) wool. Therefore, a finer wool has a higher quality number.
What Is "Micron"?
The measurement used to determine the diameter of a fibre is the micron (millionth of a metre). The finer the wool, the lower the micron of the fibre.
At agricultural and sheep shows in Victoria, coloured sheep are classified according to wool count and judged in sections for fine wool, (58s and finer) medium wool, (50s to 56s) strong wool, (48s to 38s) and rug wool (36s and stronger).
Wool Facts
Wool is a natural fibre with properties which make it superior to any synthetic fibre. It can absorb up to 35% of its own weight of moisture without feeling wet, and while it is absorbing moisture it generates heat. Synthetic fibres do not give out heat when they absorb moisture. Wool is strong, durable and resilient. It is also an excellent insulator. On the sheep, it traps enough air in its fibres to keep the animal warm in winter and cool in summer.It follows that it does the same for humans.
Over the past twenty five years, an interest has developed in the production of naturally coloured fleeces, initially for the handcraft market, but more recently also for commercial processing. Specialist breeders of coloured sheep have established flocks of many of the wool producing breeds with the specific purpose of growing fleece in a range of natural colours.