Shetland sheep
The Shetland is a small, wool-producing breed of sheep originating in the Shetland Isles, Scotland, but is now also kept in many other parts of the world. It is part of the Northern European short-tailed sheep group, and it is closely related to the extinct Scottish Dunface. Shetlands are classified as a landrace or "unimproved" breed. This breed is kept for its very fine wool, for meat, and for conservation grazing.
A Shetland lamb with the common "moorit" (reddish brown) colour | |
| Country of origin | Scotland (Shetland) |
|---|---|
| Type | Northern European short-tailed |
| Use | Wool, meat, conservation grazing |
| Traits | |
| Weight |
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| Wool color | Variable |
| Face color | Variable |
| Horn status | Males horned, ewes occasionally horned |
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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, but they thrive in better conditions. Shetlands retain many of their primitive survival instincts, so they are easier to care for than many modern breeds.