Welcome To Spinderella's

1640 South 600 East * Salt Lake City~ UT * 84105 * 801.668.0563

Breeds of Sheep in the USA

Sheep fill a unique need today, just as they have for thousands of years. In todays day and age, we have many fibers to choose from and varying grades of wools. Knowing about the breeds of sheep may help you decide if a particular wool would be best used for a carpet, woven into suit fabric or knit up into a cozy woolen sweater.

Click on the links below to find more about the other sheep classifications in the USA.

Duel Purpose Sheep

Columbia was the first breed developed in the U.S. It is from Lincoln x Rambouillet crosses. Columbias are very hardy and are one of the larger-sized breeds in the U.S. They have white faces with wool extending down the legs which yields heavy, medium-wool fleeces with good staple length.
  • AVERAGE FIBER DIAMETER
    Micron 23-29
    USDA Wool Grade 54’s-62’s
  • GREASE FLEECE WEIGHT Ewe 12-16 lb - WASHING YIELD 45-55%
  • STAPLE LENGTH 4-6"

Corriedales originated in New Zealand from Lincoln/Leicester x Merino crosses and was imported into the U.S. in 1914. They are a medium-sized, white-faced sheep and yield heavy, medium-wool fleeces with good staple length and luster.
  • AVERAGE FIBER DIAMETER
    Micron 25-31
    USDA Wool Grade 50’s-58’s
  • GREASE FLEECE WEIGHT Ewe 10-15 lb - WASHING YIELD 50-60%
  • STAPLE LENGTH 3 1/2 - 6"

  • AVERAGE FIBER DIAMETER
    Micron 29-33
    USDA Wool Grade 46’s-54’s
  • GREASE FLEECE WEIGHT Ewe 9-12 lb - WASHING YIELD 55-65%
  • STAPLE LENGTH 4-6"
 East Friesian originated in Northern Germany and the Province of Fiesland in the Netherlands. They were imported as purebreds into the U.S. from Canada in 1994,and is primarily used as dairy sheep. They are a docile, large size, open white faced, polled breed with a coarse grade staple length wool.

Finnish Landrace - or Finnsheep originated in Finland. They were imported to Canada in 1966 and to the U.S. in 1968 They are a small- to medium-sized, fine-boned, open-faced breed with medium-grade, good-staple length wool. Their wool is mainly white, but you may find them in colors.
  • AVERAGE FIBER DIAMETER
    Micron 24-31
    USDA Wool Grade 48’s-60’s
  • GREASE FLEECE WEIGHT Ewe 4-8 lb - WASHING YIELD 50-70%
  • STAPLE LENGTH 3-6"

Polypay was developed in the 1970's at the U.S. Sheep Experiment Station at Dubois, Idaho, and also Nicholas Farms at Sonoma, California. Targhee x Dorset and Rambouillet x Finnsheep crosses were mated to form a 4-breed composite. The breed is medium-sized, white-faced sheep, but due to the recent formation of this breed fleece traits are still quite variable.
  • AVERAGE FIBER DIAMETER
    Micron 24-31
    USDA Wool Grade 48’s-60’s
  • GREASE FLEECE WEIGHT Ewe 7-10 lb - WASHING YIELD 50-60%
  • STAPLE LENGTH 3-5"

Targhee were developed in 1926 at the U.S. Sheep Experiment Station in Dubois, Idaho. Targhee has 3/4 fine-wool and 1/4 long-wool breeding from Rambouillet x Columbia and Rambouillet x Lincoln x Corriedale crosses. They are a medium- to large-sized, white-faced breed with wool on the legs and are predominantly located in the intermountain and northern states. Targhee produce medium-wool fleece with good staple length.

  • AVERAGE FIBER DIAMETER
    Micron 21-25
    USDA Wool Grade 58’s-64’s
  • GREASE FLEECE WEIGHT 10-14 lb - WASHING YIELD 45-55%
  • STAPLE LENGTH 3-5"

CONTACT:

Jim and Lynn Snell
801.668.0563
1640 S. 600 E
SLC,UT 84105
email: spinderellas523@msn.com

Share |