5:05pm Thursday 12th August 2010
Shetland sheep are quite rightly one of the most popular breeds of sheep with smallholders. They are hardy and can live and thrive outside 12 months of the year in most locations.
They can survive on poor quality grazing, and scrub and are useful for conservation grazing. Lambing rates comparable to modern breeds and intervention in lambing is rarely needed.
Shetland meat is lean with superb flavour and is low in lipid fat - excellent for low cholesterol diets.
Shetlands produce high quality wool, the finest of any British breed and there is a ready market for fleeces.
One of the greatest attractions is that they come in a wide range of colours and patterns meaning individual sheep can be easily identified.
They are easy to handle - ideal for smaller flocks without complex equipment and housing.
This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the formation of what was initially called the Shetland Sheep Breeders Group and is now the Shetland Sheep Society. In this time this group of dedicated breeders have taken the breed and many of its rarer colours and patterns from rare breed status to its present position of secure and established.
This year the Society’s Annual Show and Sale is to be held at Melton Mowbray on 10th and 11th September 2010 when many of the top bloodlines will be available for purchase.
In addition the Society is running its five-yearly Champion of Champions event where 15 winning sheep from the main regional shows compete for the ultimate accolade of overall Champion.
The Society also hold sales during September and October at various regional Centres. Details of all these events and much more about the sheep themselves can be found on the society’s new website at www.shetland-sheep.org.uk.
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