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Shetland sheep
Breed of sheep / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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.[1] This breed is kept for its very fine wool, for meat, and for conservation grazing.[2]
![]() A Shetland lamb with the common "moorit" (reddish brown) colour | |
Country of origin | Scotland (Shetland) |
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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[citation needed] |
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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.