Rocky Mountain Natural Colored Sheep Breeders Association
RMNCSBA Membership Directory
Here is our year 2008 membership directory with a listing of sheep breeds and sheep and wool products that each member has to offer. Following are summaries of some of the types of sheep raised for hand spinners today, including a brief description of breed characteristics and type of wool produced by each breed.Members of the Rocky Mountain Natural Colored Sheep Breeders Association who raise the various types of sheep are listed below each breed. Please contact these producers if you have specific questions about a particular breed or type of wool produced. Here is an alphabetical listing of the members. |
Breeds of Sheep: |
Australian Bond: *GleasonCalifornia Variegated Mutant (CVM): *DeFreece *Gordon *Grimsley *Phillips Corriedale: *Gleason *Grimsley *Phillips *Vair Cotswold: *Cirbo *Martin & Davis Icelandic: *Gordon Jacob: *Martin & Davis *Perry *Tucker Karakul: *Cirbo Lincoln: *Cirbo Merino: *Kotts Navajo-Churro: *Priest *Randolph Rambouillet: *Cranor *Gordon Shetland: *Baldwin *Cranor *Dekieffer *Martin & Davis *Oulton *Powers *Wood Teeswater: *Gordon |
AUSTRALIAN BONDAn Australian breed established in 1909, this sheep was first known as the "Commercial Corriedale" or Bond Corriedale. It was produced by crossing Lincoln Rams with Peppin Merino ewes, and was bred to produce a soft handling, finer wool than the Corriedale. It is now recognised as a separate breed. This sheep grows a bulky fleece of 62s to 56s count, with a fiber diameter of 22 to 27 microns, with a 5 inch staple. |
Bond Ewe photo courtesy of Gleason' Fine Woolies |
California Red Ewes photo courtesy of Claire Acord |
CALIFORNIA REDThe California Red breed was started in the 1970s by Dr. Glenn Spurlock of the University of California at Davis. Dr. Spurlock wanted to develop a superior dual purpose sheep and the original cross came from Tunis and Barbados stock. Lambs are born quite red in color which usually fades to beige as the sheep reaches maturity. Wool type is medium to coarse with a staple length of 3 to 5 inches and a spinning count of 50s-60s.
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California Variegated Mutant ewe photo courtesy of Sharon Hayden, Blue Moon Farm |
CALIFORNIA VARIEGATED MUTANTThe California Variegated Mutant (CVM) breed was developed by Glen Eidman in the early 1960s. Mr. Eidman developed CVMs from a Romeldale flock (Romney and Rambouillet cross) specifically with handspinners in mind. Many CVMs have a badger face with color patterns in the wool varying widely, including gray/black, solid black, brown, silver and spotted. Wool type is medium-fine with a staple length of 3 to 5 inches and a spinning count of 58 to 64. |
California Variegated Mutant ewe lamb photo courtesy of Chris Spitzer, YellowCreek Cottage |
CORRIEDALEThe Corriedale originated in New Zealand and Australia and was developed from Merino and Lincoln crosses. Corriedales were imported into the United States in 1914. Wool type is medium to medium-fine with a staple length of 3-1/2 to 6 inches and a spinning count of 50s-60s. |
Corriedale Ram photo courtesy of Gleason's Fine Woolies |
COTSWOLDThe Cotswold is one of the oldest breeds of sheep, serving as the cornerstone of England's wool economy throughout the Middle Ages. Cotswolds were developed from Border Leicester, Hampshire, and German Whitehead crosses and were imported into the United States in 1832. Wool type is coarse to very coarse with a staple length of 8 to 14 inches and a spinning count of 40 and below. The wool is noted for its natural wavy curls. A notable characteristic of this breed is the long wool hanging over the face. |
ICELANDIC
The Icelandic sheep are of medium size, fine boned with open face and legs and udders. The breed has both polled and horned individual of both sexes but it is primarily horned. Icelandic sheep are not particularly tall but broad and have an excellent conformation as a meat breed.
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