The Gotland breed developed from the Gute sheep, a primitive breed descended from those brought to Sweden by the Vikings. (Oklahoma State University, Breeds of Livestock Project) The wool is typically gray but ranges from silver to near black, though white and brown do rarely occur. The wool from these animals can be spun quite fine, but resembles mohair more than any other of the short-tailed breeds. (Ekarius and Robson, 162)
While the older Gute (or Goth) sheep breed still exists on the island of Gotland today, the modern breed, which was started a hundred years ago by selecting for specific color and curl among Gute sheep, has had some additional improvements from Leicester, Texel and other stock. The Gotland breed in the US is being built by artificial insemination to acceptable outcrosses to establish American Gotlands (acceptable outcrosses are Icelandic, Finn, Shetland and seven of the English longwool breeds).
While the older Gute (or Goth) sheep breed still exists on the island of Gotland today, the modern breed, which was started a hundred years ago by selecting for specific color and curl among Gute sheep, has had some additional improvements from Leicester, Texel and other stock. The Gotland breed in the US is being built by artificial insemination to acceptable outcrosses to establish American Gotlands (acceptable outcrosses are Icelandic, Finn, Shetland and seven of the English longwool breeds).
Gotland Sheep by Malene Thyseen.
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Gotland sheep by Berit from Redhill Surrey, UK
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Fiber Information:
- Staple length: 3-7 inches, but can be much longer
- Fiber description: 18-mid-20s in lambs and 27-34 in adults
- Lanolin: Fairly low lanolin
- Fleece size: 5.5-11lbs
- Animal size: Medium – ewes weigh 120-155 and rams are 165-190
- Notes: This wool type is a longwool, with lovely wavy locks that curl at the tips. It spins exceptionally well for me in to smooth, fine yarns.
- Fleece type: Ryder classifies them as Medium, Generalized Medium and Hairy Medium. The more primitive Gute sheep is classified as true Hairy or Hairy Medium. (Ryder, Sheep & Man, 527)
Gotland Sheep at the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival, 2014.
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Gotland Sheep at the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival, 2014.
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Resources:
Dýrmundsson, Ólafur and Niznikowski, Roman. “North European short-tailed breeds of sheep : a review,” 59th Annual Meeting of the European Association for Animal Production. 2008
Ekarius, Carol and Robson, Deborah. The Fleece & Fiber Sourcebook: More Than 200 Fibers, from Animal to Spun Yarn (Storey Publishing, LLC), 2011.
Oklahoma State University. “Breeds of Livestock Project”. www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/sheep/
Ryder, M. L. Sheep & Man (Gerald Duckworth & Co.), 1983.
Ryder, M. L. "A Survey of European Primitive Breeds of Sheep," Annales de Génétique et de Sélection Animale. 13, no. 4: 381−418, 1981.
Dýrmundsson, Ólafur and Niznikowski, Roman. “North European short-tailed breeds of sheep : a review,” 59th Annual Meeting of the European Association for Animal Production. 2008
Ekarius, Carol and Robson, Deborah. The Fleece & Fiber Sourcebook: More Than 200 Fibers, from Animal to Spun Yarn (Storey Publishing, LLC), 2011.
Oklahoma State University. “Breeds of Livestock Project”. www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/sheep/
Ryder, M. L. Sheep & Man (Gerald Duckworth & Co.), 1983.
Ryder, M. L. "A Survey of European Primitive Breeds of Sheep," Annales de Génétique et de Sélection Animale. 13, no. 4: 381−418, 1981.
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