Category: Shetland

Raising Rare Sheep Breeds for Unique Wool

Check out this interesting story from Lancaster Farming’s Drew Oberholtzer (doberholtzer@lancasterfarming.com) and video from Wrightsville (Lancaster County), PA’s Flying Fibers Farm.  Remember – all wool has a purpose!

Some of the most fascinating sheep in America are also some of the hardest to find.

At Flying Fibers, they are raising rare and heritage breeds like Shetland, Leicester Longwool and the North American Wensleydale, each producing wool with its own unique characteristics.

But why did these breeds become so rare and what makes their wool different?

Join us to see how Flying Fibers is working to preserve a piece of America’s wool heritage.

Click here to watch their short video!

 

 

Livestock Conservancy Shave Em to Save Em Campaign

Rules

Although not mentioned in the rules, providers (which must be Livestock Conservancy members) can not sell conservation breed wool that is not from their own animals (per correspondence with the Livestock Conservancy late 2018).

Fiber Artists:

This is a great program to help save rare breeds of sheep and also to learn more about the characteristics of their fiber.  Even if you don’t pursue the program you can search through our member listings to locate those near you who are raising rare breeds on the Livestock Conservancy lists.  By purchasing products from them you are also helping to preserve these rare breeds.  For a list of breeds see the next 2 links below.

Heritage Sheep Breeds List by Conservation Priority Status (annually updated web page)

Flyer for Providers Promoting Program to Fiber Artists

For full info see the Livestock Conservancy website:  http://livestockconservancy.org/index.php/involved/internal/SE2