Sheltering Pines Shetland Sheep |
Shetland Sheep: Flock Sires |
William Eatmon and Stephen Rouse 3031 102nd Avenue, Allegan, MI 49010-9734 ph. 269-673-7419 |
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Sheltering Pines Shetland Sheep Farm is located near Allegan in Allegan County, Michigan. We specialize in raising Shetland Sheep of various colors. We are able to offer some of the rarer patterns and spotted markings of Shetland sheep. We have been concentrating on bringing in genetics from the UK rams striving for finer fleeced Shetlands. We also have Shetland sheep fiber (in various states) available for the hand spinner, weaver, and knitter. Some of our fibres include raw fleece (wool), roving, and yarn. |
Shetland Sheep are a small breed and some people think of them as miniature sheep, although they are not. Shetland sheep can also make great pets and are famous for "wagging their tails" when being petted. If you are looking for miniature animals as pets you may consider the Shetland Sheep as they are very small in terms of the sheep world. The wool from Shetland Sheep is very fine and is a joy to spin, knit, and weave. |
Hits since Oct. 24, 2003 |
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Alpha, our Maremma livestock guardian dog - 1996 - May 21, 2009 |
Bill Eatmon with SheltrgPines Anastasia - March, 2000 |
Photos of Lambs born 2009 |
To see some photos of some of our ewes and breeding stock for sale click here |
shelteringpines@gmail.com |
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Alpha (left) with Bella (right) - 2006 |
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SheltrgPines Morgan le Fey (left) and Wintertime Blues (right) during 2008 breeding season. |
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SheltrgPines Bug (born May, 2009) |
SheltrgPines Ceylon - moorit/white smirslet/flecket ewe |
Shetland Sheep belong to the Northern Short-Tailed Group of sheep. They are fine boned and ewes can weigh between 75 - 100 pounds. Rams often range from about 100 - 125 pounds. Shetland sheep are the smallest of the British Breeds. Shetland wool is the finest of all the British breeds and is said to average at 23 microns in diameter. The NASSA website used to state this, but it mysteriously disappeared a couple of years ago. Shetland fleece is noted for its fineness of crimp and resilience. Rams are usually horned and ewes are most often polled although polled rams and horned ewes are not uncommon. NASSA (North American Shetland Sheep Association) goes by the 1927 Shetland Flock Book Society Breed Standard. It is published on the NASSA web site. That breed standard states that "WOOL - is Extra fine and soft texture". It goes on to state that coarse wool is a disqualification. The American Wool Council Glossary states that wool over 31 microns is considered to be coarse. It is generally accepted that wool from the midside (last rib) is within the range of extra fine. Also, britch wool should not cover an overly large area nor should it be overly coarse. We feel sheep that micron test over 28-30 microns as an adult should be culled from the gene pool. We also feel that the current trend for breeders to breed shetland sheep larger and larger for the meat judges in the show ring is irresponsible and against breed standard! |
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Matteo, Maremma Male Puppy brought to Sheltering Pines on Aug. 17, 2006 |
2009 Ewe Lambs being held for Evaluation |
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a rare foggy/frosty/sunny morning in february |