Why Choose Gotland Sheep?

Historically and culturally Gotland sheep are raised in Sweden and Denmark for their beautiful, luxurious sheepskins. Lambs are born in the spring, they are shorn about 6 weeks before going to market, and the sheepskins go to the tannery where they are processed into a luxury product. Gotland sheep are appealing because they are so versatile:

• They are raised for their pelts, and meat.
• As a slow growing sheep, the meat is very mild, and quite tasty.
• The pelts are a luxury item, that can be displayed over a couch or a chair. Pelts can be sewn into blankets (skinnfell), or into clothing (vests, hats, mittens, slippers).
• In the process of being raised for a beautiful pelt, they grow beautiful fleeces twice a year. Staple length can be as long as 7 to 8 inches with the right access
  to nutrition, and grass protein.
• Wool has many applications. As a long wool, and considered a coarser wool, adult fleeces can be blended, or not, for yarn, roving, or rug yarn. Lamb fleeces
  delight hand spinners and provide softer blends of yarn. Gotland wool is perfect for outerwear knitted fashion, shawls (because of its drapey quality), as well as
  socks for its durability. The wool is a delight to wet felt with, it felts fast and it is strong, ideal for felted rugs, blankets and other home goods. The wool is also used in weaving for finer pieces, blankets or rugs.
• Gotland sheep are perfect for the farmstead. Medium sized, and quite friendly, they become ideal sheep to move around in regenerative agriculture, and
  rotational grazing. Their manure will benefit the gardens.

Other Uses for Gotland Wool

• Did you know that any wool that does not make it into the pile to be sent to the mill or to hand spinners, can have other applications? Turn your wool into wool pellets to fertilize and conserve water (wool is loaded with nitrogen), or if you do not want to make pellets, simply put it down in your garden around your plants. Slugs beware!
• Lastly, wool is an excellent source of insulation.