Which To Choose?

[mrbstephens]

I've been offered a few sheep from two different places.

The first place is a public farm where they run programs for 4H. These lambs (ewes) are FREE and are Cotswold. Healthy, up to date on shots and used to being handled.

The second place is a local zoo. They have 3 lambs to choose from all are a cross (they think) of cheviot and dorset. They don't know off hand the genders, but they know that all boys have been castrated. They are also healthy and used to being handled. They are selling them by the pound, so these lambs are about $90 each.

I would like two sheep that are friendly and that I could harvest their fiber from to spin. I am not totally familiar with either breed, but I've heard good things about the Cotswold. Don't know a thing about the other two.

I'm looking for recommendations. I have a hard time deciding and which ever I go with will live a happy life with me on my little homestead and they others will most likely wind up on someone's plate. TIA!

Edited to add; All sheep are white.

 

[Four Winds Ranch]

I would pick the Cotswold, cause the price is right! I have never owned Cotswold but have heared that they have good wool. Also, healthy is very important!
Up to you!

 

[SheepGirl]

I would go with the cotswold--they are free and a wool breed.

Plus you can breed them when you want to.

 

[mrbstephens]

Thank you!!! Questions about the Cottswold. Is the fiber considered a very itchy wool? Is it a long fiber? Easy or difficult to spin?

Anything I should know about this breed as far as care?

 

[SheepGirl]

Here is some info:
http://www.sheepusa.org/Cotswold

Fiber is considered long wool. Fine wool is often used for clothing because it has a narrow fiber diameter. Long wool fiber is coarse--it has a thick fiber diameter. So probably not good for clothing, but it will be fine for throw rugs, blankets, etc. Long wool is generally the easiest to spin.

All sheep breeds are taken care of generally the same; Cotswold ewes are big (about 200 lbs), so they will require more feed than the average 150 lb ewe.

 

[mrbstephens]

Would it mix well with angora? I have an angora bunny and love his fiber for spinning!

 

[mrbstephens]

I'm getting two Cotswold lambs and they're being delivered next week!! Woohoo!!!

 

[mrbstephens]

Hey! Could I potentially milk these ewes (if they were to lamb of course) and make cheese???

 

[bonbean01]

Congrats!!!!

No clue about milking...when I tried to milk a little for extra for supplementing one lamb from another ewe who had more than enough milk for her lamb...did not get ONE drop...

Did you know that the real Greek Yogurt in Greece is so yummy because they use sheep milk...what we get here is cow's milk with more cream and thickeners...truly not the same according to my daughter when she and her family visited Greece.

 

[mrbstephens]

Congrats!!!!

No clue about milking...when I tried to milk a little for extra for supplementing one lamb from another ewe who had more than enough milk for her lamb...did not get ONE drop...

Did you know that the real Greek Yogurt in Greece is so yummy because they use sheep milk...what we get here is cow's milk with more cream and thickeners...truly not the same according to my daughter when she and her family visited Greece.

I did not know that! I did read that sheeps milk is delicious and has a higher fat content. So a gallon of sheep's milk will produce more cheese than a gallon of goat's milk. I did find somewhere on the net that any lactating sheep will give milk.