Border Leicester & Cotswold Sheep

Our flock consists of white and colored registered Border Leicester & registered Cotswold sheep. All sheep have been selected for superior fleece (wool), mothering ability and structural correctness. We do have spring pastured lambs available in the Spring of each year. Sheep on the homestead are an excellent sustainable living projest.

About Cotswold Sheep
The Cotswold is a long wool sheep breed developed on the Cotswold Hills in the west of England. Sheep have been known in that region since the time of the Roman conquest 2,000 years ago, and the Cotswold breed may descend in part from the white sheep brought to England by the Romans.

The Cotswold breed was the foundation for the economic development of the Cotswold region, which is marked by “wool” churches and estates. Wool profits also financed the exploration and trade expansion of the British Empire beginning in the Elizabethan Era to such an extent that even today the British Chancellor of the Exchequer sits on a ceremonial Cotswold wool sack.

The modern form of the Cotswold breed was developed between 1780 and 1820, and importations to the United States began about that time. The American Cotswold Record Association was established in 1878. The breed was particularly valued for crossing onto fine wool ewes to produce large lambs that could be used for meat or kept for their heavy fleeces. This success in crossbreeding, coupled with the lack of market demand for pure stock (thought to be too large and slow growing) led to the near extinction of the Cotswold by the middle of the 1900s. In the last twenty years, however, the breed has experienced a revival of interest, due primarily to the rediscovery of its wool by fiber crafters.

Cotswold fleece hangs in locks, and the fibers have a lustrous, silky sheen. A heavy forelock falling over the face is a characteristic of the breed. The fleece has a ten to thirteen inch staple length.

Cotswolds are large framed sheep, and mature animals weigh 200–300 pounds. They are efficient grazers, but require good forage for best performance. Cotswold sheep are known for their docile dispositions, and the ewes are excellent mothers. The breeds name reflects the traditional habitat of the sheep: “cots” for the cotes or small sheep folds where they were sheltered at night on the "wold," treeless hilly land.

Having the status of a rare breed, the Cotswold is one of the sheep breeds listed by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy as threatened endangered. There are fewer than 1,000 annual registrations in North America, with a global population estimated below 5,000.

Hand Spinning Hand Spinners can select from our hand spinning fiber including raw fleeces, wool and wool roving. All fleeces are heavily skirted to ensure that all the fiber you receive will be of prime hand spinning quality.

Doll Making (doll hair) Doll making enthusiasts will love locks from our Border Leicester and Cotswold sheep. They are ideal for doll hair, doll wigging, Santa beards and craft fiber. Cotswold sheep offer curly locks which are highly desirable for use in doll making, Santa making, Santa beards, and other doll making projects. Visit our Wool & Fiber page for more information.