Sheep Quality yarns start with quality raw wool, and this is influenced greatly by the breed of sheep. Different breeds have been developed for different purposes. In Canada most sheep are of the meat-type breeds meant to produce market lambs. Some such as the Suffolk produce lambs which grow quickly and efficiently. Others like the Dorset will breed and produce lambs throughout the year.
All sheep produce wool, but the type of wool also varies with the breed.
Some such as the Merino or Rambouillet produce fine wool which refers to the thinness of the individual fibres. Others including the Lincoln and Leicester have wool with coarse, long fibres. Generally the meat breeds have coarser wool. Finer wool is softer to touch, and since there are more fibres in a given diameter, it produces stronger thread or yarn. At Shelridge Farm, we raise Polypay sheep.