Sheep can come in a number of different shades of various colors including white, black, red, cream, gray, and brown. They can be solid or have an interesting pattern of colors on their coats of wool or hair. It really all depends on their breed, bloodline, and genetics.
There are at least six primary sheep colors, from brown to red to cream to gray. Some sheep have multiple colors (a white body and black head, for example). Shetland Sheep Society colours and markings.
There are eleven main whole colours in Shetland sheep, with many shades and variants in between. Shetland wool comes in one of the widest ranges of colors of any breed. Click the links below to see examples of some of the many colors.
White Greys to Black (listed from light to dark) Light Grey Grey Emsket - dusky bluish-grey Shaela - dark steely-grey, like black frost Black Browns (listed from light to dark) Musket - light greyish-brown Fawn Mioget - light moorit (yellowish. Fiber tips retain the birth color, as the new wool growth becomes paler in color until the process is complete, usually after the 6th to 8th month of age. Please note, there is a difference between this form of gray and the age.
White Markings and Patterns in Shetland Sheep Bersugget - Having irregular patches of differing colours Bielset - Having a circular band of a different colour round the neck Bioget - With a white back and darker sides and belly, or vice-versa Blaeget - Having a lighter shade on the outer part of the wool fibre, especially in moorit and dark. Believe it or not, that's all the basic terminology needed to understand sheep color genetics. It's also helpful, though, to define the colors we'll be talking about.
There are three ways of looking at color related to sheep color genetics: The color we see when we examine the animal and its fiber The name that color may have when we register the animal or talk about color with other breeders. The image of a fluffy white sheep grazing peacefully in a green field is iconic. But how many of us have stopped to consider the true diversity of sheep colors? Beyond the classic white, a vibrant spectrum of hues adorns the woolly coats of these gentle creatures.
Understanding the range of sheep colors not only reveals the fascinating world of genetics and animal breeding but also sheds light. Colors & Markings One of the unusual aspects of Shetland Sheep is the broad variety of colors and markings found in the breed. The names used to describe markings are the original ones used by the Shetland Islanders to describe their sheep.
Sheep are often associated with the color white, but the reality is that sheep come in a diverse range of hues. From the snowy white of Merino sheep to the speckled gray of Karakul sheep, and the rich brown of Jacob sheep to the solid black of Icelandic sheep, the color of a sheep depends on its breed.