The California Red sheep breed produces sheep that are born a rusty-red color, but their wool lightens to a creamier color as they age. Their heads, necks, and legs retain the rustic red color, hence their name. 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.
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 brown sheep. Blaget - White, with irregular dark patches resembling ground partly snow covered. 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. Shetland Sheep Colors, Markings, Patterns, Fine Fleece Shetland Sheep Association, Characteristics, Traditional 1927. 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. 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.
Bersugget - irregular patches of different colors; variegated. Bielset.