It is especially interesting watching the lambs grow and develop this year. That is because we have done some cross breeding for the first time, and it is fascinating to see how the different breeds combine in the lambs. This is Bambam Too growing up. He is our only pure Shetland lamb.
Now compare him to Hank, from a Shetland ram and a Gotland Finn ewe. Hank is younger than Bambam but quite a bit larger.
And here is Hank’s sister Patsy. I do not see any Shetland characteristics in these sheep except their colors.
And then there’s Lambikins, again from the same ram but a Cotswold mother. To me she looks completely Cotswold.
And then there’s Little Magner from a different Shetland ram and a Gotland-Finn ewe, looking awfully Gotland to me.
What do you think? Do you see Shetland characteristics in these crossbred lambs?
PS They are for sale.
Patsy is so pretty! Love that face- I agree that there aren’t a lot of obvious shetland characteristics in the crosses, but it looks like Lambikins might be a little finer-boned than a pure cotswold- and hard to tell for certain from the photo, but I’m guessing her fleece is a bit loftier and crimper than her mamas?
Thanks Denise! To me Lambikins legs look really thick but I am used to Shetlands. Her fleece is not crimpy. It looks like her mither’s with the curl and sheen.
Funny story, way back when when I was trying to choose a breed of sheep, one of my criteria was not to have skinny legged sheep. They just looked fragile to me. Well u fell in love with Shetlands anyway, despite their stick legs!
I don’t know, I think Patsy looks a lot like Shetland – and she has the skinniest legs – is Lambikins wool soft? T.
Thanks Tina! Patsy has the pheo on her legs like a Shetland. Lambikins wool is soft, but most lambs are.
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