Characteristics of Different Breeds

Basic characteristics of breeds that are commonly available among coloured sheep in New Zealand.

Romney

33-37 micron, 125-175mm, some lustre, Many purposes, including outer garments and rugs, The most numerous breed in New Zealand. Most popular breed with handcrafters.
See also: Spinners' notes for this breed.

Merino

14-25 micron, 65-100mm, little lustre, Suitable for luxury garments and baby wear. Popular for felting, Fine soft wool often with a waxy tip.
See also: Spinners' notes for this breed.

Polwarth

23-26 micron, 75-110mm, more lustrous than merino, Fine and soft wool, suitable for knitted or woven garments and for felting, Developed from 3/4 Merino, 1/4 Lincoln.
See also: Spinners' notes for this breed.

NZ Halfbred

25-13 micron, 75-110mm, medium lustre, suitable for medium-weight yarn and for felting. Similar to fine Corriedale, First cross between a longwool breed ram such as Lincoln, English Leicester or Romney and a Merino ewe.
See also: Spinners' notes for this breed.

Corriedale

26-35 micron, 75-125mm, medium lustre, A very versatile breed, suitable for medium-weight yarn, developed from Lincoln and English Leicester crossed with Merino.
See also: Spinners' notes for this breed.

Poll Dorset

27-32 micron, 75-100 mm, low lustre, Very bulky, low lustre wool which makes a bouncy yarn. Hard to felt, Grows the longest wool of any of the Down type sheep.

Perendale

30-37 micron, 100-150mm, low lustre, Bouncy, low-lustre wool suitable for clothing, blankets, and many other uses. Does not felt easily, Developed from crossing Cheviot with Romney.
See also: Spinners' notes for this breed.

English Leicester

37-40 micron, 150-200mm, silky, lustrous, wool suitable for outer garments and rugs, called Leicester Longwool in Britain.

Finn

25-33 micron, 75-125mm, silky, Soft silky wool which handles like mohair, felts easily, and is suitable for garments and woven fabrics, also known as Finnsheep or Finnish Landrace.

Gotland

27-33micron, 100-150mm, silky, lustrous, Silky lustrous wool which makes soft-draping garments and is excellent for felting, called Gotland Pelt in their native Sweden.

East Friesian

28-33 micron, 75-125mm, low lustre, A low lustre wool, suitable for clothing and blankets. Does not felt easily, Primarily a milking breed.

Lincoln

38-44 micron, 175-250mm, lustrous, Strong wool with heavy lustrous staples, used in furnishings and wig making. Finer fleeces can be blended with mohair, Possibly the original longwool breed of England.

Drysdale

40 micron plus, 200-300 mm, low lustre, Harsh hairy fleece suited to carpets and rugs, vital part of New Zealand carpet manufacture.

Suggested further reading:

• Information about New Zealand Sheep Breeds by Meat and Wool Innovation Ltd.
• Molly Duncan, Spin Your Own Wool. A.H. & A.W. Reed, NZ 1968, revised 1972.
• Nola Fournier and Jane Fournier, In Sheep's Clothing, a handspinner's guide to wool. Interweave Press, USA, 1995.
• A.E. Henderson, Wool and Woolclassing. A.H.& A.W. Reed, NZ 1965.
• A.E. Henderson, Growing Better Wool. A.H.& A.W. Reed, NZ 1968.
• New Zealand Wool Board, New Zealand Sheep and their Wool. The Grower Services Division, New Zealand Wool Board. NZ 1980, revised 1994.
• R.M.W. Sumner, Wool and How It Grows. A series of articles in the BCSBA Magazine, numbers 65-73, 1992-1994.