Byssilana Sheep (Spotted Fine-Wool Project)

Byssilana is the name I gave a line of spotted, fine-wool sheep we are developing. "Byssa" is an ancient fine linen and "lana" is the Latin word for wool. Long before I got sheep, I had loved the big, bold spots of Jacob sheep, but when I got them I was disappointed in the coarseness and inconsistencey of their wool. When I stumbled upon a spotted Merino cross ram, the idea of a sheep colored like my Jacobs, but with finer wool, was born. The ewes I am using are mainly Cormo, CVM, and some with Jacob, Shetland, Romney, Corriedale and BFL blood. My foundation ram is my original MerinoX, Four Winds Murray. I also have gotten a spotted CVM ram lamb for the future and next year will be getting some spotted Merinos from the west coast, which should improve the wool quality even further.

Of course, it will be several years before I am producing consistent fleeces that are all spotted (spotting is a recessive gene and takes a few years of backcrosses to get all spotted lambs), but so far all these crosses have had beautiful, if variable, wool. Over time I hope to select for a sheep that is reasonably consistent in body and wool type. I am aiming for a medium/large, well-muscled sheep with brown or black spots. I am introducing the gulmoget gene from Shetlands since I love that pattern and it will not interfere with the sheep displaying spotting. I want them to produce large quantities of fine, crimpy wool with a long staple and to have some wool covering the face and legs but not to the extreme of the Merino. I will also breed for parasite resistance and hardiness. I only feed grain during lambing season, so thriftiness is important to me.

If you are looking for wool, or are interested in sheep for your flock, check our Available Sheep/Wool page.