Wycoller Shetlands

What is for sale and how much?

Pedigree sheep
Wycoller shetlands normally have young stock for sale throughout the year. Varied colours and all registered with the Shetland Sheep Breeders Group.

All rams used are scrapie genotype tested and both the rams used for the 1999 lambs were the highest category R1 (ARR/ARR or AA/RR/RR).

If not already tested I am prepared to sell ram lambs or shearlings after I have had them tested. I would add the test fee (approx £50) to the price. If they fail (very unlikely given the breeding) the sale wouldn't go ahead. Unfortunately the test is too expensive given the sale prices for me to test all rams on spec.

Wycoller sheep aren't big! They spend the year outside in an exposed spot and aren't overfed. However they will thrive on more sheltered farms and cope well on similarly exposed fields.

The sheep can be seen at shows or sales by prior arrangement. Alternatively visits are always welcomed - why not make a weekend of it and stay at a local farm B&B!

• Typical lamb of those for sale. If you are especially interested in certain colours I can arrange to take photographs and email them to you.

Freezer lamb
Freezer lamb is available in the autumn locally (East Lancashire). Professionally slaughtered and butchered at around £1.75/lb. Very tasty and with the minimum of chemicals. Full and half lambs available. Possibly also by mail order within the UK. Unfortunately all of the 2001 lambs have been sent on the government Light Lamb disposal scheme. My usual abbatoir is also a working farm and cannot accept anything. I have no other means of marketing the meat.

Fleeces
Shetland fleeces are usually available from July to December, after which they go to the wool board. For hand spinners these are high quality, fine fleeces in all the main colours. Prices are around £5 per fleece and mail order is available for the actual postage cost. Weights vary, but a typical shetland fleece is around 1kg in weight. A Wycoller fleece was reserve fleece champion at the Great Yorkshire Show in 1998, having already won the shetland class.

Unfortunately it costs over 11 pounds sterling to post a fleece to the US, but this doesn't deter many buyers. Payment must be made in pound sterling. This can be either cash well concealed in a letter or by a cheque drawn on a UK Bank. Including added costs Wycoller shetland fleeces work out at about the same price as many good fleeces sold in the US.

December 2001 update - only a few fleeces left of show quality. Order now if you would like one!