Shetland fleeces come in the widest range of colors of any breed.

Shetland Sheep breeding associations have recognized eleven specific colors:

Variations of Black/White

Black, Shaela (Dark steely gray, “black frost”), Emsket (Dusky bluish gray), Gray, Light Gray, White (Accepts dyes very well)

Variations of Brown

Dark Brown, Moorit (Shades between fawn and dark reddish brown), Mioget (Light reddish brown, tawny), Fawn, Musket (Mooskit, Light, grayish brown)

More often than not, these little sheep will delight—or confound—their owners with some combination or shade of the eleven colors. Further, various colors or shades can appear on the same sheep in different patterns or “markings.”Over one hundred markings have been recognized for the Shetland sheep. For example in the picture, note the “flecket” marking of white on our little ewe, Daphne. Thirty different markings have been identified by the breeding associations.

A Shetland sheep's color can change from year to year. A good example is of Daphne. Daphne is now a gray kattamolet. She has a gray body with black face and legs. Each shearing of a colored Shetland is a limited edition!