I only have x's (ShetlandxBL) so suppose I shouldn't say anything - but I shear once a year and folks LOVE this cross. It is very multi- purpose, has a steady even crimp (3-4 per inch) and staple length of 5-8 inches for a year depending on the animal. You can spin it soft or hard, and it felts beautifully. I think this breeder will discover that her staple length will not actually be 10" if she did not shear twice a year. I find that my sheep go through periods of growth on their fleeces depending on weather, plane of nutrition (time of year, state of pasture) etc. I have staple lengths occasionally of up to 11" (a bit over the top even for a Shetland, mine usually are in the 4-8" range) and have never had a problem processing it or having it done commercially. You just have to do some research and find a small mill that can handle long staple lengths. Woolly Knob claims to be able to handle 20" staple lengths (long wooled llama for example) ... and yes, they do a wonderful job! that said, I would steer a prospective buyer who is a beginner away from one of those ultra-long fleeces and suggest to them that a more moderate staple length would be easier for them to handle.
I do not find that having long staple lengths is in any way 'hard on' any of my animals or cause them ill or poor health - in fact the 'woolier' animals enjoy freedom from our biting flying bugs here in NH! The animals who don't grow a fleece as rapidly actually have to get bug spray on to give them some relief! Of course my animals always have access to fresh water and trees or ledges for shade.... they are not simply out in a wide open field. Nadine Nadine Chounet Painted Knoll Farm New Hampton, NH [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.paintedknollfarm.net/index.html Registered Shetland Sheep for breeding/fiber/pets Fleeces and rovings also available [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
