Natural Colored Corriedales

Marble Peaks Ranch produces natural colored Corriedale sheep.  The Corriedale is a dual purpose breed that produces both a high-yield fleece and a good quality carcass.  Mature sheep are large-framed, with rams weighing from 200 to 300 pounds and ewes from 150 to 250 pounds.  The wool is a medium type, spinning count 54 - 60, with a staple length of 3 to 5 inches.  Corriedale wool is easy to spin, and with a distinct, even crimp that creates elastic yarns.

We select for superior-quality fleeces that are dense, uniform, have well-defined crimp, soft handle, and long staple length.  We breed for sound conformation, favoring large-frames and high rate of post-weaning gain.  Ewes are selected for easy lambing, strong maternal instinct, and good milk production.

All our breeding stock are registered with the Natural Colored Wool Growers Association, www.ncwga.org.  (The American Corriedale Association will only permit registration of white sheep.) 

Our sheep carry a dominant black gene for color.  The lambs are born black and the sheep usually remain black as yearlings.  As they mature, most will turn gray, with the shade varying from charcoal to light silver.  A few of our sheep possess a recessive gene for white, and can produce white offspring if mated to another carrier.

 
Our current crop of natural colored Corriedale lambs was born between January 15 and February 16, 2010.  We will have a nice selection of colored registered ewe and ram lambs available for sale beginning in May.