The cotswold is a breed of sheep known to have grazed the spare hills of Gloustershire, England well before the sixteenth century. The cotswold sheep gave its name to the hilly region of England now known as the Cotswolds.

Cotswolds were first imported into the United States in 1832 followed by a few more in 1834. Large numbers of cotswolds arrived over the next 50 years. Cotswolds were one of the first purebred sheep to be registered in the US.

Colored cotswolds were first reported in 1868 when the National Livestock Journal published an article that described flocks of colored cotswolds being raised by two noted breeders in Bourbon County Kentucky. Colored fleeces in cotswolds, as in most other sheep breeds, have been strongly discouraged on both sides of the Atlantic until recently. The first registry recording black cotswold lambs was established in 1990.

Wool: The wool is curly, attractive, and lustrous, with a prominent wave falling in ringlets and of uniform length over the body. Twelve months growth will measure ten to twelve inches. An average fleece can weigh 12 to 15 pounds and yields about 60% after commercial processing. Spinning count is 40's (about 37 microns in diameter).

Body: These are medium to large sheep. They are stylish with evidence of mutton. Rams are stongly masculine and ewes distinctly feminine. Both sexes should demonstrate plenty of age-appropriate development. The whole body should have a firm, solid touch and be well covered with a dense, long, lustrous fleece. Faces are clean except with a long forelock over the top of the head. Ewes are excellent mothers.

Rare Breed: Cotswold sheep are a rare breed and recognized by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC).


www.blackcotswold.org: The Black Cotswold Society registers both white and colored cotswolds and can be found at the address above.

www.albc-usa.org: The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy is a nonprofit membership organization working to protect nearly 100 breeds of cattle, goats, horses, asses, sheep, swine and poultry from extinction.