Cotswold

Cotswold sheep are an English longwool breed from the limestone hills of the Cotswolds, historically tied to the wool trade that shaped much of that region. They are large, polled sheep with white faces, a heavy fleece, and a forelock that frames the face. The long, lustrous locks are a key reason handspinners and conservation flocks still seek them out, while the frame and growth make them useful beyond fiber alone.

Cotswolds are usually kept as a dual-purpose heritage breed, producing substantial lambs and a fleece better suited to combing, spinning, and specialty wool than to fine-wool markets. Flocks do best where grazing is not too sparse and where long fleeces can be kept reasonably clean. Breeders often balance size and fleece quality with practical traits such as sound feet, mothering, lamb survival, and easy handling. Buyers should ask whether a flock selects mainly for show, handspinning fleece, commercial lambs, or breed conservation.

Colors: Badgerface, Black, Blackbelly, Brown, Gray, Gulmoget, Katmoget, Moorit, Occasionally Natural Gray, Piebald, Red, Silver, Spotted, Tan, White, White with Black Points, White with Brown Points