Meet the Sheep

Meet the Morehouse Merino Sheep

Our sheep and wool have won many prestigious awards and our stud rams can be found at leading fine-wool sheep ranches and farms across the country and Canada.

Our Merino sheep are busy producing offspring and growing their incredibly soft wool. The future for this amazing wool producing animal looks bright because there is nothing like wearing pure Merino wool.

learn more about the farm Learn more about their wool

About Morehouse Farm & Merino Sheep

Merino is one of the oldest breeds of sheep.

Merino sheep originally lived in Spain and, during the Middle Ages, Spain’s wealth was based on the fine wool Merino sheep. They were protected by a powerful council of shepherds and it was a capital offense to export a Merino sheep. In 1809, Napoleon’s invasion of Spain gave the world access to the prized Merino sheep. Today, most Merino wool is grown in Australia, where the head of a magnificent horned Merino ram adorns the official government seal.

Yes, we do. Black Merino sheep are quite rare and it took us many years to build up our flock to a sizable number. We use the wool from black Merino sheep to blend with white wool for our Merino yarn in natural colors.
> Blending black and white wool

Because of its superior quality. It is the most luxurious wool in the world.

Merino wool is the finest and softest wool grown by sheep.

Super fine and ultra fine Merino wool is as fine or finer than cashmere. And sheep grow wool, while cashmere comes from a goat and is, technically speaking, down or hair – but not wool.

Superfine Merino wool is 16 or 17 micron, and ultrafine is 13 to 15 micron.

A measurement for fiber diameter. One micron measures one millionth of one meter.

Once a year, usually in Spring.

The coat of wool shorn from one sheep.

Between 10 and 18 lbs. More from rams, because of their larger size.

About 4 or 5, after washing and processing the wool.

10 to 15 years old.

Sheep normally lamb once a year, in Spring or in Fall.

That depends on the breed. Merino sheep usually have one or two lambs.

A ewe is a female adult sheep, and a ram is a male adult sheep. And a lamb is a young sheep, male or female, under one year of age.

Meat from sheep one year old or older.

On the Merino breed, only the males have horns. On some other breeds, both males and females have horns. However, most breeds of sheep have no horns at all. They are called polled sheep.

Worldwide, over 450.

In the Summer, sheep graze on pasture. And in Winter, they are fed hay and grain.

Our sheep are well cared for and we treat them with kindness.