Shetland Sheep Colours, Markings, and Patterns

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There are eleven main whole colours in Shetland sheep, with many shades and variants in between. The eleven whole colours are shown in the images below, which are taken from photographs by the late Dr SHU Bowie. There are two samples of Shaela because of differing meanings in different parts of the Shetland Isles.

* Information and images via http://www.shetland-sheep.org.uk/page.php?Plv=2&P1=6&P2=4&P3=

Markings and Patterns in Shetland Sheep  

Bersugget

Bielset

Bioget 

Blaeget 

Blaget                               

Blettet                              

Bleset/Sneedled             

Brandet                           

Bronget                           

Flecket                    

Fronet                              

Gulmoget                        

Ilget                                  

Iset                                   

Katmoget                        

Katmollet                        

Kraiget                             

Kranset                           

Krunet                           

Marlit                             

Mirkface                         

Moget-faced                 

Mullit                             

Sholmet                         

Skeget                           

Smirslet                         

Snaelit                           

Sokket                           

Sponget                        

Yuglet                            

Having irregular patches of differing colours

Having a circular band of a different colour round the neck

With a white back and darker sides and belly, or vice-versa

Having a lighter shade on the outer part of the wool fibre, especially in moorit and dark brown sheep.

White, with irregular dark patches resembling ground partly snow covered

With white patches on nose and top of head

Dark coloured with a white stripe (blaze) down the forehead

Having stripes of another colour across the body (i.e. going over the back)

Dark coloured with light coloured breast, or vice versa

White with large black or brown patches (not as well defined as in Jacob sheep when in full fleece)

Black/brown spotted with white head and black/brown spots around the eyes

Having light underparts with a dark coloured body, white inside the ears and under the jaw ('Mouflon' pattern)

White with spots of a different colour (usually grey or black)

Black or shaela with many white fibres, giving a bluish hue from a distance

Having a light coloured body with dark belly and legs and a moget face. The reverse of Gulmoget

Having light coloured nose and jaws

Having the neck a different colour from the rest of the body

Dark coloured with white around eyes and head

Dark coloured with a white patch on the top of the head

Various shades of different colours, mottled

White with dark patches on the face

Applied to the characteristic face markings of the Katmoget pattern on sheep not otherwise displaying that pattern

White with dark nose and jaws - the reverse of Katmollet

Of any colour, other than white, with a white face

Stripes of different colours on the sides, not going over the back

With white around the mouth head or neck

Light coloured body with snow-white face

With legs of a different colour to the body - giving the effect of wearing socks

Dark coloured with small white spots

Having colour around eyes different from remainder of the body

Selection of pictures showing a few of the markings found in Shetland Sheep Society member's flocks.

Bersugget

Bielset

Bleset

Bleset

Gulmoget

Katmoget

Katmoget

Krunet

Smirslet

Yuglet