How did Shetlands get from their Scottish homeland on remote islands in the North Sea to the Canadian prairies?
The first Shetlands to arrive in North America were a small flock imported by the Flett family in Saskatchewan in 1948. Read about these pioneers HERE. The Leafhaven flock in Manitoba started with three ewes that traced directly back to the Flett stock.
Not until 1980 did the next group arrive, 28 sheep sent to the Dailley farm in Ontario. From there, the breed quickly spread across Canada and the USA.
More info on the Dailley importation HERE
When the importation of live animals was no longer possible, some North American breeders turned to importing semen from UK rams for artificial insemination. The most recent AI import was in the fall of 2022, when several Manitoba breeders pooled their resources to increase the genetic diversity in local flocks of registered Shetland sheep, launching the Manitoba Shetland Sheep Project.
In North America there are two specific Shetland breed organizations (both based in the USA); the North American Shetland Sheep Association, and the Fine Fleece Shetland Sheep Association. Animals can also be registered with the Canadian Livestock Records Corporation.
Much useful and interesting information on Shetlands can be found on the UK Shetland Sheep Society website.
Current flocks in Manitoba include Prairie’s Edge Wool Farm, Long Way Homestead, Leafhaven Shetlands and Forever Prairie Ranch. Our closest registered flock in Saskatchewan is Red Ember Ranch.
We hope to add more to this list in the future!