Welcome To Chocolate Wool NZ
Beginning as a small hobby in 1998 with
the unique Gotland Pelt sheep breed, Chocolate Wool NZ now supplies local spinners, craft shops and customers with
naturally coloured wool. My prime
focus is on supplying customers with the highest quality fleece and
carded wool in an array of natural colours.
I am personally involved with the breeding of the sheep
through to the selling of the final product. My Gotland sheep are bred on
my parent's farm in the Hakataramea Valley, South Canterbury in the
South Island of New Zealand
In 2000 a small number of Coloured Merino were
introduced
to the flock with the aim of combining the softness of the Merino wool
with the wide range of natural colours from the Gotland. The subsequent
wool from both breeds has been used for blending, and resulting fleeces
called Merland, unique to Chocolate Wool NZ.
In 2008 Coloured Polwarth ewes were added to the flock to
produce the blend ‘Polland’. Both the Merland and Polland are
approximately 50/50 blends.
In New Zealand the
Gotland is considered a minor breed and has been given a
rare breed status. Consequently, I am determined to help promote this breed
and educate those who are unaware of its existence. Above all, I
endeavour to ensure that the Gotland continues to develop
as a sheep breed and remains part of the coloured sheep breed community in
New Zealand.
Hamish Black
Sheep Numbers in My Flock
Ewes and hoggets Lambs
Gotland breeding ewes: 19 Gotland/Polwarth
X: 5
White Merino/Gotland X ewes: 1
Gotland/Merino X: 6
Coloured Corriedale ewes: 1
Gotland wether lambs: 25
Coloured Merino ewes: 4
Gotland ewe lambs: 14
Colored Polwarth ewes: 4
Number of Lambs: 50
Gotland ewe hoggets: 13
Number of Ewes & hoggets:
42
Rams
Gotland rams & pet wether 'Smithy': 6
Coloured Merino & Polwarth rams: 2
Number of Rams: 8
Total Stock =
100
Wool Update (16/11/2009)
Wool Status
Sheep Update
(03/11/2009)
The Gotland breeding ewes have finished lambing.
In total there were 39 pure Gotland
lambs born. All stock are in healthy condition.
Chocolate Wool NZ
Hamish Black
Address: Hakataramea Valley, R.D.
Kurow,
South Island, New Zealand
Phone: +64 (03) 436 0481
E-mail:
hamish@chocolatewoolnz.com
© Chocolate Wool NZ