Not tall, bright white
Quick to take flight
Wool 50s, compact, nifty!
Escape to the field, quite shifty!

Clean legs and face,
To the food-it's a race!
Good moms, nice lambs.
Good growth, solid rams.

Compact-bodied and versatile best describes this breed. They show the best traits of a dual purpose breed: prolific, hardy, good mothers, medium wool, and developing a nice carcass. They may be slower to grow than the well known meat breeds like Suffolk and Hampshire, but some say the wait is worth it. Originally from the Scottish Hills, this breed has developed the ability to survive harsh, cold conditions. They are thrifty grazers and will spread out in a pasture to look for forage. They are easy keepers with feet that stay sound. The wool diameters from our small flock were measured by the Montana State University (and AWC) to be between 29 and 32 microns. The Cheviot wool is easy to wash, easy to card and easy to spin. It makes really nice quilt batts and takes dye well. For felting, Cheviot stands up to more agitation and abrasion without compacting as much as the finer wools. It is good for inner layers of projects that require a more firm structure. We obtained our small flock of Cheviots, knowing very little about the breed and have come to appreciate their character.