The Corriedale is one of the oldest known crossbreeds to see major farming adoption, first created in Australia and New Zealand around the same time in 1868. The original goal of the breeding effort was to improve the hardiness of the Merino by crossing it with the Lincoln, producing offspring that could survive in low rainfall regions; the end result was a sheep that was not only hardier, but that had a long-staple wool and was excellent in terms of meat production.
Exported to America in 1914, Corriedales are now a common population in just about every shepherd’s herd across the world. They are known to be a great dual-purpose livestock animal, reliably producing both fleece and food.
The fleece itself is 25-30 microns in diameter. Spinners love it because of the staple length (typically 8.9 to 15 cm) and distinctive crimp. It’s also great for felting. You can use the fleece for medium-weight outerwear, light tweed garments, dresses and even felted footwear or floor mats.