Colors & Markings
One of the unusual aspects of Shetland Sheep is the broad variety of colors and markings found in the breed.
The names used to describe markings are the original ones used by the Shetland Islanders to describe their sheep.
COLORS
Determine
closest color match by parting fleece and looking at the fleece color next to skin at approx 6 months of age.
White
White Fleece is either pure white or may have very light tan or pale apricot shade (a result of pheomelanin) either in patches or evenly distributed across the fleece which usually fades to white before the lamb is6 months old. No traces of regular
brown or black fibers.
Light Grey
A mix of white/black fiber which as a blend, appear to be shades of silvery grey to almost white with
trace black fibers
Grey
A mix of white/black fiber which as a blend appear to be shades of med grey
Emsket
Dusky bluish grey in all fibers, (not a blend of white and black) varies from a brownish charcoal grey
to blue grey
Shaela
Dark steely-grey, like black frost
Black
Jet black to shades of warm or off black, tips may fade to dark brown
Musket
Light grayish-brown - A mix of white/brown fibers which as a blend appear to be shades from soft brown to
cream with trace brown fibers
Fawn
Dark honey brown or shades of medium to dark taupe
Mioget
Light moorit (yellowish-brown) Pale honey brown or shades of very light taupe, often with golden tones and
occasionally with a pinkish cast
Moorit
Wide range of shades of brown between fawn and dark reddish brown, tips may fade to pale yellowish brown
Dark Brown
Very deep brown, tips may fade to dark rust, lamb appears to be black at birth
Determine
closest color match by parting fleece and looking at the fleece color next to skin at approx 6 months of age.
White
White Fleece is either pure white or may have very light tan or pale apricot shade (a result of pheomelanin) either in patches or evenly distributed across the fleece which usually fades to white before the lamb is6 months old. No traces of regular
brown or black fibers.
Light Grey
A mix of white/black fiber which as a blend, appear to be shades of silvery grey to almost white with
trace black fibers
Grey
A mix of white/black fiber which as a blend appear to be shades of med grey
Emsket
Dusky bluish grey in all fibers, (not a blend of white and black) varies from a brownish charcoal grey
to blue grey
Shaela
Dark steely-grey, like black frost
Black
Jet black to shades of warm or off black, tips may fade to dark brown
Musket
Light grayish-brown - A mix of white/brown fibers which as a blend appear to be shades from soft brown to
cream with trace brown fibers
Fawn
Dark honey brown or shades of medium to dark taupe
Mioget
Light moorit (yellowish-brown) Pale honey brown or shades of very light taupe, often with golden tones and
occasionally with a pinkish cast
Moorit
Wide range of shades of brown between fawn and dark reddish brown, tips may fade to pale yellowish brown
Dark Brown
Very deep brown, tips may fade to dark rust, lamb appears to be black at birth
Patterns
Gulmoget
Dark colored upper fleece with light under parts including lower jaw, neck, belly, legs,and under tail. Head with light tear drops or bars by eyes. Light inside ears.
Katmoget
Light colored upper fleece with dark under parts including lower jaw, neck, belly, legs,and under tail. Badger face pattern with dark stripes or bars on face. Dark inside ears. Moget Faced Displaying the Katmoget facial pattern only -
without the body pattern
Dark colored upper fleece with light under parts including lower jaw, neck, belly, legs,and under tail. Head with light tear drops or bars by eyes. Light inside ears.
Katmoget
Light colored upper fleece with dark under parts including lower jaw, neck, belly, legs,and under tail. Badger face pattern with dark stripes or bars on face. Dark inside ears. Moget Faced Displaying the Katmoget facial pattern only -
without the body pattern
Markings
Bersugget
Irregular patches of different colors; variegated
Bielset
Having a complete circular band of different color around neck.
Bioget
With white back and darker sides and belly, or conversely.
Blaeget
Having a lighter shade on the outer part of the wool fiber, especially in moorit and dark brown sheep.
Blaget
White with irregular dark patches resembling ground partly snow covered.
Blettet
With white spots on nose and top of head
Bleset
Dark colored with white stripe down the forehead, or conversely.
Brandet
Having stripes of another color across body.
Bronget
Dark colored with light-colored breast, or conversely
Flecket
White with large black or brown patches (not as well defined as in Jacob sheep).
Fronet
Black-spotted with white head and black spots around eyes.
Gulmoget
Having light under parts with dark-colored body; opposite of katmoget.
Ilget
White with spots of a different color (usually grey or black).
Iset
Dark colored with many white fibers giving bluish hue from a distance
Katmoget
Having a light colored body with dark belly and legs, and moget facial markings.
Katmollet
Having light-colored nose and jaws
Kraiget
Having neck of different color from rest of body.
Kranset
Dark colored with white around eyes and neck.
Krunet
Dark colored with white patch on top of head
Marlit
Various shades of different colors, mottled.
Moget
Characteristic dark and light patches around mouth, eyes, and ears.
Mirkface
White with dark patches on face
Mullit
White with dark nose and jaws, or conversely,
Sholmet
Of any color, other than white, with a white face.
Skeget
Stripes of different colors on sides.
Smirslet
Dark colored with white around the mouth, head or neck
Sokket
With legs of a different color from that of the body.
Sponget
Dark colored with small white spots, or conversely.
Snaelit
Light-colored with snow-white face.
Yuglet
Having color around eyes different from remainder of body.
Irregular patches of different colors; variegated
Bielset
Having a complete circular band of different color around neck.
Bioget
With white back and darker sides and belly, or conversely.
Blaeget
Having a lighter shade on the outer part of the wool fiber, especially in moorit and dark brown sheep.
Blaget
White with irregular dark patches resembling ground partly snow covered.
Blettet
With white spots on nose and top of head
Bleset
Dark colored with white stripe down the forehead, or conversely.
Brandet
Having stripes of another color across body.
Bronget
Dark colored with light-colored breast, or conversely
Flecket
White with large black or brown patches (not as well defined as in Jacob sheep).
Fronet
Black-spotted with white head and black spots around eyes.
Gulmoget
Having light under parts with dark-colored body; opposite of katmoget.
Ilget
White with spots of a different color (usually grey or black).
Iset
Dark colored with many white fibers giving bluish hue from a distance
Katmoget
Having a light colored body with dark belly and legs, and moget facial markings.
Katmollet
Having light-colored nose and jaws
Kraiget
Having neck of different color from rest of body.
Kranset
Dark colored with white around eyes and neck.
Krunet
Dark colored with white patch on top of head
Marlit
Various shades of different colors, mottled.
Moget
Characteristic dark and light patches around mouth, eyes, and ears.
Mirkface
White with dark patches on face
Mullit
White with dark nose and jaws, or conversely,
Sholmet
Of any color, other than white, with a white face.
Skeget
Stripes of different colors on sides.
Smirslet
Dark colored with white around the mouth, head or neck
Sokket
With legs of a different color from that of the body.
Sponget
Dark colored with small white spots, or conversely.
Snaelit
Light-colored with snow-white face.
Yuglet
Having color around eyes different from remainder of body.
