J288 The Journal for WSD

Spanish Sheep Breeds — Discovering New Wools and Their History: Part 1 Teresa Cabellos, Online Guild

I really find the history of the Merino breed very interesting, as the origin of the Merino is a much-discussed topic on which various theories have been published. According to some sources, Merinos developed from a sheep breed originating in the Caspian area ( Ovis aries vineí ) that, after the long migratory process and influenced by the conditions of the different territories through which they acclimatised, developed profound morphological changes, before settling definitively in the Iberian Peninsula (what is now Spain and Portugal). However, more recent studies indicate Ovis aries turdetanus (a breed originating in the central area of the Iberian Peninsula) as the most probable predecessor. Historical research points out that around the fourteenth century what we now know as Merino sheep were selected from crossbreeding between that original breed settled in the Iberian Peninsula (be it O. a. vineí or O. a. turdetanus ) and breeds from North Africa. From the Middle Ages the kings of Castilla y León first, and later those of Spain, watched over the conservation of a breed that, by producing the best wool in the world, constituted a very important national wealth. Thus, laws forbidding the export of Merino sheep were put in place, breaking the law was punished even with the death penalty! Then, in the eighteenth century, with the monarchy of Carlos V, the first sheep were gifted, as breeding stock, to European

You may not know it, but Spain used to be one of the most important centres of the wool industry in the world. Sadly, as a result of historic and economic policies, this has changed dramatically and, even though our country still produces more than 23,000 tons of wool per year, most of it gets 'diluted' in the international market or, even worse, burnt or thrown away. We still have a long way to go before we can have a strong wool industry where concepts of traceability and breed-specific yarns are common. The UK wool market is a beacon to look upon. Thankfully, there is an increasing number of people; shepherds, farmers, wool producers, artisans… working really hard to bring value back to our autochthonous breeds of sheep and who are creating new and exciting yarns from their wool. In this article, and a next one, I will briefly talk about the history and characteristics of four different autochthonous Spanish breeds. I wrote these articles to advocate for our sheep, shepherds and yarn producers, with luck it will spark your curiosity to try some of our amazing wools! Merino sheep I cannot begin without talking about Merino sheep, an internationally known breed whose wool immediately evokes the idea of delicate and soft yarns.

Photo: Teresa Cabellos

Delicate Merino

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Journal for Weavers, Spinners and Dyers 288, Winter 2023