Tasmania, a picturesque island located off the coast of Australia boasts a population of 2.5 million sheep. Even in a country known for its sheep population (3.3 sheep per person in Australia), that is an impressive number of sheep. But Tasmania also has its own unique contribution to the world of sheep farming - the Cormo sheep.

Sheep first set hoof on the shores of Tasmania in 1803, shortly after the island was colonized by British settlers. Among the early imports were Saxon Merinos and a few other sheep breeds brought by the Van Diemen's Land Company. These Saxon Merino sheep, renowned for their fine wool, were descendants of the some of the earliest Merinos legally exported from Spain in 1765, which were gifted by King Ferdinand IV of Spain to his cousin Prince Xavier of Saxony.

In the early 1960s, Ian Downie, a fifth-generation sheep farmer and owner of a flock of superfine Saxon Merinos, became concerned about his flock’s fertility. They were not successfully producing lambs at a the rate he wanted, which he attributed to the low protein content of native Tasmanian grasses. Looking to also increase wool production and quality, growth rate, and size, he set out to create a new breed of sheep that would be ideally suited to his needs. Downie collaborated with agricultural and genetic scientists to develop a breeding program. Corriedale rams, chosen for their size, fertility, and fast growth, were bred with Saxon Merinos. The resulting sheep were carefully graded to meet Downie's criteria, and they became the basis of his breeding program. The name Cormo itself is a blend of Corriedale and Merino.

Cormo sheep are bred to produce fine wool, measuring between 17-23 microns, in addition to increased fertility, size, and growth rate. These desirable characteristics soon attracted attention beyond Tasmania. In 1976, Cormo sheep made their debut in the United States when American farmer Travis Jones imported 12 ewes and 2 rams from Downie. An additional 525 Cormo sheep arrived in 1979, thanks to the efforts of Jones and other farmers. The primary goal was to improve wool production in the US by breeding Cormo sheep with other flocks. However, many American farmers also established purebred Cormo flocks, leading to the formation of the American Cormo Sheep Association (ACSA) in the same year as the first Cormo imports. As a result of being developed for the hot summers and cold, snowy winters of Tasmania, Cormo sheep do well in a variety of climates. As a result, Cormo sheep have also found their way to other countries with diverse climates, including Argentina, China, Italy, and Belgium.

One of the things that sets Cormo sheep apart from other breeds is the scientific approach to their breeding. Instead of relying on pedigree, sheep are selected for breeding based on strict criteria such as fleece weight, fiber diameter, growth rate, body weight, and fertility. Cormo breed associations adhere to rigorous scientific and lab procedures, with data being meticulously stored and analyzed in databases. The Cormo breeding program is one of the most scientifically rigorous in the world.

Cormo wool is a favorite among spinners. With a staple length of 3.5-4 inches and a diameter between 17-23 microns, it can rival some of the finest Merino. However, Cormo is a little springier and has an even softer hand than Merino. We recommend using Cormo in anything you would make out of Merino – it is soft and comfortable to wear next to the skin, making it a perfect fiber for sweaters, tops, scarves, and shawls. Ready to try out this modern breed? Check out what we have in the shop!