The Dutch Spotted Sheep (DSS) are a breed to watch. They were developed in the Netherlands with the original Dutch association, Nederlands Bonte Schaap, established on October 2, 2006. In 2015, the Dutch Spotted Sheep Society was formed in the UK and the first ‘Spotties’ were imported from the Netherlands. The Dutch Spotted Sheep Society US (DSSSUS) was officially formed in December 2022 as a 501(c)5 non-profit organization. We are carefully selecting bloodlines and quality genetics to import the very first “Spotties” into the US in the autumn of 2023.
Based on descriptions and studies of paintings owned by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, we know that the Dutch Spotted Sheep originated around 1800. Generations of farmers and old documentation confirm that Dutch Spotted Sheep were kept in an area in the west of the Netherlands, commonly covered in lakes, bogs and swamps. Farmers reclaimed the area using connecting embankments and needed a hardy breed of sheep to maintain the grass but more importantly to eat any saplings. The sheep had to be able to walk long distances, due to the length of the embankments and also to withstand the acidic PH level of the peat bogs. They selected the traditional Dutch Spotted Sheep for the task and ultimately the breed played an important role in transforming the peat bogs into sod, strong enough to carry cows.
During the 1950s, farmers began to make use of the specific qualities of the traditional Dutch Spotted Sheep and crossed them with other breeds, such as Texel and Zwartble, to produce a sheep with greater profitability and benefits with the characteristics of a modern breed. For almost three decades DSS have not been crossed with any other breeds and are now a pure sheep in their own right. There are over 1000 breeders in mainland Europe, the majority of whom are in the Netherlands, but there are registered flocks in Germany, France, Spain, and Ireland in addition to those in the UK.
Dutch Spotted Sheep thrive on a grass-based system producing a quality meaty carcass. They are light boned with a large framework. Known for a high killing out percentage (KO% is expressed as the weight of the carcass in relation to the weight of the live animal), lean meat, and an exceptional taste. Ewes are easy lambing with high yields of plentiful milk. Lambs are on their feet quickly after birth and display a strong suckle reflex. Dutch Spotted Sheep exhibit good mouths and excellent hard feet. Mature weight: females 165lbs – 210lbs, males 255lbs – 300lbs. They are known for their ease of handling and inquisitive nature.
The Dutch Spotted Sheep Society US is excited to be working closely with the UK Society to import premium genetics to establish a sound foundation for the US Dutch Spotted Sheep.