White

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All shetland sheep are genetically either brown factored or black factored. White (Awt) is technically not a color, it is considered a pattern that covers up the base color. This ewe would be either black or brown underneath her white.     White is the most dominant pattern.      See info on pheomelanin and break-through base color further down the page.

It is not uncommon to see pheomelanin in an Awt sheep. Pheomelanin is a tan or orange colored pigmentation. It is usually seen on the ears, legs, and head. Although commonly mistaken for spotting, It is not true spotting as it does not occur at the "S" locus. .

Pheomelanin.

It is not uncommon to see black spotting on the ears or body of Awt white sheep. These spots are usually smaller than silver dollars.      This is also not considered real spotting, as it does not occur at the "S" locus. One hypothesis put forward proposes that this is possible "breakthrough base color".