This fiber is from the United States.

Cormo were developed in the early 1960's in Tasmania, from Corriedale rams and superfine Saxon Merino ewes, resulting in a sheep which was 1/4 Lincoln, 1/4 Australian Merino and 1/2 Superfine Saxon Merino. This work was refined by Mr. Ian Downie of Dungrove, the driving force behind the creation of the Cormo breed, who maintains an extremely scientific and strick breeding program and a nucleus breeding flock, with only the top 3% of rams being used for breeding. Mr. Downie continues to maintain ideal traits of the breed through culling of any rams or ewes which exhibit commercial faults.

Cormo sheep were first introduced to the United States in 1976, when Mr. Travis Jones purchased 12 rams and 12 ewes from Mr. Downie.  The American Cormo Sheep Society purchased semen from Mr. Downie, and now has it available to US breeders wishing to broaden their gene pool and improve their own stock with certified semen direct from the original source.

Cormo sheep fleece is dense, elastic, extremely soft and free of kemp, with a staple length of 3-5 inches and micron count of 17-23. It is wonderful to next-to-skin wear, and beautiful spun for lace.

Cormo is not considered a rare breed in the United States, or in New Zealand which has 65,000 cormo listed, but has been listed as critically rare in Australia since 2004.