[nutterly_uts]

Seen pics of these guys on FB. Does anyone know anything about them?

Are they no just a colour variation on a texel and refined?

http://www.bonteschapen.com/

[Kimbo]

Ive never heard of them but I think they look rather lovely. Don't look much like a Texel though.

[Herdygirl]

They look like they are a Zwartbles cross.  A lot better looking than the boring and tasteless Texel.

[nutterly_uts]

I like them too but not enough to get any from Holland!
Seen some pics of them with very blocky heads which is why i wondered if they had Texel in them

[firther]

they got similar heads to the blue texel so you might be right. never seen them before though

[SallyintNorth]

It would seem that they're modified Texels.  Bonte = pied, Schapen = Sheep.  ETA fokkerij = farming (had to look that one up)

They and their fleece was discussed on Ravelry four years ago.  I don't know if the type has received any official recognition since then.

[devonlady]

They look like giant Jacobs!

[Melmarsh]

Jacob x zwartbles Interesting , wonder if they have the naughty Jacob bit in them ??

[Marches Farmer]

Surely have a dash of Texel, with that broad skull?

[SallyintNorth]

Jacob x Zwartbles?  Where's that come from?

The article linked and translated by the Ravelry group read:

NLBS [Nederland Bonte Schappen, I assume] is not a recognised breed sofar- it is merely a club of sheep breeders that awaits recognision of the Dutch government. The breed is mainly bred from Texelaar schapen and because it lacks recognision it is officially not a breed, but a type of breed. No race to be named - is a quote from the chairman of the NLBS-club that is interviewed in this article. The sheep are living with the members of this club, but also not registered (with the club) sheep are known. Some 10.000 animals form the entire population, mainly in the region between the cities of Rotterdam, Utrecht and Leiden.

So it would seem that it is unequivocally a Texel type.

[nutterly_uts]

Thanks [member=10673]SallyintNorth[/member] 
Do you need to be a member of Ravelry to read the article as I can't seem to access it.

Very interesting to see they ARE Texel based. They have (imo!) nicer heads than texels - more like the blue texels as someone said, so I'd make a guess that you can either breed for giant head, or color but not both..

[nutterly_uts]

Also, much prefer their number necklaces to the ear tags we have 

[Me]

I use the number necklaces for management purposes, easy to see and of the ewe loses both tags you still know who she is

[nutterly_uts]

I use the number necklaces for management purposes, easy to see and of the ewe loses both tags you still know who she is

Where do you get them?

[Me]

Imported Schippers