St. Croix Hair Sheep Breed Standards

General Appearance

The St. Croix is a hair sheep. It is of moderate frame size with a long muscle type/pattern and a well-sprung barrel. The coat is white and is shed each year.

Head

Both sexes are naturally polled with no visible scurs. They have an attractive profile with the males exhibiting a “Roman” nose. Ears should be fine textured neither upturned nor drooping, giving the appearance of alertness. The eyes are large and clear. The head should be carried in an upright manner on a long graceful neck.

Top Line

The neck should join smoothly to the shoulder. There may be a dip in the topline immediately after the wither; the back then continuing in a lengthy manner to the point of the hip at which the croup drops at a relatively acute angle to the tail head. This angle is believed to facilitate the ease of lambing common in this breed.

Body

The body should be symmetrical, deep and long when profiled from the side. St. Croix sheep are of moderate size and build when viewed from the front or back. The hips should be broad.

Legs

The forelegs should be straight with feet placed squarely underneath. The hind legs should not evidence “cow hocking” and the pasterns should be strong and upright.

Muscling

St. Croix have a moderate volume of muscle. Muscling should appear long and well tied-in at the joints. Heavier muscling should be encouraged but not at the expense of overall breed type.

Udder/Scrotum

Ewes should have well formed even udders with two good teats. Rams should have two large, even, well developed testicles.

Coat

The St. Croix is a white hair sheep. They should show evidence of a true shedding coat. However, a softer wool undercoat on younger animals should not be penalized. Rams should have a mane of long coarse hair extending from the back of the neck even reaching the knee at maturity. There may be a dark pigment around the eyes, nostrils and lips. Not more than ¼ of the ear at the tip should carry dark pigments.

Disqualifications:

• Body spot larger than a U.S. quarter dollar
• Monorchid or cryptochid
• Horns or large visible scurs
• Evidence of shearing or body clipping

The St. Croix Hair Sheep Handbook contains all you need to know about showing your sheep!