FEATURE

DESCRIPTION

REASONS FOR DISQUALIFICATION

HEAD

Fine and regular, the rams are horned; the bridge of the nose and forehead should form a continuous line.  A very slight bridge to the nose in the ram.  

Roman nose in ewes; over-developed one in rams.

EYES

Bright and lively look, a prominent orbit to the eye.

EARS

Fine, small, short, mobile and have a tendency to be carried pricked.

Ears too large.

HORNS

Dark for the blacks and browns, light for the whites, triangular in section, strong, curled in a single spiral, of large amplitude, a good distance from the head.   

In rams:  Horns too delicate or asymmetrical; incorrectly coloured; too tight or too open; absence of horns. 
In ewes:  Presence of horns (Note:  tiny hornbuds, without any bony plate, are not considered a fault).

NECK

Full and rounded, without dewlap.   Toggles or wattles are permitted.

TRUNK

Withers not prominent, deep chest.

BACK

A level top line from the withers to the base of the tail.

RUMP

Wide.

TAIL

Short, above the hocks. 

Tail too long

LEGS

Slender, of medium length, well proportioned, good pasterns.  
Hooves dark for the black and browns, light for the whites.

Poor pasterns, legs over-developed, poor or incorrectly coloured hooves.

HEIGHT

MAXIMUM

Adult Ram 49cm
Adult Ewe 46cm

OPTIMUM

Adult Ram 42-48cm  Yearling Ram 40-46cm
Adult Ewe 40-45cm  Yearling Ewe 38-44cm

Exceeding maximum height.

BODY COLOUR

Solid uniform colours are black, brown (caramel) and white.

- a red base to a white fleece, giving a light reddish aspect appearing mostly on the head, feet or the tail is acceptable in whites.
- black lambs may be lightly marked with white on the forehead; white lambs may have red marks on the neck, tail and legs.  Marks diminish with age.
- colour changes due to bleaching, genetic dilution (fading) and age-greying are acceptable.

Non uniform, piebald colours.

Colour spotting.

FLEECE

Present on the forehead, and partly on the cheeks.  Covering all the body, descending at least to the knees and just to the hocks. 

- Pigmentation must be even throughout entire fleece.  
- Rams may develop a collar or mane of longer coarser hair on the throat and nape of neck, which may be darker than fleece.

Fleece semi-closed, and quite compact, a staple of 8 -10cms for 12 months growth.  Average thickness 27-28 microns.

Wool thin, matted, lacking texture, density, staple length.

CARRIAGE

Alert and nimble with a smart active gait