The UK Breed Standard was based originally on the French breed society's (GEMO's) standard and was last updated in 2020. Notes on its interpretation are under development.
FEATURE | DESCRIPTION | |
HEAD | Fine and regular, the rams are horned; the bridge of the nose and forehead should form a continuous line. A slight bridge to the nose in the ram, flat or very slightly bridged in the ewe, not concave. | |
EYES | Bright and lively look, a prominent orbit to the eye. | |
EARS | Fine, small, short, mobile, rounded at the tip and have a tendency to be carried pricked. | |
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. | |
NECK | Full and rounded, without dewlap. Toggles or wattles are permitted but not desirable. | |
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. | |
LEGS | Slender, of medium length, well proportioned, good pasterns. | |
HEIGHT | MAXIMUM Adult Ram 49cm | OPTIMUM Adult Ram 42-48cm Yearling Ram 40-46cm |
BODY COLOUR | Solid uniform colours are black, brown and white. In each colour a range of variation is allowed: - in whites: a red base to a white fleece giving a light reddish aspect appearing mostly on the head, legs or the tail is acceptable. | |
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. | |
CARRIAGE | Alert and nimble with a smart active gait |
Reasons for Disqualification
Over height
Overdeveloped legs, poor pasterns, poor hooves.
Horns too asymmetrical, too frail, too tight or too wide apart.
Absence of horns in rams. Presence of horns in ewes (Note: tiny hornbuds, without any bony plate, are not considered a fault).
Tail too long, ears too large, nose arched in the ewe, too arched in the ram.
Non uniform, piebald colours.
Excessive colour spotting*
Tail docking is not allowed
Single births are a characteristic of the breed. Although not grounds for disqualification, twin births are exceptional and undesirable.
*The committee is reviewing the standard in regard to spotting and will report back to the 2021 AGM