St. Croix Hair Sheep Characteristics
Like most sheep breeders, we want to raise animals that are hearty, manageable and marketable. We have had experience with both wool sheep and hair sheep breeds that have demonstrated unacceptable health and disposition problems. Ongoing research led us to St. Croix hair sheep, described by one enthusiastic breeder as "bullet-proof." Our own experience has supported that claim. St. Croix hair sheep are vigorous, highly reproductive, and pleasant to work with. Here are some characteristics that might interest you:
St. Croix Characteristics at a glance:
- Mild, fine-grained and low-fat meat
- Rated first in internal parasite resistance
- Crossbreeding with St. Croix increases parasite tolerance in other breeds
- Hoof rot tolerant
- No shearing
- Adaptable in variety of climates: tolerate heat and humidity as well as cold weather
- No tail docking necessary
- Mild dispositions
- Naturally polled (no horns)
- Valued for crossbreeding for commercial butcher lamb production
- Good flocking tendencies make them valuable for training herding dogs
- Grazing habits make St. Croix good for weed control
St. Croix Hair Sheep Reproductive Benefits:
- Early puberty and long reproductive life
- Ewes can breed at any time during year
- Few birthing problems
- Ewes can have 3 lamb crops in two years
- 50-75% multiple birth rate
- Lambing rate of 195-200%
- Ewes are outstanding mothers
St. Croix Hair Sheep Description
St. Croix hair sheep have a unique appearance that attracts the eye. Medium in size, their white coat is smooth and thin in summer, becoming thick in winter. This combination of coats allows St. Croix sheep to thrive in most climates in the United States, from the warm and humid parts of the south to more northern areas. Rams grow a distinctive, lion-like mane that often reaches below their knees. Adult St. Croix ewes weigh an average of 150 pounds, with ram weights averaging 200 pounds. The mature size of St. Croix hair sheep is somewhat dependent upon the amount and quality of feed they receive.
Quality Sheep Meat
St. Croix hair sheep offer a variety of desirable characteristics that make them attractive to breeders with widely different goals. Because they do not produce wool, they are characterized as a hair sheep and are kept primarily as a meat breed. Although their carcass composition is similar to the Rambouillet, St. Croix sheep produce a 23% higher carcass yield due to smaller bones and less fat accumulation. Their meat is characterized as mild, tender and naturally lean. Their carcass size, meat qualities and year-round availability make them highly desired by many ethnic markets.
St. Croix sheep have been described as "sexually precocious" with year-round breeding capability and the ability to produce three sets of lambs in two years. Multiple births are the norm, with twins being most common but triplets and even quads happening frequently. Lambs are early breeders and can produce the first lamb crop by one year.
All of the above translates to this: St. Croix sheep provide excellent quality meat without many of the physical and financial expenditures attached to other breeds. Additionally, St. Croix hair sheep are a pleasure to live and work with. Enthusiastic breeders across the nation would echo this sentiment.
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