Then the St Croix, being bred strickly to each other, could in fact
produce color. In other words, white is the standard for the St
Croix Association, as opposed to what the genetic makeup of the sheep
could accomplish. Not sure if I said this right, and not trying to
make offense - more of a fact statement I guess. In other words,
their producing a colored lamb is undesirable only because it isn't
white - acceptable according the registration standards, not genetics.

Hope I got this right?

susan
millstone farm




--- In origstcroixhairsheepassn@yahoogroups.com, Theswanranch@...
wrote:
>
> The Original St Croix Assn allows a body spot not over a quarter
size. There
> may be black on the ears on less than 1/4 of the ear. There may be
black skin
> on the eyelids - a "mascara line"and black on the lips with very
small
> "freckles" on the nose & legs.We have had St Croix since 1991,
getting our original
> animals from Utah State University. One second generation ram had a
quarter
> sized spot on his ribs. None of his get had it. One of our show
ewes had a spot
> on an ear, none of her lambs have had it. Over the years 3 lambs
have come with
> red across the back of their necks, they were sold without papers.
I have
> heard of some coming with red spots, one that was coal black, and a
recessive
> that is light greyish with a barbado pattern on the face - this is
very rare.
> When the origainal researchers started they looked for a pure white
coat. You
> must realize that the St Croix are a "primitive breed". No
outcrossing is
> allowed.Occassionally recessive things will happen. Consider the
Holstein breed of
> Dairy cows. Some come red/white.
> As I understand it , the St Thomas requires at least one parent
must be
> pure St Croix.If you enjoy parti-colored sheep, go for it.We have
two older pet
> ewes descended from when we bought a dozen grade Barbado ewes in
the beginning
> to have lambs for the local market. They are both "pinto colored"
1/2 St
> Croix. We sell their offspring for meat or sheepdog training.2/3rds
of their
> offspring have been white, 1/3 spotted.When we bred those grade
barbado ewes they
> mostly had twins. One would be white - the other "Pinto" which were
very popular.
> Jo Swan,The Swan Ranch,Glide,OR
>