1927 Standard - let's discuss

Below is the SSS 1927 Shetland Sheep Standard:

http://shetland-sheep.org/standard.htm

SHETLAND SHEEP STANDARD

Description and Scale of Points Score - 100

Reproduced from the Shetland Flock Book Society

Bye-Laws & Regulations

Objects & Standard of the Society 1927

Adopted by NASSA 03/2000
General character and appearance

(Horned or Hornless)

9
Head

Good width between ears, tapering rapidly to base of nose, which should be broad and with little taper to the muzzle, hollow between cheeks and nose well marked

9
Face

Medium length of face from eyes to muzzle, nose prominent but not Roman, small mouth

5
Eyes

Full, bright, and active look

3
Ears

Fine, medium size, set well back, carried slightly above the horizontal

4
Neck

Full, tapers into a fairly broad chest

4
Shoulders

Well set, top level with back

6
Chest

Medium width and deep

5
Back Level, with as much width as possible
9
Ribs Well sprung and well ribbed up
4
Rump Good width, with well tuned rounded hips
5
Tail Fluke tail. Wool at root forming the broad rounded part, and tapering suddenly to barely covered fine point. This is a strong character, and any crossing is easily made out by it. Length varies according to the size of sheep, rarely exceeds six inches, or thereby
9
Legs of Mutton Light, but very fine in quality
4
Skin Varies according to colour of wool. In white no blue or black colouring
2
Wool Extra fine and soft texture, longish, wavy, and well closed. Wool on forehead and poll tapering into neck, likewise wool on cheeks. Colours: white, black or brown , moorit (from reddish to fawn). Greys (including Sheila). Other known colours - Mirkface (brownish spots on face); Catmogit (dark under parts from muzzle to tail and legs), Burrit (light underparts); also Blaegit, Fleckit, and Sholmit
20
Carriage Alert and nimble, with a smart active gait
2



DISQUALIFICATION

(a) Long heavy tail, broad to point

(b) Bad wool, coarse and open

(c) Very coarse wool on breeches

(d) Deformities of jaws

(e) Undersized animals

(f) Defective coloured or badly shaped animals as sires

(g) White hairs in moorit and black, and dark hairs in white wool

Note: The 1927 Shetland Flock Book Society standard was developed for the original inspection of sheep for registration by the Society. The standard includes seven specific faults that were considered serious enough to disqualify sheep from registrations. While these disqualifications are still part of the Standard, NASSA does not have an inspection system and does not disqualify purebred Shetland sheep from registration. However, NASSA recommends that breeders take into consideration these disqualification faults when evaluating Shetland sheep for breeding purposes and for registration.

Let's discuss this largest points first. The first post will be about wool.