| As with ordinary Texel sheep, meat conformation is the most desirable characteristic, and should normally be apparent. A roomy well-structured body is desirable together with blocky conformation.
A mature ram should weigh about 80 kg; a mature ewe about 60 kg.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC BREED CHARACTERISTICS...
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HEAD
• Crown to nose should be twice the width - shouldn't be as strong as the White Texel.
• Bright clear eyes.
• Nostrils well spread.
• Broad mouth.
• Poll flat with no wool.
• Ears well set, ideally "Ten to Two".
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Characteristics to be avoided:
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FOREQUARTERS
• Neck well muscled, but not too short.
• Shoulders flat on top and no wider than the Rib cage.
• Broad and deep with the sheep appearing wedge shaped.
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Characteristics to be avoided:
• Neck too long.
• Narrow or shallow forequarters.
• Dip behind the shoulders (lacking a straight top line).
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BODY
• Strong and powerful, well muscled from front to back.
• Back and loins sufficiently long and broad.
• Ribs deep and well sprung.
• Loins as wide and deep as possible.
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Characteristics to be avoided:
• Uneven top line.
• Ribs too flat or too shallow.
• Narrow or angular loin.
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QUARTERS & GIGOTS
• Area between top of haunch bonetail as long and wide as proportionately possible.
• Curved, fully rounded hips.
• Well developed Gigots.
• Tail short, narrow and woolly.
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Characteristics to be avoided:
• Hips or gigots too narrow.
- Straight or poorly muscled gigots.
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LEGS
• Legs should be proportionate to the body.
• The sheep should stand square and straight.
• Back legs well sprung from the hock.
• Ram should stand well up on short pasterns.
• Wooled to middle of forearm and hind to middle of shank.
• Remainder of legs covered in fine hair.
• Feet deep, hard and black.
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Characteristics to be avoided:
• Front legs too narrowly set or too wide apart.
• Over straight hind legs or curved hind legs.
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FLEECE
• Dense and tightly stapled.
• Well crimped and lustrous.
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Characteristics to be avoided :
• Kemp.
• Bare neck, belly or tail.
• Loose staples.
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COLOUR PATTERN
• Varies from quite grey to a pale colour with dark shoulders getting lighter over the back.
• White markings on the face, the so-called “halter”.
• White markings on the upper front leg and under the tail.
• White edge to the ears.
• At base of the staple the colour should ideally resemble steel blue.
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Characteristics to be avoided:
• Black fleece with little or no white markings.
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