IFR Breed Standard
The IFR Breed Standard has been designed to assist the breeder in making better breeding and culling decisions, assist buyers in identifying and purchasing quality Finnsheep, and serve as an educational document that can be used by show management and the general public to learn more about Finnsheep, their traits and characteristics.
General Appearance
- Finnsheep should be well-balanced with a strong level topline. No dip behind the shoulder or hump over loin
- Finnsheep should have a free-moving shoulder and well-sprung ribs
- Legs are to be correctly aligned and of sufficient bone as to support muscling/structure; animal should not toe-in or toe-out
- Skin is to be free from wrinkles
- Finnsheep are polled; head is to be free from wool; no over or undershot jaw; bright, alert eye
- Finnsheep tails are naturally short and hair or wool covered. Tail docking is not required or allowed
- RR and QR at Codon 171 recommended; QQ is accepted
- Animal must appear healthy and free from all disease
- Ideal height range is 30 to 38 inches at the shoulder when sheared (mature animals); legginess is undesirable
- Ideal length is height plus 10%; animal should be correct and well balanced
- Finnsheep should posses a reasonable amount of fast-twitch muscle fibers
- Hooves should be hard and well-formed. Claw or narrow footed sheep are undesirable
- Weak, drooping pasterns are a fault and should be avoided
Breeding Rams
- Masculine and very conformationally correct in appearance. Should have very well-developed hindquarters
- Should not exceed 40" nor be under 32" at the shoulder when shorn (mature animals)
- Possess excellent libido and very well-developed, sound and correctly formed breeding equipment
- Possess a superb temperament
- Be sound of limb, wind and foot
- Descend from a female line with a minimum of 2.7 lambs/litter average
Breeding Ewes
- Possess superb conformation and balance with a wide hip to facilitate easy birth
- Possess two well-formed and functional teats
- Mature early; capable of lambing as a yearling ewe
- Breed out of season
- Have a good conception rate (Averages: mature ewes 2.7 lambs; yearling ewes 1.9 lambs)
- Be able to raise 2 to 3 lambs with a rate of gain of .6 to 1 lb/day without assistance (assumes adequate nutrition)
- Be reproductively viable after four years of age
- Exhibit outstanding mothering abilities
- Possess a calm, docile temperament
Fleece
- Fairly dense and uniform throughout, naturally repellant to vegetable matter
- 21.5 to 31 Mircons (average is 25.6); EU wool standards < 26 microns
- Staple length 3-5 inches, tapering ends
- Crimps to be 8-12 per inch minimum
- No kemp or hair fibers in the wool, no cotting or matting
- No excessive grease or yellow staining
- Soft, silky feel and semi-lustrous
- 70% Clean Yield Percentage
- Annual yield weights: 7-12+lbs.
Carcass
- Fine textured and lean
- No marbling in muscle tissue
- Excessively small carcasses for weights do not represent the Finnsheep breed positively and are undesirable
The IFR Breed Standard has been designed to assist the breeder in making better breeding and culling decisions, assist buyers in identifying and purchasing quality Finnsheep, and serve as an educational document that can be used by show management and the general public to learn more about Finnsheep, their traits and characteristics.
General Appearance
- Finnsheep should be well-balanced with a strong level topline. No dip behind the shoulder or hump over loin
- Finnsheep should have a free-moving shoulder and well-sprung ribs
- Legs are to be correctly aligned and of sufficient bone as to support muscling/structure; animal should not toe-in or toe-out
- Skin is to be free from wrinkles
- Finnsheep are polled; head is to be free from wool; no over or undershot jaw; bright, alert eye
- Finnsheep tails are naturally short and hair or wool covered. Tail docking is not required or allowed
- RR and QR at Codon 171 recommended; QQ is accepted
- Animal must appear healthy and free from all disease
- Ideal height range is 30 to 38 inches at the shoulder when sheared (mature animals); legginess is undesirable
- Ideal length is height plus 10%; animal should be correct and well balanced
- Finnsheep should posses a reasonable amount of fast-twitch muscle fibers
- Hooves should be hard and well-formed. Claw or narrow footed sheep are undesirable
- Weak, drooping pasterns are a fault and should be avoided
Breeding Rams
- Masculine and very conformationally correct in appearance. Should have very well-developed hindquarters
- Should not exceed 40" nor be under 32" at the shoulder when shorn (mature animals)
- Possess excellent libido and very well-developed, sound and correctly formed breeding equipment
- Possess a superb temperament
- Be sound of limb, wind and foot
- Descend from a female line with a minimum of 2.7 lambs/litter average
Breeding Ewes
- Possess superb conformation and balance with a wide hip to facilitate easy birth
- Possess two well-formed and functional teats
- Mature early; capable of lambing as a yearling ewe
- Breed out of season
- Have a good conception rate (Averages: mature ewes 2.7 lambs; yearling ewes 1.9 lambs)
- Be able to raise 2 to 3 lambs with a rate of gain of .6 to 1 lb/day without assistance (assumes adequate nutrition)
- Be reproductively viable after four years of age
- Exhibit outstanding mothering abilities
- Possess a calm, docile temperament
Fleece
- Fairly dense and uniform throughout, naturally repellant to vegetable matter
- 21.5 to 31 Mircons (average is 25.6); EU wool standards < 26 microns
- Staple length 3-5 inches, tapering ends
- Crimps to be 8-12 per inch minimum
- No kemp or hair fibers in the wool, no cotting or matting
- No excessive grease or yellow staining
- Soft, silky feel and semi-lustrous
- 70% Clean Yield Percentage
- Annual yield weights: 7-12+lbs.
Carcass
- Fine textured and lean
- No marbling in muscle tissue
- Excessively small carcasses for weights do not represent the Finnsheep breed positively and are undesirable