NADSA Breed Characteristics

NADSA – Breed Characteristics

These standards are designed to preserve and enhance the inherent good qualities of

each of the sheep breeds. No restrictions on registrations are involved since we have no mechanism for inspection of flocks. The standard, however, can help us move in a

more uniform direction as the breed(s) develop. In the event that the animal being

registered doesn’t physically represent the breed type of the stated breed in its pedigree it will have “Diversified Dairy” listed on its registration papers.

NADSA registration is open to any sheep breed or breeds, if not already registered within another breed association the animal will be classified as Diversified Dairy (refer to NADSA Rules).

The color referred to as natural will be referred to as white.

East Friesian Breed Characteristics:

A breed with a wool free head, slender legs, underside & thin rat tail (animals with a

docked tail will still be accepted). Hooves may be dark or light. Naturally polled (occasionally scurs have been noted). The udder is generally large and firmly attached,

with a broad central band terminating on the belly.

Particularly used for cross-breeding to improve the milk production and lambing percentage of other sheep breeds. The East Friesian will also become the basis for establishment of a sheep milking industry.

Weight - Ewes: 165-209 lbs (75-95 kg)

Rams: 220-275 lbs (100-125 kg)

Colors - white (most common), black or spotted

Milk - The most productive sheep breed in the world, producing 132 - 158.5 gallons (500-600 liters) per 210 to 230 day lactation.

Udder - Should be wool-free.

Lacaune Breed Characteristics:

A breed that has a wool free head & legs, ears tend to slope downwards compared to other breeds. A wool covered tail that is typically docked. Hooves are light colored. Naturally polled & high milk production. Bold temperament and less docile than East Friesians. Lacaunes are easier to milk because of a faster letdown. This breed is the most widely used sheep in France for meat and milk.

Weight - Ewes: 145 - 160 lbs (70 kgs)

Rams: 190 - 200 lbs (100 kgs ) Color - White only

Milk - 89.5 gallons (339 liters) of milk in 174 days.

total solids than the East Friesians, but in slightly less volume (source: DSANA).

Udder - Should be wool free

Lacaune ewes produce milk with higher

Zwartbles Breed Characteristics:

Follow the Zwartbles Sheep Association Breed Standard which can be found at

https://www.zwartbles.org/breed-standard/

The Zwartbles descend from the Netherlands, from the Schoonebeker breed which was found in North East Holland. A very noble yet elegant black sheep with a distinctive white blaze from poll to surround the muzzle, two to four white socks up to but not beyond the knees or hocks and undocked tails with a white tip. Rapidly declining numbers spurred on a small group of farmers to line breed the sheep with an emphasis on the white 'badger' markings and this new strain became known as 'Zwartbles' (zwart - black & bles - blaze) Schoonebeker sheep. Further influence from Friesian milk sheep

and Texel’s resulted in the current Zwartbles breed known today.

A Dutch Zwartbles flock book was formed in 1985 and the first Zwartbles were imported to the UK a year later. In 1995 the Zwartbles Sheep Association (ZSA) was established and popularity soared to about 700 active registered flocks in the UK and Ireland with 12,500 registered animals in 2014 (source ZSA). Used as a tri-purpose sheep - milk, meat & fiber.

Color: Intensely dark black wool with sun bleached tips (dense & springy), with a distinctive white blaze from poll to surround the muzzle, two to four white socks up to but not beyond the knees or hocks and undocked tails with a white tip.

Weight - Ewes: 200 lbs (90 kgs)

Rams: 243 lbs (110 kgs )

Milk - A recovering breed without adequate data to report milk production.

Udder - should be wool free

Awassi Breed Characteristics:

The Awassi evolved as a nomadic sheep breed through centuries of natural and selective breeding to become the highest milk producing breed in the Middle East. The breed is one of the Near Eastern Fat-Tailed type. The ears are long and drooping. The breed is calm around people, easy to work with and easily milked. Awassi have natural hardiness. Awassi are well suited to a grazing production system as well as confinement operations.

In America, there have been imported Awassi semen and embryo transfers. Some

efforts have been made to maintain pure flocks while other efforts have been breed up focused. We are following the lead of the American Awassi Association and will track Awassi as either “Registered Awassi” if registered with the American Awassi Association (USA) or “Awassi influenced” if not registered with the American Awassi Association (USA). We urge owners of non registered stock to take advantage of the breed up program the American Awassi Association has created if interested in pursuing purebred status.

Weight - Ewes: 65-100lbs (30-50kg) Rams: 130-200lbs (60-90kg)

Color - The Awassi has a brown face and legs with the fleece varying in color from brown to white. Individuals can also be found with black, white, gray or spotted faces. The males are horned and the females are usually polled, but around 25% of the female population may have short straight or bow-shaped horns.

Milk - The average ewe lactation produces over 89.5 gallons (300 liters) in 210 days.

Udder - Should be wool free. Can be milked out in 4-6 minutes.

Assaf Breed Characteristics:

The Assaf sheep breed was developed in the 1950s in Israel by crossing the Awassi

sheep and the East Friesian sheep. It is important to note that the breed cannot simply be recreated by crossing the Awassi & East Friesian sheep; it took over 40 years to get the Assaf breed to what it is known for now. Heavy selection for sheep that produce twins at lambing was selected early on for this breed's development. In America, many breeders are crossing East Friesian with Awassi to create a similar type of sheep. In order to provide transparency we will label animals as either “Spanish Assaf from Imported genetics” or “Recreated American Assaf from F1 crosses”.

The goal was to create a breed that could adapt to the harsh environmental conditions

of Israel while also producing high-quality milk. The breed was named after the Agricultural Research Organization’s Animal Science Division (Assaf) in Israel.

Ms J and Co are the original/current importers of 100% purebred Assaf genetics.

Weight - Ewes: 140-200lbs (70-100kg) Rams: 180-300lbs (90-140kg)

Color - White or cream-colored wool. It has been noted through several people in the USA doing breed up programs a distinctive black or brown patch can be found on their head.

Milk - Produces around 118 gallons (450 liters) milk per year. Can be used in an

accelerated lambing program (can breed out of season to lamb three times in two years).

Udder - should be wool free. When machine milked, they can be milked in 4-6 minutes.

North America Dairy Sheep Association

NADSA Breed Characteristics

North America Dairy Sheep Association