The following breed standards have been developed and endorsed by the Canadian Sheep Breeders Association and these are the standards by which the Canadian Livestock Records Corporation (CLRC) and the Icelandic Sheep Breeders of North America (ISBONA) adhere to. We have been asked frequently about "Miniature Icelandic sheep." There is no such thing as a "miniature Icelandic sheep." As you will read by the breed standards, below, the sheep are considered a medium sized breed and anything advertised as a "miniature Icelandic sheep" is not falling within breed standards. As in any breed of animal, some individuals will fall outside of the normal range, either being smaller or larger, but genetically (meaning it will not breed true), there is no "miniature" within this breed. I would advise caution in dealing with a breeder who advertises minature sheep of any breed.
General Appearance:
- A medium sized sheep
- Fine boned with an open face and legs
- Mature body weights -
Rams: 90-100 kg
Ewes: 60-65 kg
Head:
- Short with a broad forehead to the nostrils
- Eyes should be bright and alert
- Horned and polled acceptable in both sexes
- Horns growing too close to the face is undesirable
Neck:
- Short, round and broadening at shoulders so that where the neck and shoulders meet is not noticeable
- Rams should have a thicker neck area than ewes
Shoulders:
- Broad, blending smoothly into body
- Rounded and meaty
Chest and Ribs:
- Broad and reach well in front of legs
- Wide chest cavity
- Ribs should stand out and be well rounded
Back, Loin and Rump:
- Long, thick back muscle with firm flesh
- Loin is broad, roundish, strong
- Rump is broad, well muscled, fairly long but can taper back a bit
Feet and Legs:
- Legs are well muscled and thick, muscle reaching far down towards the hock
- Feet are short, thick, straight and squarely placed
- Pasterns are strong, angling about 45 degrees to the ground
Fleece:
- There should be a lot of wool
- Fleece comes in a wide range of natural colors
- Wool is dual coated; fine, wavy undercoat called thel, and long, coarser corkscrewy outercoat called tog.
- Kemp in wool is undesirable
Skin:
- Color variable, depending on color of wool
Tail:
- Tail is naturally short, fluke shaped, mostly covered with hair; 15-20 cm long on a full-grown sheep. Docking of tail disqualifies Icelandic sheep from registration.
Serious Defects:
-Badly twisted legs and/or feet
"How Do Your Sheep Compare?"
