Скачать или смотреть Saint Croix - Sheep breed / Parasite Resistance

Today we be looking at The Saint Croix sheep it is a breed of domestic sheep It is native to the U.S Virgin Islands and named for the island of Saint Croix. They are called as ‘Virgin Island White‘ because they were imported into North America and were selected for their white coloration.

But they come in shades of black, brown and white on the Island of Saint Croix.

The Saint Croix sheep breed is believed to have descended from the African sheep that were brought to the Caribbean on slave ships during the beginning of the 1600s. And from a breed of hair sheep which does not grow wool.

The Saint Croix sheep proliferated as subsistence livestock, and they were also valued for the manure critical to sugar cane production.

However, these animals are very hardy tropical breed which are known for their parasite resistance. And today the breed is raised mainly for meat production.

Some breeders have crossbred the Saint Croix with other sheep breeds for imparting these important traits into their bloodlines. Saint Croix sheep is a medium sized animal with completely white coloration. Although some animals can also be black, brown, solid tan or white with brown or black spots. Both rams and ewes are usually polled, that means they have no horns. The rams have a large throat ruff.

Average birth weight of the Saint Croix sheep is around 2.7 to 3.1 kg. Average live body weight of the mature rams is around 90 kg.

And the mature ewes on average weight around 68 kg. The Saint Croix sheep are a very hardy breed of domestic sheep. They can live and adapt themselves in a wide variety of climates. They are able to survive in both hot and cold climates.

They can survive in cold temperatures, and are well adapted to the hot humid climate of the tropics. They grow a thick wool coat during the cold winter temperatures, and their hair coat lets them to tolerate the heat. Their coat sheds water.

The Saint Croix sheep are known as ‘Parasitic Pasture Vacuums‘ for their ability to clear a pasture of parasites reducing the need to worm sheep.

They also show resistance to hoof rot. And they are also fly strike resistant due to their shedding ability. The ewes
are good milkers and produce ample quantities of milk which is high in butterfat.
The ewes are being milked for cheese production, in some regions of the United States. These animals are calm in terms of temperament and they are very easy to handle.

They should be very active without showing signs of being wild or flighty. They are both good browsers and grazers. They are not selective eaters and they have been used for weed control due to their preference for weeds.







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