Gotland Sheep Breeders Association of North America

APPROVED

Gotland Sheep Standard

of the

Gotland Sheep Breeders Association of North America

Registered sheep shall meet or exceed this standard.

Recorded sheep will be evaluated according to this standard, although it is not a requirement that they meet the standard.

Characteristic Description
General Character and Appearance A medium sized, solid colored, luster longwool sheep with clean head and legs. Curious, bold and alert appearance with fine bone and good breadth and depth of body.
Color

Gray fleece, solid color with shading allowed, no distinct patterns or spotting. Fleece color ranges from light silver to dark charcoal. Head and legs are generally solid black. Lamb birth coat is black, becoming gray within several months. Small white markings on head, legs and tail are accepted but discouraged; shall be less than 30% of those areas.
(September 26, 2009 - Members voted to allow black, brown and white colors in addition to grey.)

(Note that light grey eye circles and muzzles are not white markings.)

Size Medium size and substance. Ewes generally weigh from 120 to 155 lb. Rams are heavier weighing 165 to 190 lb at mature body weight. The ideal height range for mature Gotland ewes is 25.5" to 30"; for mature Gotland rams is 29.5" to 32" at the withers. Plus or minus one inch (1") in height is acceptable for either sex.
Head Solid colored head generally free from wool. Bold eyes, alert medium sized ears set slightly above horizontal. Small, neat and straight muzzle with even jaw and teeth set squarely on the pad. Both males and females are generally and preferably polled.
Neck and Body

Slender neck and shoulders set smoothly into a level back with generous length, good depth and reasonable breadth of body. Well suited for market production.

Tail Naturally short, hair tipped tail measuring less than 6" as measured at the underside. Generally broader at the base and tapering to the tip.
Legs Slender legs well spaced and upright. Solid color and generally free from wool.
Wool Fleece is fine, long, lustrous and dense with clearly defined curl and staple, soft to the touch. It is typically 29 to 34 microns in diameter at 18 months of age, as measured midside at the last rib. Lambs wool is typically in the low to mid 20's micron range.
Disqualifications
  • Any fleece color other than gray. (Removed, Sept 26, 2009)
  • Long heavy tail, broad to end. Docked tail.
  • Uncharacteristic wool. Double coated, dull or straight locks. Indistinct lock formation. Overly coarse or harsh wool.
  • Deformities of jaws.
  • Greatly undersized or oversized animals. Overly coarse or cloddy animals.
  • Distinct pattern or spotting in wool. Small "sliding" white spots - spots in the fleece adjacent to the head or legs - are disqualifying in rams, discouraged in ewes. In ewes, these spots shall be smaller in area than the adjacent portion in the non-wooled area.
  • De-horned animals, trimmed horns, horns growing into the animal (fatal horns).
  • Rams without two normally descended testicles of approximately equal size.
  • Any sheep judged to be generally unthrifty, unworthy, or unsound..

6/22/07 - Standard Approved by Unanimous Membership Vote

9/22/07 - Modifications accepted by Unanimous Membership Vote

9/26/09 - Modifications Approved by Membership Vote

Link to Illustrated Standard

Page last modified on January 25, 2010.

 

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