The St. Croix is a hair sheep and lanolin free. The carcass conformation is similar to Rambouillet, but due to smaller bone & less fat, the average slaughter meat yield is 15% higher.
HEALTH BENEFITS
Cholesterol Studies show an average of the following for 4 ounces of meat:
44.4 mg Hair Sheep Breeds
77.2 mg New Zealand Wool Breeds
72.5 mg United States Wool Breeds
BREED CHARACTERISTICS
The ST. CROIX Hair Sheep Breed known as, "Virgin Island White" and "Virgin Island Hair Sheep", are proven to thrive in both extreme heat & cold climates.
Both sexes have no horns (polled).
The rams grow a large mane giving them a very stately appearance.
Their naturally non-aggressive tendency makes them a safer livestock for all ages to handle.
The adult rams weigh about 200 pounds.
The Adult ewes weigh about 150 pounds.
ST. CROIX COME TO THE USA
In the 1960's the breed of St. Croix Hair Sheep of the Virgin Islands, was first introduced into the United States, by Michael Piel of Maine.
A second importation in 1975 was again brought to the United States, by the International Sheep and Goat Institute, which included the direct involvement of Dr. Warren Foote and Mr. Cole Evans. They were brought directly to the Utah State University as part of a Study for Meat Production aimed at providing livestock that would be appropriate for domestic importation into Iran as well as other areas of the Middle East. Subsequent infrequent importations followed.
HAIR SHEEP HISTORY
Hair sheep from West Africa were introduced into the Caribbean in the 1500s. From this introduction, different breeds of hair sheep developed accounting for less than 2 million head throughout the Caribbean region. In the Virgin Islands these African breeds may have mixed with the native Criollo. Some have speculated that there was also a crossing with the Wiltshire Horn. Hair Sheep comprise approximately ten (10%) percent of the world sheep population and are located primarily in the tropical regions of Africa, South America and the Caribbean. Since coming to North America, they have adapted and multiplied at a rapid pace. Currently the St. Croix is still considered as a rare breed.
St. Croix Hair Sheep exhibit all colors and markings in the Virgin Islands, but early on it was decided to study and register only those of the all white coloring, due to the theory that this was the coloring that would do best in the hot climate of the Middle East.