Texas Dall Sheep Registration Requirements

United Horned Hair Sheep Association, Inc.

BACKGROUND/HERITAGE:
Texas Dall Sheep are a naturally shedding, all white hair sheep with Mouflon Sheep
influence in ancestry. All rams must have horns, and the ewes are allowed to have
horns although most ewes are polled. Rams must not exhibit scurs instead of horns,
while ewes with scurs are acceptable.

The first Texas Dalls were first called Snow Sheep and were the results of accidental
matings between Mouflon Ewes and Horned Rambouilet Rams.

The Sheep should not contain, to the best knowledge of the owner, any polled blood
or other types of polled bloodlines, including but not limited to Dorper, Katahdin, and
St. Croix sheep breeds. Horned Ancestry bloodlines accepted are Texas Dall,
Mouflon, Horned Rambouliet, Merino, or Navajo Churro. Because of the chance for
spotting, the parent wool breed (Jacob) which may produce spotting in the progeny
should probably not be used.

While the original crosses occurred several decades ago, some breeders may wish to
create new bloodlines using one or more of the parent wool breeds. To be registered,
Texas Dall sheep must consist of 1/8th or less of parent wool breeds and meet all
other breed standards.

Texas Dall Sheep which are directly bred from parent wool lines listed above, must
completely shed and additional pictures showing the completely shed sheep may be
required for registration if the pictures submitted does not clearly show the sheep
shedding or having shed.

Information about any known background of the ancestral breeds should be included
in pedigrees with their percentages of the breeds noted to assist breeders in choosing
bloodlines. If a sheep is unregistered, the animal should be clearly labeled as
unregistered. This information should include any known wool breeds in the bloodlines.

NON STANDARD COLOR PRODUCING TEXAS DALL
What to do when sheep which are registered as Texas Dall when mated with another
Texas Dall Sheep, produces the occasional fawn spotting or other nonstandard
coloring which does not disappear. Are these color producers then still considered
Texas Dall Sheep or are the offspring simply expressing a color phase? For UHHSA
and the Texas Dall Registry Division purposes at this time, a Texas Dall Sheep will be
defined as an all white sheep which, when bred to all white sheep normally produces
all white sheep and which has no known spotting genetics in the known pedigrees of
the sheep.

While some market opportunities do not require such distinction, for registration and
breeding purposes of a Texas Dall Sheep, production of spotting and color variances
should matter and is highly discriminated against. Animals displaying nonstandard
coloring are not eligible for registration as a Texas Dall Sheep. UHHSA and the Texas
Dall Registry expects it’s members to fully disclose any known spotting that exists in
their Texas Dall Flocks and work on minimizing spotting and the chance for spotting or
nonstandard coloring to the best of their abilities.

While each shepherd needs to make decisions on their flock management, it is
strongly suggested that if a registered ram or registered ewe is shown to produce non
standard coloring with different mates, that sheep be removed from the Texas Dall
breeding program.

If Any Sheep are produced which do not meet the color standards for the Texas Dall
Registry, PLEASE consider registering them with the Painted Desert Registry division
of UHHSA if they match the Painted Desert Breed Standard or another division within
UHHSA if they match the division’s Breed Standards.

TRAITS REQUIRED FOR REGISTRATION:

Rams must have horns
All white coat. United Horned Hair Sheep Association, Inc., reserves the right to
request additional photos showing horns, coat or other attributes of the sheep
for which registration or recording is requested.
No black or other color visible on the nose and lips with only MINIMAL light
pigmentation around the eyelid margin
Known background of only Texas Dall, Mouflon, and wool parent breeds of
Horned Rambouilet, Merino, and Navajo Churro
1/8th or less of wool parent breeds
Sheep at maturity normally exhibiting shedding ability

TRAITS DISCRIMINATED AGAINST (considered a fault):

Rams’ horns which touch the face at maturity
For multi horned animals - fused horns
Extra Teats on ewes
Slight under or over bite, with teeth just barely touching the edge of the dental
pad
Sheep which do not shed out completely at maturity on a general basis
Minimal Light Brown Pigmentation around the eyelid margins
Mature rams with no mane at any time
Tails reaching to the hocks

DISQUALIFICATIONS:

Sheep with known polled bloodlines
Rams which are polled or have scurs at maturity
Tails past the hocks
Docked tails
Sheep with more than 1/8th known wool breeding from the parent breeds -
Horned Rambouliet, Merino, Navajo Churro
Sheep with known recent Jacob bloodlines
Sheep with any known wool breeding from any non-parent wool breed
Hermaphroditism
One or both testicles not descended
Severe under or over bite, with distinct space between teeth and edge of dental
pad
Evidence of cross breeding shown by physical appearance of breeds which are
not included in the history or background of Texas Dall Sheep such as Suffolk,
Hampshire, Dorper, Katahdin, St Croix, etc.
Entropion (inverted eyelids) or other genetic eyelid defects
Naturally occurring droopy or floppy ears on adults
Known spotted genetics or other recent non standard (not all white) colored
ancestors other than listed ancestors above
Distinct black coloring in the horns or the hooves which should be considered
white
Color other than pink on the nose and the lips (see pictures to left)
More than a limited amount of light brown pigmentation on the eyelid margins
(see pictures to the right)

NOTES:
Sheep with Disqualifying traits are not eligible for registration and will be denied
registration. Excessive Discriminating traits of an individual sheep may render that
sheep ineligible for registration if, at the inspectors and board of directors discretion,
such traits seriously challenge the breed identity.

THIS website is copyright May 2009 by United Horned Hair Sheep Association, Inc.
Active Members of UHHSA are permitted to use information on their website to help in
ethical and honest promotion and education about the breeds represented. However,
a link to this website should be provided.

Pictures are copyrighted by owners of the sheep pictured and permission will need to
be sought to use the pictures.

TEXAS DALL SHEEP BREED
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS