The St. Croix Hair sheep, are an attractive white sheep of moderate size. They were imported from the St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands to the United States in 1975. They are gentle and easy to handle.
Both sexes are hornless, the rams are active breeders, and the ewes have good mothering instincts.The main products are "meat" and skins.
Lambs grow at moderate rates to finish without excessive fat. The St. Croix Sheep are on the rare breed list of the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. Their meat is considered to be very good, having a "sweet" taste about it.
The purchase price for registered St. Croix Ewes is $200 with papers. Rams sell for $250 with papers. The purchase price "without" papers is $175 for Ewes, and $200 for Rams.
Distinguishing characteristics:
The St. Croix are hair sheep, they shed their winter coat of hair each spring. They never need shearing which can be a convenience and important consideration with the smaller flocks of today's hobbyists.The breed is prolific.
The average number of lambs born per ewe at one year of age is approximately 1.5 and later lambings is 2.00 or greater. Ewes produce single, twin and triplet lambs with few quadruplets.
The ewes have the ability to breed throughout the year in latitudes away from the equator and the ability to rebreed within a few weeks after lambing. Because of this combination, a significant proportion of the St. Croix can produce "two" lamb crops in one year. There is nothing more beautiful than St. Croix lambs.
