The St. Croix sheep, also known as the Virgin Island White, is a distinctive hair sheep breed originating from the Virgin Islands. Its ancestry is thought to trace back to hair sheep breeds of West Africa, although some suggest a possible crossbreeding with Wiltshire Horn and native Criollo sheep. Most St. Croix sheep exhibit a white coat, often accompanied by solid tan, brown, or black coloring, or adorned with brown or black spots.
Both rams and ewes of the St. Croix breed are naturally polled, with rams additionally displaying a prominent throat ruff. Notably, St. Croix sheep possess exceptional resistance to parasites, a trait that has been extensively studied and documented in comparison to British sheep breeds by several universities.
Despite their valuable characteristics, the St. Croix sheep is considered a "rare" breed by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, underscoring the importance of conservation efforts to preserve and promote this unique and resilient breed.
About St. Croix Sheep
