Navajo-Churro Sheep Colors
Genetic Color Terms:
These
color terms illustrate the genetic colors of Navajo-Churro sheep. These terms
refer to the color of the fiber and points (legs/face/ears), and include
solid colors, patterns and markings. Colors are consistent with identified
alleles and their corresponding genetic symbols. There may be colors or patterns
not yet recognized, so breeders are encouraged to report ‘other’ colors and/or
patterns.
Note:
White = no color
Black = eumelanin
Brown = eumelanin
Tan or Red = phaeomelanin
White
White with pink nose and white feet or black nose and black feet. May have
black, brown, tan speckles on face or legs but not in fleece. Born white.
White/Tan
Often born red, tan, apricot, orange, ginger or brownish, but develop white
undercoat at 6 months and are white after the first shearing. Sometimes have
only a tan/red neck spot. White with tan fibers in fleece and red/tan face,
legs. Often these sheep have red in feet.
Black
Solid black body. May have white TGH markings on black points. Tips of wool may
look brown. May grey with age.
Brown (Moorit)
Solid brown body. May have white TGH markings on brown points. Skin color, nose
and eye rims are liver color, not pink. Wool tips may bleach light. May
designate intensity of Brown using; Sand, Adobe, Mesa, Red Mesa, Rio
Grande.
Dark Brown
Dark brown birth coat nearly black. Similar birth coat to darkest color of
Brown, which looks black. However, Dark Brown stays dark brown for
several years. Face and legs seem nearly black or deep chocolate.
Grey
A mixture of black and white fibers in the lamb fleece. Leg and face
color is grey or grey with tan. Born grey. Some have light eye patches and
noses. May designate intensity of Grey using; Pearl, Sliver, Storm.
Grey/Tan
Grey sheep can also have tan/red primary fibers in the fleece, which may lessen
after the first shearing. These sheep often have a red/tan hair mixed in grey
faces/legs or all tan points.
Blue
Born black but in first year develop silver/charcoal inner coat while outer
remains brownish/black. May develop white on eyes and muzzle but keep dark
points, legs, body and belly are dark. Hips, sides are greyed.
English
Blue
Must have white tears, may have white in ears or on muzzle. This is a pattern on
Black or Brown.
Texel Blue
Resembles Badgerface. There is a dark bar over each eye, dark top of nose, dark
under jaw on light face.
Badgerface
Distinctly eumelanin black belly and legs contrasting with upper body of
phaeomelanin white, greyish or tan. Black bars above the eye, on cheek, inside
ear, dark nose, black chin and black scrotum.
Light Badgerface
Still has a dark belly in contrast with lighter upper body but belly and legs
are grey. Grey bars above the eye, on cheek, inside ear, dark nose, grey chin
and grey scrotum.
Brown Badgerface
Still has a dark belly in contrast with lighter upper body but belly and legs
are brown. Brown bars above the eye, on cheek, inside ear, dark nose, brown chin
and brown scrotum.
Black and Tan
Distinctly light, whitish or tan phaeomelanin belly contrasting with black
eumelanin upper body. Black and Tan is also called Reverse Badgerface
or Mouflon. Face is dark with tan above or outlining eyes, light inside
ears, light under jaw, sometimes with bib. Scrotum is tan, legs dark with tan
inside and tan/red fibers are common.
Brown and Tan
Same pattern as Black and Tan but body is brown.
Grey
and Tan
Same pattern as Black and Tan but body is grey.
Spots
Solid white areas appearing randomly on body with black, grey or brown. May use
terms; Pinto (large areas), Piebald (round grapefruit sized
areas), Pims (many small dots).
Multi
Black, Tan and White sheep that do not fit terms above. Tri-color. Patterns look
confused if the Spotting locus adds a white blaze or large white areas.
Other
Color or pattern that does not fit into any of the other categories.
Marking Terms:
Often used in addition to Genetic Color
Terms:
Two Grey Hills (TGH):
White cap, white tip on tail, white sock(s) - any or all of these marks.
Black Eye:
Black liner
around eye.
Tan Eye:
Tan/Red edge around eye (Pattern also).
Eye Patch:
Panda Like. Palm size patch around eye. Can be Black, Brown, Grey or Tan/Red
Churra:
Dark eyeliner
or patch AND dark mouth or muzzle.
Hip Spot:
Vague area of contrasting symmetrical color on hips
Wool Colors:
Note: These Wool Color Terms are used IN ADDITION to Genetic Color terms.
Genetic Color remains the same for the life of the sheep while Wool Color may
change with age.
White
- No colored fibers
White Shell
- Mostly white with some tan fibers or off-whites
Sand -
Light beige, tan, light brown, fawn
Adobe
- Medium brown, camel
Jaspered Brown
- Mostly brown with coarse white fibers
Red Mesa
- Reddish brown, coppery, red-moorit
Mesa
- Brown, moorit
Rio Grande
- Dark brown-black, deep chocolate
Sombra
– Light grey/tan, mouse. Not really grey or brown
Pearl
– Mostly white with some black fibers or off whites
Silver
– Light grey
Blue
– Light Grey with steel, metallic blue overtones
Storm
– Dark Grey
Jaspered Black
– Mostly black with coarse white fibers.
Jet
– Black with no white and little or no browning
The above information was developed by the:
Navajo-Churro Sheep Association
PO Box 94, Ojo Caliente, New Mexico 97549
For more information visit the N-CSA website at:
www.navajo-churrosheep.com
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