The North Country Cheviot (N.C.C.) is a distinct breed of white sheep native
to Northern Scotland. The North American version has a different appearance,
but our Breed Standards remain.
General Appearance: N.C.C. has an alert, bold look with an erect ear, on a
chalk white-haired head upon a deep, broad, long, white, woolen body.
HEAD:
Covered with short glossy white hair, long erect ears, a slightly to moderately long Roman nose distinctly characterize a North Country. Wool should not come beyond the back of the poll on top nor beyond the back edge of the jaw. Nostrils are full and black. Eyes should have a black outline. The mouth should have the lower front teeth squarely meet the upper dental pad. N.C.C. are hornless, but lightly colored scurs are permitted in exceptional rams. Long, all-white ears are preferred, dark spots on the ears and poll no larger than 3/4 inch in diameter are permitted.
NECK:
N.C.C. have strong necks of medium length that taper smoothly to the shoulders.
SHOULDERS:
These sheep have good width between shoulder blades, which are meaty and even higher than the back line. The rams have muscualr shoulders and forearms.
CHEST:
The chest should be broad and deep with ample room between forelegs and with slightly less width and depth than hindquarters in females.
BACK:
The back should be as straight as possible, (except shoulders are often high),
the rest should be strong, wide and well fleshed. The rump is level, well
out to the dock.
RIBS: The ribs should follow the broad and deep chest, well-sprung and deep.
LEGS:
The legs are covered with short white hair below the wool line. The hooves are black. N.C.C. is known for its heavy muscled rear legs. The legs have strong pasterns and are medium long in proportion to size. The thighs are full to the shank, firm and meaty on the inner face, with obvious muscularity on the outer, or stifle region.
FLEECE:
The white fleece is light shrinking, not hard, but has a spongy feel. It
is free from curl, hair, and kemp. Wool grades of 1/4 to 3/8 blood, 50 to
56 count.
SIZE: Mature rams should weigh 225 lbs. and up. Mature ewes should weigh 175
lbs. and up.
FAULTS:
Wool between ears and on the cheeks
More than three grades of fleece
Excessive kemp
Pink around the eyes
Large or excessive black spots on head, ears, or legs
A mottled or speckled nose
Short ears or ears that point other than erect
SERIOUS DEFECTS:
Pink nose
Brown hair on legs or head
Black spots in wool
Excessive wrinkles in neck or shoulders
Splayed hooves
Poor hair or bald on ears or poll
Testicles too low
DISQUALIFICATIONS:
In judging breeding livestock, certain rules should always apply. The stock
should be sound, healthy, and breeding ready. The following list of disqualifications
should not be brought to the fair.
Parrot mouth (prognathism)
Hernia, umbilical, inguinal, scrotal, etc.
Split scrotum
Rams with one testicle
Ewes with one teat or less
Black wool spots larger than a silver dollar
Black sheep or badger marked sheep
Sheep with infectious and contagious disease:
Foot rot
Caseous lymphadentitis (abscesses)
Skin fungus
Soremouth
Excessive cough and snotty nose
Compiled in part by Doug Chambers, Salem, Oregon with use of the following sources: Allen Fraser's Sheep Husbandry & Diseases; The American North Country Cheviot & Score Card prepared by John Goater, Jim Davidson, Don Kessi, et al; The North Country Cheviot handbooks issued by the North Country Cheviot Sheep Society, Scotland, Alex Murray; Letter, dated March 20th , 1977 from W.A.A.M. Innes, Vilna, Alberta
