Afrino Breed Standards
As an extensive dual purpose breed the Afrino is known as a hardy highly adaptable sheep with good mothering abilities.
This breed has the ability to survive economically within its environment, to maintain its condition and to reproduce regularly. It is generally noticeable in it’s:
• Low mortality
• Reproduction, high lambing percentage, early sexual maturity and good lambing intervals
• Growth ability
• High ewe productivity
It is important that a balance be kept with regard to all production and reproduction characteristics.
Head
IDEAL
Big open and strong shaped head with strong developed upper and lower jaw and with prominent nostrils.
Must show good Afrino character on the parts without wool and ears.
Ewes are polled and in the case of rams a small loose horn together with masculinity is allowed.
The face must be covered with soft cream coloured hair without any kemp fibres.
A small tuft of wool is allowed on the forehead with no wool on the cheeks.
Eyelids must be surrounded with brown pigmentation without excessive black colour on the face and ears.
DISCRIMINATION
A finely developed head, tapered with little Afrino character and quality.
A sunken forehead or a to wide forehead.
Too feminine head in rams and masculine head in ewes.
Small, weak eyes without character.
Little pigmentation with the appearance of some colour on ears and face.
Appearance of a hard facial covering and some wool on the cheeks.
DISQUALIFICATION
Any disqualifications appearing on the head and mouth, for example a short or long lower jaw, wry mouth, loose teeth, two rows of teeth, soiled jaws (misbek), a wry face and inverted eyelids.
Covering: Too big a tuft with woolled cheeks and kemp.
Colour: No pigmentation around the eyes, to much black colour on the face and ears or to much brown pigmentation around the eyes and mouth, colour on the horn buds.
Ears: No or mouse ears.
Horns: Any horns for ewes and prominent fixed horns for rams.
Neck & Forequarters
IDEAL
The neck must be reasonably long, with good fleshing and must join symmetrically with the rest of the body.
Shoulders and chest must be deep, wide and well attachment to the rest of the body.
Rams and ewes must show good muscling over forearm.
DISCRIMINATION
Too fine or thick neck.
Somewhat U-neck with less good attachment to the rest of the body.
Somewhat prominent shoulders.
Slightly loose shoulders.
Light muscled forearm and shoulders.
DISQUALIFICATION
Too fine long thin neck, as well as the opposite namely a short thick neck, U-neck.
Excessive dewlap and a cross pleat under the neck.
Shoulders:
Weak attachment to the rest of the body.
Sharp loose shoulderblades with a devil’s grip.
Too little width and depth.
Exaggerated wide shoulders which hamper mobility.
Chest:
Exaggerated broad chest.
Too narrow chest.
Barrel, Back & Loin
IDEAL
The barrel must be long, broad and deep.
It must join well and symmetrically to the shoulders and hind-quarters.
The back must be in harmony with the barrel, and be long and straight. Loin must be broad and well fleshed.
As a whole the barrel must show a good spring of rib.
Ewes must show a typical wedge shape which is an indication of femininity.
DISCRIMINATION
A slightly short, hollow or bowed back.
Flat appearance with little depth.
Slightly developed loin.
DISQUALIFICATION
Short hollow and bowed back.
Too flat sided with little depth.
Weak development in loin.
Hindquarters
IDEAL
The hindquarters must be wide across the hips and pin bones and blend well at the barrel.
Inner and outer thighs must be muscular and well fleshed.
A somewhat drooping rump is preferable.
DISCRIMINATION
Less width at hips and pin bones.
Less flesh covering on inner and outer thighs.
DISQUALIFICATION
Poorly muscled inner and outer thighs.
Exaggerated dropping rump.
Narrow hips and pin bones.
Legs
IDEAL
Forelegs and hind-legs must be well placed. The sheep must stand comfortably on its legs.
Legs must have a reasonable length with a strong dry bone structure.
Legs must be covered with short soft cream coloured hair.
Pasterns: Must be sound and flexible.
Hooves: Amber coloured and well formed with a sharp pointed form to the front.
DISCRIMINATION
Any slight appearance of leg faults that may be present.
Thick coarse bone formation with thick round hooves.
Some wool on the legs.
Colour on some hooves (four or less).
DISQUALIFICATION
All flaws present at the legs, such as:
Colour on legs (sandy-legs).
O-shaped front legs and hind legs.
X-shaped front legs and cow hocks.
Sickle and straight hocks.
Pasterns: Weak pasterns that are sagging or turning in or out.
Hooves: Split hooves.
One complete black hoof or colour on all eight hooves.
Fat covering
IDEAL
Sufficient fat with good distribution.
DISCRIMINATION
Less fat (dry) or signs of localisation.
DISQUALIFICATION
Too dry.
Localised fat.
Reproduction Characteristics
IDEAL
Rams must have two well formed testes carried in a relatively short scrotum.
Ewes must possess a well formed udder with two teats as well a two halves functioning well.
DISCRIMINATION
Somewhat split scrotum.
Long low hanging scrotum.
DISQUALIFICATION
Rams:
Too small testes.
One or no testes.
Any abnormalities in testes.
Split scrotum, more than 3cm.
Ewes:
One or no teats.
Any abnormalities in the udder.
Size
IDEAL
A combination of length, width and depth of body.
DISCRIMINATION
Animals that tend to be too big.
A little smaller than the average in the flock.
Somewhat flat-sided.
Lack of depth.
DISQUALIFICATION
Too small for its age/body
Mass or to big for the environment with coarse bone structure.
Too short body.
Too little depth.
Flat-sided.
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