ISBONA (Icelandic Sheep Breeders of North America) has devised a method which codes the sheep colors, patterns, spotting and also whether they are horned or polled. This code can be incorporated into part of the animal's registered name and is a way for breeders to tell what that sheep looks like. The more that breeders cooperate in using this code, the better these records will help all breeders assess the lineage of the sheep. The code is as follows:
For COLOR, choose "B" for black
"M" for moorit
"O" f you can't tell base color because sheep is white
For PATTERN, choose one or two, depending on what you see
"1" for white
"2" for grey
"3 for badgerface
"4 ' for mouflon
"5"for solid
"6" for greymouflon single gene
(not yet confirmed as existing here in North America, although some believe the gene is exhibiting in some of the lambs, particular the Hynkill offspring))
For SPOTTING use "S" for spotted
put nothing if no spots are exhibited
For HORNS use"P" for polled
"H ' for horned
"C ' for scurs
RECORD ONLY WHAT YOU SEE!!
To register a lamb with CLRC you would first have your farm's prefix. For our farm Lavender Fleece, our prefix is 'LF. ' You can record a name for the sheep. Then you record its gender and then the genetic color code.
For instance our ram Caesar's recorded CLRC registration would look like this:
LF ram B2H
B for black color; 2 for grey pattern and H because he has horns.
To be registered with CLRC all sheep must have ear tatoos. In the animal's right ear you would tattoo your flock code. Ours is LF. In the animal's left ear you record his 'number ' and the year code for the year it was born. The year 2001 was "L " and Caesar was the first Icelandic lamb born on our farm in 2001. So his tattoo is LF 1L. The year 2002 will be an "M" year.
A polled white ewe would be recorded as 01P
A horned badgerface moorit would be recorded as M3H
A scurred black grey mouflon would be recorded as B24C and so on...
Records Corporation
2417 Holly Lane
Ottawa, Ontario K1V0M7
Canada
613-731-7110
clrc@clrc.on.ca
To Register your Sheep you must first be a member of the Canadian Sheep Breeders Association which is $20 (Canadian) per year
Registration of your Identification Letters (one time) is $25 (Canadian)
Cost of Registration is $6 (Canadian) per sheep
Cost of Transferring Ownership is $9 per sheep (Canadian)
These prices are for breeders in the United States. Canadian breeders, please check with CLRC for exact costs.
NOTE: Because of the falling rate of the U.S. dollar vs. the Canadian dollar, check with CLRC to see current prices.
01H ("O" for no color showing; "1" for white and "H" for horns)
Coding for the ewe at right is
B5P ("B" for black; "5" for solid; & "P" for polled)
Coding for the ewe at left is
M3SP ("M" for moorit; "3" for badgerface; "S" for spot; & "P" for polled)
Coding for the ewe lamb at right is
M5H ("M" for moorit; "5" for solid; "H" for horns)
If you ever have any questions about coding
your Icelandic sheep for registration, please feel free to contact me for help. You can email me anytime. For new breeders coding is one of the biggest questions that they have and I am more than happy to help you with this.
