The breed description should be treated as a guideline, remembering that some variations are acceptable provided they fall within the parameters for the breed.
The Manx Loaghtan is a small sheep with the average weight of mature ewes being 40kg. The animals are fine boned and late maturing
In some cases the withers are prominent, but more usually the hindquarters are the highest part of the back. The tail is not long enough to reach the hocks and without wool for the greater part of its length.
The wool should be close textured and a uniform rich brown colour, becoming paler when exposed to the sun. White fibres are undesirable. The wool is soft with some lustre. There are two main visual types of fleece, hairy and woolly. The weight of the hairy fleece averages 2.5kg with a staple length of about 100mm and an average fibre diameter of 33 microns. The weight of the woolly type fleece averages 1.5 kg with a staple length of 60mm and an average fibre diameter of 27 microns.
The face and legs are a brown colour. White markings on any part of the body disqualify the sheep from registration.
The nose is straight and the head of medium size.
Generally both sexes have horns, either multi-horned or two horned, though occasionally ewes are polled. The horns should be well balanced and proportionate to the size of the animal. The horns of the ewes are small but those of the rams are strong and large, their angle of growth should not threaten the survival of the animal.
Card grading is an objective method of evaluating sheep against their breed description, always remembering that the breed description is a guideline. Loaghtans are primitive sheep and there is a need to conserve the breed’s range of genetic qualities which are assessed by inspection for conformation, functional soundness, freedom from defects and features which demonstrate the breed characteristics within broad parameters.
Whereas card grading is objective, judging is subjective, placing animals presented in the order of the judge’s preference, taking into account the condition and presentation of the sheep, together with their genetic qualities.
Both methods of evaluation are valid for that day only.
Evaluation
The card grades are:
Superior Manx Loaghtan Sheep
Acceptable Manx Loaghtan Sheep
Some characteristics are less desirable. These are:
Size
A very small or oversized animal in relation to the parameters of the breed averages and taking the age of the animal into account.
Horns
The horns are joined; the horns do not rise clear of the skull before curving; in two horned rams where the horns are too close to the faces and in four horned rams where the horns may impede grazing or otherwise threaten the survival of the animal, although secondary horns may be trimmed.
Head
Excessively light patches or spectacles around the eyes; wool growing on the forehead or far forward in the cheeks.
Eyes
Split eyelid category 2 or 3 in ewes or any split in rams (see categories of split eyelids).
Wool
Excessive kemp or white fibres in the fleece.
Legs
Wool on the legs, except in lambs.
Tails
Tails which are too long i.e. reaching below the hocks or which are excessively woolly.
This is an animal which is significantly “off type” for the breed or which has a number of defects in other ways:
Strong Mouflon markings
Only one testicle or only one descended
Badly overshot or undershot jaw
Severe split eyelid, category 4
The categories of eyelids are:
1. Correct
2. Slight break in the upper lid varying from a barely discernable break in the
pigment of the rim of the upper lid, to a distinct although small notch.
3. A significant notch in the upper lid, often accompanied by strong eyelashes
or hairs protruding from the notch which may injure the surface of the eyeball.
4. A full split in the upper lid, preventing the eye from closing properly.