The Santa Cruz sheep (Saint ‘Croy’) is a breed of domestic sheep also known as the White Virgin Islands, White Virginia Island and White Virgin Islands.
It originates from the US Virgin Islands and is named after the island of Santa Cruz. They are named ‘White Virgin Islands‘because they were imported to North America and selected for their white color.
But in Santa Cruz, they come in shades of black, brown, and white.
The Santa Cruz breed of sheep is believed to have originated from African sheep brought to the Caribbean on slave ships in the early 1600s. Also, from a wool breed of sheep, on which wool does not grow.
Santa Cruz sheep became popular as natural livestock, and they were also valued for the manure needed to grow sugar cane.
However, these animals are very hardy tropical breeds known for their resistance to parasites. And today the breed is grown mainly for meat production.
Some breeders have crossed the Santa Cruz with other breeds of sheep to pass on these important traits to their lines.
This breed is also the base breed for Royal White and Katahdin sheep. Learn more about this breed below.
Characteristics of the Santa Cruz Sheep
The Santa Cruz sheep is a medium-sized animal with an all-white coat. Although some animals can also be black, brown, tan, or white with brown or black markings.
Usually rams and sheep are polled, that is, they have no horns. Sheep have a wide ruff at their throats.
The average birth weight of Santa Cruz sheep is 2.7 to 3.1 kg. The average live weight of sexually mature rams is about 90 kg.
And sexually mature sheep weigh an average of about 68 kg. Photos and information from Wikipedia.
Advantages
Santa Cruz sheep are a breed of mutton. It is grown mainly for meat production.
Special Notes
Santa Cruz sheep are a very hardy breed of domestic sheep. They can live and adapt to a wide variety of climatic conditions. They are able to survive in both hot and cold climates.
They can survive low temperatures and are well adapted to the hot, humid climate of the tropics. In cold winter temperatures, they develop a thick woolen coat and their wool allows them to withstand the heat. Their coat spills water.
Santa Cruz sheep are known as ‘Pest Pasture Vacuums‘for their ability to rid pastures of pests, thereby reducing the need for worms.
They also show resistance to footrot. And they are also fly resistant due to their ability to drop. Sheep are good milkers and produce large quantities of high-fat milk.
In some areas of the United States, ewes are milked for cheese production. These animals have a calm temperament and are very easy to handle.
They should be very active, showing no signs of wildness or eccentricity. They are both good navigators and stepchildren. They are not selective eaters and have been used for weed control due to their preference for weeds. However, check out the full profile of this breed in the table below.
| Breed name | St. Croix |
| another name | Also known as White Virgin Islands, White Virginia Island and White Virgin Islands |
| Purpose of the breed | Meat |
| Special Notes | Very hardy and strong animals, sheep are good mothers, able to adapt to a wide range of climatic conditions, able to survive in hot and cold climates, resistant to pests, resistant to footrot, resistant to fly attacks, sheep are good milkers and give plenty of milk to their lambs, relatively calm nature, manageable, active |
| Breed size | medium |
| The weight | Adult rams weigh about 90 kg, and the average live weight of sexually mature sheep is about 68 kg. |
| horns | Not |
| climatic tolerance | All climatic conditions |
| Color | White |
| scarcity | general |
| Country/place of origin | UNITED STATES |
