THE TRUTH ABOUT THE CORSICAN BROTHERS

(no, this isn't a review of the Cheech & Chong movie)

Painted Desert ram mounted by Tim Azlin. (Courtesy Azlin Taxidermy)

By Anita Hollon-Garza

These sheep are just as colorful as the comedic duo which has perhaps added to the confusion of understanding all the whys and hows of this hybrid. I hope I can dispel some of the myths surrounding them.

PARENT BREEDS

First let's touch on the original parent breeds of the Corsican sheep. The European Mouflon has been the most often used breed for producing the hybrid sheep sought after by trophy hunters.

The European Mouflon has itself undergone quite a bit of hybridization. Originally imported to the United States from Sardinia and Corsica, there was even some controversy about the purity of these animals. It started when some of the Mouflon ewes from Corsica were noted as having horns. Some research found that the Mouflon flocks in Corsica sometimes had domestic sheep running with them, so there was no guarantee that the imports were pure. Supposedly the Sardinian imported ewes were hornless so there were no questions raised as to their purity.

Whether Mouflon or Mouflon-type, most of these sheep today are very similar in appearance. Mouflon have very striking markings in the winter when the white becomes more vivid, and the bordering black markings become more bold. The addition of the white saddle patch adds to the picture resulting in a very beautiful animal. Close inspection plus a knowledge of the breed reveals the imposters. Though a Mouflon-type might retain the light underpinnings, tail patch and saddle patch of its pure Mouflon ancestry, a tail longer than three or four inches is a dead giveaway that it is not a pure Mouflon. In fact, pure Mouflon may have even shorter tails than that, but a long tail is a sign of infusion of domestic blood. Another sign is twinning. Pure Mouflon ewes very rarely give birth to twins, so suspicion is aroused when this happens in a Mouflon flock. The Mouflon ram also has very distinct, heart-shaped horns which will be discussed later. A pure Mouflon is much more valuable, so there are breeders keeping their flocks pure by using zoo stock from original imports.

PHOTO ONE shows a handsome pure Mouflon ram that is from undiluted stock imported from the Netherlands Zoo. Just 2 1/2 years old in this photo, his horns are 28 1/2" with 10" bases. (Photo courtesy Majestic Mouflons)

PHOTO TWO shows the very short tail and light tail patch of a pure Mouflon. Also note how the horns are well behind the head and neck. (Photo courtesy Majestic Mouflons)

The other "parent breed" of the Corsican is the Barbados sheep. Now here is the subject of many a heated discussion. The Barbados sheep is a domestic, tropical hair sheep (naturally casting its wool in the spring) that was imported from the Barbados Islands, though its origins trace to Africa. The Barbados sheep were brought over on ships to the West Indies during the slave trade and the number of animals that could be jammed into the cargo hold was greatly reduced if there were horned rams, so only polled rams were traded. The Ministry of Agriculture on the Barbados Islands oversees the registration of the Barbados sheep and a horned individual, especially a ram, is a severe fault.

The Barbados ranges in color from a light nutmeg to rich cinnamon or mahogany with black underpinnings, black tail patch, and a badger face (black streaks on the usually lighter colored face). Sometimes solid black lambs are produced. When first imported by US breeders, these original flocks were kept pure, especially a few owned by universities such as the North Carolina State University. This breed was desired because it was hardy, bred out of season (any time of the year) with two lambings per year, and produced multiple births. Twins and triplets are common, but there have been many reports of four and five, with the record being eight live lambs in one birth.

PHOTO THREE shows a pure, naturally polled Barbados ram with the characteristic black underpinnings and badger face. Note the long tail that comes to the hocks. He has a nice mane too. (Photo courtesy Ram Press)

Pure Barbados sheep carry a polled gene. When the Barbados sheep was crossed with other breeds to increase production, those individuals usually had small, misshapen horns. These horns tend to grow very close to the face and sometimes into the face. When you have to cut off horns to prevent injury to the ram, then you certainly don't have a trophy sheep. But these sheep were still called Barbados because most retained the Barbados-type characteristic of black legs, belly, and tail patch.. Those wanting to use correct terms started calling the Barbados hybrids "Blackbelly Sheep," or, as is the case where I live, "Texas Blackbelly." That happens to be my preference too, because I know better and I am a nit-picker. I refuse to call a horned ram a Barbados.

So here we are with both Mouflon and Barbados coming onto the scene. Mouflon were used in crossbreeding to improve horns, and the Barbados were used toincrease production. What next?

CORSICAN

Here's where it all started. Mouflon were bred to just about any other breed of sheep, but the most common was the Barbados-type, or as was mentioned earlier, Blackbelly. With enough infusion of Mouflon blood by continually
backbreeding to Mouflon, these crosses were now adorned with truly magnificent horns much sought after by the trophy hunter. Far from being either Barbados or Blackbelly, these sheep warranted their own name. Since most of the original Mouflon imports were from Sardinia or Corsica, the name "Corsican" was coined for these hybrids (some reason that this name was picked because of those horned ewes from Corsica, but let's not put any more flies in the ointment). The YO Ranch holds the distinction of naming these sheep.

Any Mouflon cross is called a Corsican. Depending on the influence of other breeds, the Corsican comes in a wide variety of "earth tones," again, likethe original Barbados, ranging from light buffs to rich reds. Corsicans can have short tails or long tails, light or dark points, and some may even have hints of a saddle patch like the Mouflon. The Corsican remains one of the most popular trophy sheep.

PHOTO FOUR shows my favorite Corsican ram, Hercules. He is the result of crossing a pure Mouflon with a Blackbelly ewe. Note that he shows more Mouflon influence than Blackbelly as evidenced by light underpinnings and tail patch, and a hint of a saddle patch that is bordered by a diagonal black streak seen on some Mouflons. He is also a smaller sheep, like the original Mouflon imports. In his prime, his mane dragged the ground. He is about fourteen years old now. And don't overlook the gold medal class horns.

TEXAS DALL

We're back on the YO Ranch scene. It seems a couple of philandering domestic rams, Merino or Rambouillet, paid a visit to the Mouflon girls, and there was some procrastination before the wayward rams were removed. The results were solid white lambs born to the Mouflon ewes. Originally these white Mouflon crosses were called "Snow White Rams" after Bob Snow had discovered the infiltration of the neighboring domestic rams. Later, the name for these sheep was changed to "Texas Dall" after the white Alaskan Dall sheep, but remember, there's no relation between the two except for color.

PHOTO FIVE shows a white Texas Dall ram. Each of his parents were half Mouflon.

The Texas Dall was much sought after and many breeders have kept their flocks "pure" by avoiding the infusion of Blackbelly blood. Indeed, most of these sheep have no Blackbelly blood at all. The unique trait about many of the Texas Dall is that they have a tendency to retain the supracervical-shaped horns of the Mouflon. It is an awesome sight to see a snow white ram with huge, heart-shaped horns. These sheep aren't always white either. They can be ever so slightly light buff, and some are a champagne color.

PHOTO SIX shows a champagne colored ram that is still considered a Texas Dall. (Photo courtesy Silver Creek Exotics)

BLACK HAWAIIAN

Here's another sheep that has been the topic of much argument. I guess only sheep freaks would bother to engage in such arguments (I confess that I am one), but it is amusing that one side won't give in to the other. Remember I mentioned that the Barbados sheep would occasionally produce black lambs? This usually happened when breeding very dark mahogany sheep with high "smudge marks" (the black that comes up the hindquarters onto the haunch and sometimes loin area). So of course it follows that our Corsican sheep are going to do the same and produce a black lamb every now and then. When solid, coal black, these sheep are very attractive. They may have a white crown or some grey on the face or muzzle, but the solid individuals are more desired. If harvested at the wrong time of the year, their coat may be a bit sunburned and take on a reddish appearance. So why the fancy name?

It seems as if the black Corsican was drowning in obscurity until, as luck would have it, a hunter ventured to Hawaii on a Mouflon and Corsican hunt. A very nice black ram was taken, and the story grew into a tale about a Black Hawaiian ram (or some will say Hawaiian Black). This started the argument about these magnificent black sheep that can only be taken in Hawaii. Sorry, but I sometimes have to stifle a laugh. The story of the origins of the Black Hawaiian took on a life of its own. The issue was settled with a call to the Department of Agriculture in Hawaii to confirm that there is no breed of black sheep indigenous to Hawaii. The Black Hawaiian is merely a black Corsican.

PHOTO SEVEN shows a trophy Black Hawaiian ram. (Photo courtesy Tom Peiser)

PAINTED DESERT

Here's my favorite. With the infusion of other breeds of domestic sheep, lambs of all colors were being produced. For those that admired wild colors, flocks were started with the purpose of breeding only for spots. At first, these sheep were called Parti Dalls (as in parti-colored). That name wasn't fancy enough so they were soon being called Painted Desert.

Black and white spotted rams bring a mint with several such colored gold medal class rams selling for $1500 at an exotic sale in Texas. The Painted Desert can be any color or combination of colors, and can have oval or splashy markings, much like a paint horse. Many of these sheep are tri-colored or quad-colored. I was so taken with these sheep that I felt compelled to start a registry for them.

PHOTO EIGHT shows a young black and white Painted Desert ram. (Photo courtesy JJ's Desert)

HORNS

Several horn types can be found on all the varieties of these sheep depending on influence from other breeds. The most commonly seen are homonymous that sweep outward in curls.

PHOTO NINE shows horns that sweep outward and away from the face in curls.
This horn type is the most common, and is referred to as homonymous. (Photo courtesy JJ's Desert)

The Mouflon-type, or supracervical, are heart shaped and curl backwards towards the neck.

PHOTO TEN shows the massive horns of a Cyprus Mouflon ram. Here is the true definition of the supracervical horn type. Note that his horns have the typical heart shape and are sweeping backwards towards his neck . Note as well his characteristic Mouflon markings and the rather drab coloration of the ewe. (Photo courtesy Ram Press)

You know we can't stop there. There are several polycerate, or multi-horned, breeds of sheep such as the Jacob, Navajo Churro, and Manx. They can have as many as six horns, but to be desirable each horn must be well developed and have its own base, as opposed to fused horns growing out of one base. Sometimes these sheep have under developed horns that break off, or they will have odd-numbers of horns such as three or five. Having well developed four or six horn rams greatly increases the value of the ram. So now we have fancy colors and fancy horns as well.

PHOTO ELEVEN shows an example of some of the trophy class, multi-horned sheep being raised by some breeders. These sheep are just another fancy addition to each variety. This handsome fellow has probably contributed to stories around campfires of four-horned Mouflon. I have heard of such stories circulating. Mouflon do not have the polycerate gene. This ram's grandsire was a pure Mouflon, and he inherited a nice saddle patch. The Mouflon influence no doubt contributed to the symmetry of the horns as well, since poor breeding practices have resulted in terrible horns in some of the multi-horned breeds. This gorgeous four horned Corsican is 25% Mouflon, 25% Navajo Churro, and 50% Blackbelly. (Photo courtesy Dennis Robertson)

PHOTO TWELVE shows what can happen with a lot of Barbados influence in flocks. You either get polled sheep, small horn scurs, or horns like this yearling that are already in need of being cut off..

EARS

With the incorporation of so many different domestic breeds into our hybrid trophy sheep, we also now have a variety of ear sizes. The regular sheep ear is three to four inches in length.

PHOTO THIRTEEN shows an elf ear. The elf ear is deemed the cutest, being only an inch and a half or so. (Photo courtesy JJ's Desert)

There are earless sheep that look like the La Mancha goat. Referred to as gopher ears, there may be only the slightest hint of ear cartilage or maybe a remnant of half an inch or less of an ear. These take some getting used to and for some reason they remind me of a praying mantis.

PHOTO FOURTEEN shows a Black Hawaiian ewe with gopher ears. (Photo courtesy Alice Hengst)

SIZE

Mouflon and the Mouflon-type sheep are usually the smallest with the rams ranging from 80-120 pounds. Ewes are smaller. The hybridized varieties of these hair sheep can be much larger, and I've seen some rams that easily weighed 250 pounds.

PHOTO FIFTEEN show my Corsican ram Hercules (remember he's half Mouflon) on the right, and the big white Texas Dall on the left is his young son from a Texas Dall ewe. His son dwarfs him.

WOOL CASTING

All of these sheep are hair sheep. Breeders that have a particular interest in raising these sheep will not use domestic wool breeds in their flocks. If a desired horn type is wanted from a wool breed, it takes several generations to breed out the wool.

In the fall, the rams are in full bloom, growing manes that are almost as much of a plus as the horns. They put on a short coat of wool that is less noticeable on the rams. Guard hairs grow longer. This coat is kept throughout fall and winter. In the spring, the coat slowly takes on a grungy appearance as it begins to shed. Rams and ewes alike rub on trees and fenceposts to get rid of the itchy stuff. By early summer, most of the sheep are rid of the wool, and are slicked off and shiny. A lot of rams even shed their entire manes. A few individuals keep a sparse mane, but I have had rams that had thick manes year round.

PHOTO SIXTEEN shows Hercules in his grunge mode.

PHOTO SEVENTEEN shows the same ram as in Photo Five, now with summer coat.

PHOTO EIGHTEEN shows my favorite Painted Desert ewe with slick summer coat. I am always being asked if she's a goat.

STUMBERG SHEEP Stumberg Sheep are unique mouflon hybrids developed by Louis Stumberg of the Patio Ranch in Hunt, Texas. Patio Ranch manager Gary Ploch relates how, in 1967, Louis Stumberg sent five mouflon ewes to be bred to a lone Argali ram residing at the Oklahoma City Zoo. From the five resulting offspring, two were ewes that were later sent to the zoo to be bred back to their Argali sire. These half- and ¾-blood hybrids were larger than mouflon and longer-legged. The rams usually had heavier horns with wider flares, like an Argali, but had mouflon markings. This breeding project ended when the Argali ram from the San Antonio Zoo died in transit when loaned to the Denver Zoo. Argali sheep (pronounced AR-ga-li, not Ar-GA-li) are king of the wild sheep. No matter the subspecies, these Asian wild sheep dwarf our American counterparts. It is not unheard of for a Gobi Argali to be 48 inches or better at the shoulders and weigh 450 pounds or more. An old Argali mount at the Mongolian Hunting Museum in Ulan Bator has horn bases of 24 inches and horn lengths of 72 inches! I can certainly see what Louis Stumberg had in mind when he shipped those mouflon ewes to visit the Argali ram. Stumberg sheep still populate the Patio Ranch today. Most are 3/8 or better Argali blood, and the rams weigh approximately 150 pounds. They sport horns of both types - supracervical and homonymous. A practiced eye can easily detect the Argali influence, and for a moment you are swept away to a high Altai valley of Mongolia. Special thanks go to Eric Stumberg and Gary Ploch of the Patio Ranch.

SECRET IS OUT

Well, there you have the truth. Not so confusing after all. I hope this will assist you when you have a customer bringing in a trophy sheep. A lot of times the hunter isn't exactly sure what variety his prize is and there are lots of tales and misinformation surrounding them.

Whether Texas Dall, Black Hawaiian, or Painted Desert, they are all Corsicans under the skin. They had the same roots, but with a few twists along the way. For sure these sheep are addicting and once you have them, it is very difficult to consider parting with them. With the excitement surrounding them, there is no telling what new Corsican Brother is over the
horizon.

(About the Author - Anita Hollon-Garza has a love of all animals, having grown up around her parents' Native Texas Wildlife Zoo in Corpus Christi, Texas. She is a taxidermist and freelance writer residing in Needville, Texas, south of Houston, where she and her family raise Painted Desert Sheep, racing Quarter Horses, and Doberman Pinschers.)

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