Santa Cruz
Animal identity

Recognize what makes this population itself.

Long isolation and survival in challenging conditions produced a distinctive resource. Wool is a principal use in the listed population. Their conservation story is especially useful for teaching how a domestic population can acquire important characteristics outside a conventional organized breed program.

Appearance introduces the animal; a registry standard explains a documented breeding population. A photograph, color or familiar informal name alone cannot establish every individual’s membership.

Recorded roles

Wool

Adult Weight

Rams: 77-110 lbs. Ewes: 55-88 lbs.

Temperament

Alert, Docile

Experience Level

Intermediate

Reference values from the breed’s conservation profile. Weight describes a reference animal, not a universal feeding or fitness target. Temperament varies with breeding, individual experience and handling.