U.S. Texel Sheep Breeders Society - Judge’s Scorecard
General Appearance:
Texels are a moderate sized, white wooled, polled breed with an open face and legs covered only in short hair. The head is characterized by alert, slightly inward-set ears, dark pigmentation around the nose, lips, and eyes, and black hooves, adding contrast and supporting the breed’s rugged appearance. Texels are uniquely expressive and dense in their muscle type, supporting the breed’s reputation for efficiency and durability. They have a well-proportioned build, with a broad back, deep chest, and strong legs, ensuring good load-bearing capacity and excellent musculature.
Head:
- Strong triangular head: broad, short, hornless, and free from wool.
- Wide, defined jawline in a correct mouth. The upper lip is thick and prominent, often slightly overhanging the lower lip. The lower lip is equally substantial, giving the mouth a rounded, padded look.
- Black nose with open, flared nostrils, showing depth and strength in the muzzle.
- Medium length, widely spaced ears that sit in an alert nearly horizontal position, pointing slightly forward.
- Black eyelids and tear ducts
Scorecard value
20
Neck, Shoulders and Chest:
- Shorter thick neck that blends well into the shoulders
- Ewes have a more refined neck than rams
- Shoulders should be flat on top, no wider than rib cage, avoid sharp shoulders and heavy brisket
Scorecard value
20
Back, Loin and Rump:
- Back is wide, straight, long and well-muscled
- Loin is solid, thickly muscled, long, wide and deep
- Rump is wide, well rounded with a good depth of twist
- A sloping tail head is recognized as a Texel trait
Scorecard value
30
Feet and Legs:
- Proportionally set, square under the animal, standing balanced on all four corners with a medium bone
- Short white hair on legs with no wool below knees or hocks
- Strong pasterns and legs with a correct set of hocks
- Black hooves which plant evenly beneath the body and point forward.
Scorecard value
30
Acceptable:
Colored spots on ears, head, and legs. Slight wrinkling on the neck. A longer tail dock.
Disqualifications:
Any testicular or scrotal abnormalities Any udder defect Pink or brown nose or hooves Black or brown spots in the wool on the body larger than a quarter (.25 cent piece) Evidence of surgical alteration(s) or injections not necessary for the health of the animal Any mouth abnormality (overshot / undershot lower jaw)
These standards were reviewed and approved by a committee of breeders and formally adopted by the BOD on 2-24-26