Breed Standards
CHARACTERISTIC POINTS OF WENSLEYDALE LONGWOOL SHEEP
(Source: Wensleydale Long wool Sheep Breeders' Association, U.K.)
WOOL - Bright and lustrous. Staple of medium breadth and excellent length; each staple curled or purled out to the end. Of equal staple all over the back and sides from shoulder to breech. The whole free and open and free from mistiness on the back. The belly and scrotum should be covered with wool and be free from hair.
HEAD - Broad at the muzzle especially in rams. Back of head flat and wide between ears. The face seen in profile should show good depth of jaw. Ears of good size, neatly set on and well carried. Head and ears of a deep blue tinge which often extends to the rest of the body. Tuft of wool on the forehead. Back of head, especially around the ears, covered with fine wool. Entire absence of hair about the forehead, back of head and ears.
NECK - Strong, rising gracefully from the shoulders and carrying the head at a good height.
SHOULDERS - Well laid back into the crop, which should be wide and full.
CHEST - Coming well down and forward between the forelegs, wide on the floor of the chest. Ribs well sprung.
BACK, LOINS, SIDES AND QUARTERS - Great length of side, loins broad and well covered with firm flesh along the back. Hindquarters long, square and well fleshed. Root of tail broad.
THIGHS, LEGS AND FEET - Thighs well down into the hocks, large and broad behind. Legs with plenty of bone, free of coarse or pigmented hair, straight set on at each corner and well apart. Hind legs with nice covering of fine wool from hock to hoof. Feet moderately large and well shaped.