FALL-N-TREE RANCH

ST. CROIX
HAIR SHEEP

HARDY  •  MATERNAL  •  NATURALLY ADAPTED
Young St. Croix Hair Sheep lamb at Fall-N-Tree Ranch in Southern California
One of our St. Croix Hair Sheep lambs at approximately four months old — bottle raised here at Fall-N-Tree Ranch.

THE ST. CROIX BREED

Fall-N-Tree Ranch raises St. Croix Hair Sheep in Southern California, where their natural hardiness, heat tolerance and practical hair-sheep characteristics are especially well suited to our ranch environment.

St. Croix Hair Sheep are a distinctive American hair sheep breed descended from sheep of the Caribbean island of St. Croix. Unlike traditional wool breeds, they grow a hair coat that naturally sheds, eliminating the normal need for shearing.

The breed is particularly valued for its hardiness, maternal ability, reproductive performance and natural adaptation to challenging environments. St. Croix Hair Sheep are also widely recognized for their ability to tolerate heat and for strong resistance to internal parasites compared with many conventional sheep breeds.

Mature St. Croix Hair Sheep are naturally polled, meaning both rams and ewes normally develop without horns. Their clean white coat, moderate frame and practical low-maintenance characteristics make the breed especially well suited to productive, pasture-oriented sheep operations.

HOW WE RAISE OUR SHEEP

At Fall-N-Tree Ranch, our approach is intentionally simple: provide good forage, clean water, room to move and attentive husbandry while allowing the natural characteristics of the St. Croix Hair Sheep to do what they were developed to do.

Our sheep are raised without grain. Their diet is based on forage, including pasture when available, together with quality alfalfa and Bermuda hay.

Our flock has demonstrated strong natural parasite resistance. Under our present management program, we do not routinely vaccinate or deworm the flock. Individual animals are observed closely and husbandry decisions are made according to the condition and needs of the animal.

NO GRAIN A forage-based feeding program built around pasture, alfalfa and Bermuda hay.
HAIR SHEEP Their coat naturally sheds, so routine wool shearing is unnecessary.
PARASITE RESISTANCE We value and preserve the strong natural parasite resistance demonstrated by our St. Croix flock.
HANDS-ON HUSBANDRY Animals are observed individually rather than relying solely on a fixed management schedule.

MEAT QUALITY

St. Croix Hair Sheep are valued not only for their hardiness and practical characteristics, but also for the quality of the lamb they produce.

The meat is generally mild, tender and clean tasting, without the stronger flavor that some people associate with sheep meat. For people who are new to lamb, we often describe the flavor as being closer to mild beef than to the stronger “lamby” flavor they may be expecting.

St. Croix Hair Sheep are a moderate-framed breed rather than a large commercial terminal meat breed. For us, that fits well with the way we raise our animals: emphasizing forage, natural hardiness, sound animals and quality rather than simply maximizing size.

OUR FLOCK

Fall-N-Tree Ranch maintains an established working flock of St. Croix Hair Sheep in Jurupa Valley, California, serving the Southern California region. Our flock includes carefully selected breeding ewes and rams chosen to preserve the practical qualities and natural characteristics that make the St. Croix Hair Sheep such a distinctive breed.

Twins are common within our flock. We place particular importance on sound mothers, healthy lambs, practical growth, natural hardiness, good temperament, and the ability to thrive under our forage-based management practices.

Our goal is not simply to produce more sheep. We focus on maintaining a healthy, functional flock and raising St. Croix Hair Sheep in a straightforward ranch environment where good genetics, proper nutrition, attentive husbandry, and careful observation work together.

ST. CROIX LAMBS & BREEDING STOCK

From time to time, Fall-N-Tree Ranch may have St. Croix Hair Sheep lambs and breeding stock available to suitable homes in Southern California. Availability varies with the season, age, development, and the needs of our flock.

If you are interested in St. Croix Hair Sheep, available lambs, or breeding stock, please use our Contact form to tell us what you are looking for.