Desirable Cotswold Traits

Look For These Traits When Buying Cotswold Sheep:

American Cotswold Record Association (A.C.R.A.) eligibility--125 years of uncompromised standards No other North American Cotswold Registry will verify every pedigree for you through 5 or more generations.
Large Frames--Mature weight when in show (fat) condition: Ewes at least 150 lbs. to over 200 lbs. Rams at least 275 lbs. to well over 300 lbs. [Broadfield's Pride, a great ram of the 19th Century attained a verified weight of 445 lbs.]
Good Carcass Conformation--Small heads, large hams, long body, deep chest, wide back, strong leg bones.
Twins (or singles from all-twin parents AND grandparents).
If natural color is desired, be sure to buy only Black Cotswold Society-registered stock (World's Oldest Exclusive Colored Cotswold Registry)
Shiny white or off-white fleece with uniform wave or curl throughout
Prominent, wide-set eyes
Rams: Both testicles (of large-size) descended into scrotum, not too close to ground, wide nose (knob) hoarse rammy voice
Ewes: Tight, smooth udder, high hips, deep roomy middle, narrow feminine face, no masculine hoarseness in voice
Uniformity of flock--no flock is perfectly uniform, but "poor doers" if any, should stand out. Beware of the flock in which only the "good" sheep stand out. This is an important point: Greatly varying shapes and sizes means little attention was paid to "future get," a shepherd's term for genetic reliability. When lambs all look alike, you know what you're going to get from them, too.