Southram Station and North American
available. Rams are extensively tested to determine quality, particularly in meat
characteristics. Gary Holcombe of Northern Maine Icelandics has made a study of
the Southram measurement terms, and translated them into English; he also took
the time to average the scores of the Southram sires so that we have a basis for
comparison. The important ones are weight (pungi), chest (brjm), back broad
(spjald), canon bone (foti), and eyemuscle(omv)/ backfat(fita)/ shape of eye(lag).
Other scores that you will see on Southram charts evaluate different
characteristics; suffice it to say that an 8 is average, a 9 is really good, a 9.5 is
superior, and a 10 is perfect. For some reason, leg scores are doubled, so for legs a
17 is very good, and 18 is great, a 19 is superior, and a 20 is perfect. The following
are the average stats:
Weight Chest Width of Rack Canon Bone Eye Muscle Backfat Shape of Eye
(shorter is better)
189.61 lb 41.4 in. 9.9 in. 4.6 in. 1.41 in. .2 in 4
Not all records are available for all rams, especially the earliest sires - recent AI stats not as complete
By Today's Southram standards, Flekkur might not have
made the grade, although he scored very high in
prolificacy (+20). His leg score was only 3.9, and he had a
lot of backfat, but he was one of the first AI genetic
importations to the US, and sparked the desire among
Icelandic shepherds to improve their flocks. He also was
spotted, which was a departure from the typically white
Southram sires.
Many flocks have this bloodline in them, as Blaevar
proved to be an excellent ram, and a sire of excellent rams.
Weight: 233 lbs. Chest: 44 in. Width of Rack: 9.8 in.
Canon Bone: 5 in.
Scored 9 for back and 18 for leg
This was the first ram with Leadersheep bloodlines to
come out of Southram; you will find his genetics in most
Leadersheep pedigrees, either as a sire or as a father to
sires. Leadersheep have rarely been evaluated in terms
of conformation.
This is not a picture of Dropi, but of a double line - bred
descendant of Dropi. I was unable to find any photos of
this influential ram, which is a shame as you will find his
genetics throughout the US and Canada. His stats are:
Weight: 202 lbs. Chest: 41.7 in. Width of Rack: 9.8 in.
Canon Bone: 5 in.
Scored 8.5 for back and 18 for leg
This ram was practically guaranteed to beef up any flock
that incorporated his genes, and his influence continues
through his many granddaughters. Though smaller in
stature, he was big where it counted!
Weight: 165 lbs. Chest: 40 in. Width of Rack: 8 in.
Canon Bone: 5 in.
Scored 8.5 for back and 19 for leg
This ram produced better offspring than he was himself,
which is the mark of a true star. Garpurs' bloodline is in
many of the Southram sires; he is father to Laekur, who has
many, many descendants in both the New World and the Old
World.
Weight: 198 lbs. Chest: 39.8 in. Width of Rack: 9 in.
Canon Bone: 4.7 in. Eye Muscle: 1 in. Backfat: .2 in.
Scored 8.5 for back and 17.5 for leg
This ram also produced offspring better than himself -
progeny testing showed that his lambs weighed measurably
more than other AI lambs of his generation. Many famous
Southram sires carry Horvi genes.
Weight: 209 lbs. Chest: 42 in. Width of Rack: 10 in.
Canon Bone: 5 in.
Scored 8.5 for back and 18 for leg
This ram is famous, not for his meat qualities, but for his
ability to pass on the rare Thoka gene that produces triplets
and quads. That having been said, he was Southram quality in
most other respects, too.
Weight: 222 lbs. Chest: 44 in. Width of Rack: 10 in.
Canon Bone: 5 in. Eye Muscle: 1.3 in. Backfat: .15 in.
