POLICIES of the AMERICAN KARAKUL SHEEP REGISTRY
updated: June 2018

The American Karakul Sheep Registry (AKSR) is a roster of purebred Karakul sheep. This Registry evolved from the Karakul Fur Sheep Registry founded in the 1930's and is recognized generally as the national registry for the breed.  It is open to all breeders of quality Karakuls.  Its purposes are to provide a recording service of undoubted reliability, to maintain a high standard of quality in the Karakuls on its record books, to work for continued improvement of the breed, and to promote the breed in the United States. The Registry is operated by an Executive Secretary who is supported and encouraged by the fellow breeders.

In 1983 the purebred Karakuls in the U.S. seemed to be threatened with extinction.  The Registry had lost track of most of the flocks and it became necessary to open the books to accept existing flocks of older stock, as they were located. This was accomplished in part. There are still some breeders who have Karakuls but they have not been located. There are currently some flocks that are in the process of being inspected and analyzed. We have found that some flocks have sheep that have some definite Karakul characteristics but also show traits that are the result of crossing with other breeds. Some of these animals show possibility for upgrading and are accepted into the Registry with the stipulation that their progeny will be upgraded, this done by breeding such provisional animals to Type 1 stock.  The following classifications are being used.

Karakul sheep may be admitted to the Registry as follows. These designations will appear on the certificates for those accepted after February 1989. If no classification is shown, it is assumed to be Type I.

Type 1)      Permanent. Animals that are Immediate descendants of those heretofore recorded in this Registry, or that belong to a known purebred bloodline.
Type 2)	Permanent. Animals that have descended from purebred Karakul sires over a least three generations and show definite Karakul characteristics as defined in the Standards of Perfection.
Types 3, 3/1, 3/2)  Provisional. Ewes that have dominant Karakul characteristics. These animals are accepted with the stipulation that they will be upgraded, by breeding them to high quality Type 1 Karakul rams, so that their female progeny, in three generations, may be classified Type 2. 
             NOTE: EWES ONLY

Applications for registry must provide the requested information, be signed, and be accompanied by the appropriate fees. Photographs are required for Type 3 applicants; three (3) hard copy photographs (not email) taken from different angles, such as a side shot, one from the front and one from the rear. Close-ups are best.  For a Type I applicant, one good photograph is optional. It will be included on the certificate for identification.. for Type 3,  A signed letter from a current AKSR member (not the seller or buyer of the animal or a relative) stating that the ewe being registered, meets the breed standards for AKSR, must be included with the application for registration for consideration into the registry herd books.  The farm ear tag number or the USDA Scrapie number for the animal being registered must be included on the Registration Application so that it can be shown on the Registration Certificate issued by AKSR.

Only Individual animals will be registered.  Flock registration will not be accepted.  Each animal will be issued a Registry number and a certificate.  A copy of each certificate will be kept in the Registry files. Optional information to be included on the individual certificate may be sent to the Registry at any time for inclusion in the record, and is most appreciated.

An unsound or unworthy animal will not be admitted to the Registry. If, by any means, an animal is admitted improperly, no progeny tracing through or to such animal thereafter shall be admitted.

June 2018

Each breeder shall keep a private record which shall contain full particulars of this breeding operation. This record shall be at all times open for inspection by officials of this Registry, and the breeder's flock must be available for inspection also.

When an animal is sold or otherwise transferred, it is the responsibility of the Seller to initiate and submit the appropriate transfer documentation (on reverse of newer Certificates) to AKSR.  Transfer may also be accomplished concurrent with registration of the animal by completing the transfer information shown on the back bottom portion of the registration application.   It is also requested that AKSR be informed of the death of registered Karakul sheep for records maintenance.

Other policies not listed here may be added and current policies may be altered, as the need arise. The Registry will be maintained as a flexible entity serving primarily the goal to perpetuate the purebred Karakul in this country.

       AKSR       11500 Highway 5, Boonville, MO 65233

June 2018