The KSAR Open Registry
Onion Creek Roger, a registration photo in one shot – an oblique angle from the rear with the head turned captures tail, head & a side. Sheep with markings need the other side photographed.
January 5, 2025 —
Hello and Welcome to KSAR’s Open Flock Book
The Online Input Form for the KSAR Registration Application launched! It sits as a separate page under this Registry tab.
In 2025 there will be a $24 annual Registry Fee to register Karakul sheep with KSAR. There is a link here for the new Work Order and under Forms below. All other registration services remained the same price. Priority mail went up $1.00 to $11.00; highly recommended for 5 or more registration certificates.
The July 2023 survey on the Registry & Registration Certificates was compiled & disseminated via the Late Fall 2023 Newsletter on January 3, 2024 via email. If you would like an email forwarded to you, please message me via the Leave a Comment box below. An 11-page PDF of the Survey Results Newsletter was created and a summary written What we Learned from the Survey; click here or on the Newsletter tab. The Registry Policy has not yet been updated with the changes from the Survey, but has been started.
To all long-time Karakul shepherds and retired breeders, please send me your inactive historic certificates, A-series and B-series. I will scan and return them as soon as I can. Send questions to info@karakulshepherds.org
Unsure about registering your Karakuls? Our short Why Register document can help.
For now, FORMS are located below this informative Introduction (January 2025).
PLEASE NOTE: *KSAR does not register known crossbreds, with ancestors from other breeds.*
KSAR MISSION:
The Karakul Shepherds Alliance Registry KSAR seeks to find and identify Karakul flocks across North America, including Canada and Mexico, and provide a process for worthy individuals to gain registration to help maintain the breed for generations to come.
KSAR GOALS:
Through the work of a dedicated Open Registry, maintain breed integrity to include all qualifying animals into the Registry, and equally exclude sheep that fall outside ranges set in the Standard of Perfection, based on evaluations of an individual’s breed character and their flock history.
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KSAR was formed to build a roster of Karakul flocks in North America and to provide services to register and archive records of individual Karakul sheep.
As best is possible for a virtual inspection, KSAR Advisors have established a protocol that assures the quality standard of Karakul breed type. With the history of the sheep known, it should meet the American Karakul Standard of Perfection. The exclusive combination of Persian lamb birth coat, a broadtail, refined ‘desert spirit’ head, and unique topline defines and separates the Karakul from other sheep breeds.
We invite shepherds to note birth coat characteristics for their farm records and KSAR registration. KSAR will issue certificates and store the data for later retrieval in the Alliance database. Tracking these traits is important in maintaining birth coat genetics in future Karakul generations.
The KSAR Open Registry allows that individual sheep are welcome even though sire and dam are not currently registered. Depending on the individual Karakuls, there may be some evaluation procedures.
Registration Types Available
For all registrations, your farm needs a KSAR flock number assigned. Use Farm & Flock Finder page (mail-in) or Flock Finder online. This can also be done with a phone interview as the Registrar captures your history. Some lambs will need a Breeding Verification form if sire or dam were not owned at breeding time.
From other Karakul registries — KSAR accepts transfers of certificates. For $5 duplicate fee, new certificates will be issued with KSAR registration numbers. Provide copies of the old certificates, front & back. If it does not have a usable photo, then a current one is usually required. A separate application is not necessary.
From known flocks — KSAR will register adults and lambs. A single photo per sheep is acceptable for paper Applications, $7 each. Photos Only Applications need a minimum of 1 and up to 4 photos, and only 5 lines of information in the Application Section 1. Photos Only certificates are $10 each. Instructions are on the Application.
From newly located flocks that have a known history of acquisitions and breeding program — KSAR will register adults and lambs. These usually require at least four photos of individual sheep. Use the Application for Registration, $7 each. Or use Section 1 only of Application, $10 each. Check with Registrar for more details.
No History flocks or individual sheep that are not known, have little or no history, will require special attention. KSAR will register ewes only, using a procedure outlined in our Registry Policy to verify important Karakul characteristics. These require multiple photos of ewes with their lambs, and take time to complete i.e., a breeding cycle in order to evaluate lambs. Please contact the Registrar personally to discuss. After a positive result, proceed with the Application for Registration, or use Section 1 only of Application. Limited History sheep require pedigree assembly, $15 each. No History registrations are $20 each.
Complete and submit the Work Order/Fee Schedule.
More registration details are available in our Registry Policy document.
Registration is essential in keeping the pedigrees and information on Karakuls in order to preserve their ancestry and history as a breed. Listing individual traits and characteristics can aid shepherds with breeding decisions. Without registration, genetic lines can disappear, become inbred, or a breed’s existence can be threatened. Registration can be supportive to provide proof of ownership for neighbors, insurance, theft, and offer peace of mind if the pedigree information is lost through a disaster. The information shepherds provide will be added to the database and broaden the scope of Karakul pedigrees for conserving the breed into the future.
Why Register? There is great value for breeders in making registrations a priority and impressing the same with new buyers. By immediately completing transfers and submitting them to the registrar, breeders set the example and assure that records are updated and accurate. Why Register is a bit over half-page long, and also provides some info on How an unregistered Karakul advances through the KSAR Open Registry.
KSAR REGISTRY FORMS
- Registration Application
- Work Order/Fees (2025 version)
- Breed Standard
- Birth Coat Assessment
- Lamb Barn Worksheet
- Breeding Verification
- Farm & Flock Finder
- Registry Policy (2024 updating in progress)
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- Why Register
- Color Genetics
- Traditional Flocks
- Judges Guide
- Important Relevant Documents Combined (7 pgs)
Registry forms 1 through 5 are typically provided to all new breeders.
Document 6 Breeding Verification is for borrowing a ram, or buying a bred ewe.
Form 7 Farm & Flock Finder is for initial information intake & flock updates.
Send identifying photos for registration to: info@karakulshepherds.org OR Text Photos to 206.371.0995
To share large numbers of photos I can set up a shared folder for you in Dropbox, or consider sharing photos with me through Cloud services Apple, Google or Microsoft. Photos can also be sent via email, multiple photos of one sheep per email. Texting sometimes works, but large dense photos frequently stall my desktop software.
KSAR OBJECTIVE Currently in Progress:
To establish and build an on-line application procedure from a registry database that will generate pedigrees for individual sheep and maintain farm registration history. With read-only access, it will allow breeders to track traits and pedigrees within their own flocks, and provide information about other Karakul sheep for prospective additions to develop desired traits.
KSAR WISHES for Karakul breeders:
- To understand the importance of Karakul registrations and participate in registering their breeding stock.
- To instill in new breeders the importance of registration by transferring registration certificates to the buyer’s name immediately.
- To contribute copies of old certificates to add information to the Alliance database which will broaden the scope of pedigrees for conserving the breed and its North American Karakul Bloodlines into the future.
CONSERVATION and BREED INTEGRITY is the ALLIANCE’S MISSION
To preserve and protect the American Karakul sheep and all the essential and unique physical attributes for survival and self-sufficiency, through supporting the work of dedicated North American shepherds.
Here are 2 of the latest KSAR certificate examples:
2021-2022 style: Revel and Archy are the very latest certificates that have more detailed Bloodline calculations (when pedigrees are available), a 3-generation pedigree on the reverse, along with space for four transfers (with the new Transfer process).
We welcome your comments and suggestions. Type in the box under Leave a Reply below, or email directly: info@karakulshepherds.org
Page updated January 2025
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