"The Agouti gene is responsible for determining whether a mammal's coat is banded (agouti) or of a solid color (non-agouti).[1] The chief product of the Agouti gene is Agouti signalling peptide (ASP), but there are a number of alternative splice products.
In dogs, the Agouti gene is associated with various coat colors and patterns, including sable and tan points.[2]
[..........]Mice that are homozygous for the non-agouti allele and non-agouti-yellow allele have non-agouti coat color (such as black)." LINK
All very technical but more creatively, the agouti gene is one of natures designers, in sheep it is responsible for pattern, it puts motif on an otherwise drab canvas, this is all well and good in a breed where agouti patterns are well known.
But we are talking Ouessants here, although, the design element doesn't have to be broad brush strokes of paint sometimes the effect is in the shading.
LINK This shows the best representation of agouti at work along the length of a hair although this is represented as its seen in dogs.
So why would you get pattern in a non-agouti black sheep............? Food for thought.
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