Characteristics Details of Southdown Sheep: The Southdown Sheep are characterized by being fertile, precocious, with an important frequency of melliferous and they are excellent mothers. North American Southdowns are also taller than their English counterparts. The original blood line of the English Southdowns are the Olde English 'Babydoll' Southdown sheep in the US. Skin pink. The Southdown is a small, dual-purpose English sheep, raised primarily for meat. One of the oldest of the English breeds of sheep is the Southdown, originating on the South Down hills of Sussex County, England. Broad and well set up and level with chine. Southdown sheep were known as hardy and quick growing, and the quality of their meat was celebrated. Southdown are an early maturing breed with good lambing ability and average milk production. Southdown Sheep Characteristics Southdown sheep are small to medium-sized animals. [1] The Southdown breed was originally bred by John Ellman of Glynde, near Lewes, East Sussex, about 200 years ago. [dubious – discuss] The downland soils are chalky and not naturally fertile, so the close-folding by the sheep on small areas manured and trod the soil. In a pure Southdown flock, with adequate nutritional level, it is expected between 20 … In California and New Zealand North American Southdowns are also taller than their English counterparts. The use of artificial fertilizers had gained ground, and the combine-drill, which sowed grain seeds and fertilizer together, rendered close-folding by sheep unnecessary. This sheep was involved with crossbreeding to develop other breeds: The Southdown in Britain is recognised by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust as a native breed, although today it is popular amongst the smaller scale breeders of sheep.[2]. Shoulders neither too wide nor too narrow and top level with the back. Southdown Sheep Characteristics Southdown sheep are medium to large sized beautiful animals with distinctive appearance. After a four-year search, two small flocks totaling 26 sheep were located; however, this group was not able to provide a sustainable gene pool. Each sheep's registration application was passed before a board of three members of the soon to be formed Olde English Southdown Registry. The 20th century brought the establishment of pedigree recording. In the Second World War, the South Downs were commandeered for military training, only fringe farms being left to produce milk for the towns. When Mock and his associates were searching for the stock to start the new registry, only adult Babydoll sheep, two years and older, were accepted in the flock, so they could be judged against the original conformation standards as verified by a veterinarian. Southdown Sheep Breed – Everything You Need to Know. In 1986, a breeder, Robert Mock, began a search for the sheep with bloodlines that conformed to the original Southdowns. The staple length ranges from 1.5 to 2.5 inches (4-6 cm).[6]. Ears of medium size and covered with short wool. They have been selected specifically for their smaller size of the original blood lines and a focus on wool and hobby breeding rather than commercial meat production. His work was continued by Jonas Webb of Babraham in Cambridgeshire, who developed the larger animal of today. Not too long from eyes to nose, particularly rams. Wool fine and dense and of even colour, not black, covering the whole body down to the hocks and knees. [3][4] Baby Doll breeders claim that their sheep are closer to the original English Southdown than are the commercial Southdown sheep being grown today. In 1813, Arthur Young estimated 200,000 ewes were kept on the eastern South Downs and commented, "the amazing number they keep is one of the most singular circumstances in the sheep husbandry of England". The Southdown has been placed on a watch list by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Their popularity grew because the Southdowns were very easy to take care of and were resilient to many problems for which other sheep are known. Southdown, breed of medium-wool, dark-faced, hornless sheep originating in the Sussex hills … In California and New Zealand, they are placed in vineyards to graze weeds because they are too short to reach the grapes on the vines. The Southdown breed is the oldest of the "down" sheep. It has been split into two sub-breeds. The color of their body … SOUTHDOWN SHEEP QUICK PROFILE OVERVIEW. A leg at each corner, straight and well up on the pasterns. In 1937, the number of exported Southdowns reached 459 head. Mature weights for rams range from 190 to 230 lb (86-104 kg); ewes weigh from 130 to 180 lb (59-81 kg). PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS. However, many of the original attributes for which the original Southdowns were known were bred out. After this initial review and acceptance period, the "Foundation Flock" registry was closed in 1991. From mature ewes, fleece weights are between 5.0 and 8.0 lb ((2.5 - 3.6 kg) with a yield of 40% to 55%. The Southdown raised by commercial growers today, is larger than the "traditional" Southdown of years past. The principal reason for the large concentrations of Southdown sheep on downland farms over these centuries was their role in the maintenance of soil fertility. Much remained the same until the First World War, when the Southdown flocks declined with some rapidity, as shepherds and farm workers went off to war. The Southdown raised by commercial growers today, is larger than the "traditional" Southdown of years past. This divergence from the original breed standards was the beginning of what later became two distinct lines in the US. Their body is wide, deep and refined. Eyes large and bright and clear of wool. At that time, Mock started the first and original Olde English Southdown Registry to market this once meat breed to a completely new market for people looking for pets and 4H projects, and he started the "Babydoll" used by the members of the original registry, as well as the few spin-off Babydoll registries. They are usually of white color with mouse colored faces. [citation needed] At the time, their wool was second only to the Hereford sheep in fineness and quality. Nose dark, not pink. DESCRIPTION AND BREED CHARACTERISTICS Wide, level between the ears with no sign of horn. Hair of an even mouse colour. They are sturdy, wide, deep, compact and refined. In the 19th and first half of the 20th centuries, they were found in large numbers, especially in the South Downs near Lewes. During the Great Depression, a severe and prolonged fall in the prices of wool and cereals due to rising volumes of imports from the British Empire was accompanied by the Wet Years - a six-year period of cold, wet weather with little sun. In England, these small Southdowns grew in p… Napa sheep slaughter solved: Culprits were cougars. Neither cow-hocked, nor knock-kneed. It is a medium to small sized breed with a gray to mouse-brown face and lower legs and is polled (hornless). Ribs well sprung. This meant wheat could be grown successfully the following year. Neck wide at the base and well set on the shoulder. Gradually surrendering to basic arable farming changes, the Southdown became largely a grassland breed. Rump not pointed. The original blood line of the English Southdowns are the Olde English 'Babydoll' Southdown sheep in the US. This was significant in the development and mass production of the larger, leggier Southdown of today. Folded flocks were no longer economical and smaller flocks averaged only 135 ewes apiece. One other factor that affected the original bloodlines was that the Southdown could not satisfy the consumer demand for larger meat cuts. Not to be confused with the Olde English 'Babydoll' Southdown sheep. [citation needed]. They later declined in nearly the same pattern that had occurred in England. These small sheep were know for their extreme hardiness and produced meat with unmatched tenderness and flavor then any other breed of sheep. Ears of medium size and covered with short wool. It was exported to New Zealand and was used in the breeding of the Canterbury lamb. They have been selected specifically for their smaller size of the original blood lines and a focus on wool and hobby breeding rather than commercial meat production. From then until 1939, the registered Southdown flocks numbered around 200. By 1911, 359 registered Southdown flocks contained some 114,495 breeding ewes throughout Britain. EWE BREEDING & MILKING INFORMATION. [dubious – discuss] The large flocks grazed the open downs by day and at dusk they came down to the lower arable land for folding. A good Southdown should catch the eye with its alertness and balanced appearance, displaying the following characteristics: Email: secretary@southdownsheepsociety.co.uk, Southdown Sheep Society, Meens Farm, Capps Lane, All Saints, Halesworth, Suffolk , IP19 0PD, United Kingdom, Articles of Association of the Southdown Sheep Society.

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