Southdown Sheep

 

HISTORY The Southdown is the oldest of the mutton breeds. John Ellman, who lived in southeastern England near Lewes, Sussex County, began to improve the native sheep on the hills known as the South Downs. Southdowns were imported to Canada and the United States in the latter part of the last century. During the 1930s through the 1950s there were many more importations made. More recently Southdowns of New Zealand were imported into the United States. Offspring of these importations have made there way into Canada. The added size and scale of the New Zealand Southdown combined with selective breeding have brought the Southdown up to date with other breeds. Southdowns are the breed of quality - whether emphasis is on commercial lambs, show ring, carcass contests or wether classes. For cross-breeding, grading up, or the production of market lambs, Southdown rams on grade ewes produce outstanding commercial stock. Southdown rams are extremely prepotent - regardless of the ewes mated their offspring bear the unmistakable mark of the Southdown, not only in appearance but in the manner of feeding and growth and in meat quality. Breedin qualities in Southdown flocks will produce 140-160 lambs per 100 ewes. They are good mothers and have ample milk to raise the lambs to weaning. The ewes are not wild, nervous or reckless during the lambing season. Southdowns have contributed more to the process of crossing to create new breeds than any other breed of sheep. Southdowns are a medium sized breed with a gray to mouse-brown face and lower legs and is polled (hornless).  Southdown are an early maturing breed with good lambing ability and average milk production.  The Southdown is adaptable to varied and wet climates. Southdowns are listed as VULNERABLE  by Rare Breeds Canada and as RECOVERING by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.

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