Suffolk sheep
(Southdown
Norfolk) – the flagship breed in the UK
Arthur Young suggested they be given a proper name
of Suffolk in 1797. They were recognised as a breed in 1810. In Great
Britain and Ireland the Suffolk is now the dominant terminal sire breed
with over 2000 They were exported around the Isles and the world
– USA 1888, Ireland, 1891, Scotland, 1895, Wales, 1901. They have also
been exported to Austria, France, Germany, Switzerland, Russia, South
America and the colonies. Suffolks are hornless and black-pointed, and have
short hair. Credits: (1) photos, Rob
Pratt, Home Farm, Norfolk
Suffolks originate from the Bury St Edmonds Area, England where they were called blackfaces.
They were the result of crossing the original British Southdown
rams and Norfolk Horned ewes. They derived the best qualities from the
parent breeds (such as meatiness and quality wool from the Southdown,
and strong muscular limbs and hardiness from the Norfolks) and lost much
of the least desirable ones (such as the long legs, flat sides, and wild
nature of the Norfolk Horned, which sadly became extinct in 1973).
flocks.
There is also the White Suffolk breed in Australia
(a result of cross-breeding the Suffolks with a white breed (initially
poll dorsets). Also in Australia is the South Suffolk (does anyone know
if this is in fact the same as the white Suffolk?) which is a cross
between the Suffolk and the Southdown (again…?)
(2) Marj & Ron Guenther,
Riverwood
Farm
© sheepnet - do not reproduce any pictures that have credits without permission