Southdown (sheep)

Southdown (sheep)

The Southdown is a small, dual purpose British sheep. Today it is raised in many parts of the world. It has evolved into two sub breeds. The Southdown raised by commercial growers today, is somewhat larger than the "traditional" Southdown of years past. The "Baby Doll" Southdowns, on the other hand, have been selected for small size and "cuteness" by a small number of hobby breeders. The Baby Doll breeders claim that their sheep are closer to the old, traditional, British Southdown than are the commercial Southdown sheep being grown today.

The Southdown breed was originally bred by John Ellman of Glynde, near Lewes, East Sussex about 200 years ago. His work was continued by Jonas Webb of Babraham in Cambridgeshire who developed the larger animal that we see today.

It was exported to New Zealand and was used in the breeding of the Canterbury Lamb. The Southdown is recognised by the Rare Breeds society as an "at risk" breed, although today it is popular amongst the smaller scale breeders of sheep. The Southdown Sheep Society promotes this breed.

The sheep has a body weight of about 60 kg, its fleece weight is around 2.25 kg and it has a short staple of about 70 mm with a diameter of 25 micrometres or more.

This sheep was involved with crossbreeding to develop other breeds

*with existing stock, the Hampshire,
*via the Hampshire, the Oxford Down
*with the Norfolk Horn, the Suffolk.

External links

* Sweetwater Farm - Breeders of Olde English "Babydoll" Southdown Sheep [http://babydollsouthdowns.com/]
* Olde English Babydoll Southdown Sheep Registry [http://www.oldeenglishbabydollregistry.com/index.html]
* Babydoll Southdown Sheep [http://nabssar.org/]
* [http://www.southdownsheepsociety.co.uk/breed.htm Southdown Sheep Society]


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  • Southdown sheep — Southdown South down , a. Of or pertaining to the South Downs, a range of pasture hills south of the Thames, in England. [1913 Webster] {Southdown sheep} (Zo[ o]l.), a celebrated breed of shortwooled, hornless sheep, highly valued on account of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Southdown — South down , a. Of or pertaining to the South Downs, a range of pasture hills south of the Thames, in England. [1913 Webster] {Southdown sheep} (Zo[ o]l.), a celebrated breed of shortwooled, hornless sheep, highly valued on account of the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Southdown — South down , n. A Southdown sheep. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Southdown — can mean one of several things:*Southdown is a breed of sheep *Southdown, New Zealand is a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand **Southdown Freezing Works, a large abattoir in Auckland *Southdown is a local name for the area north of Worthing, Sussex …   Wikipedia

  • Southdown — [south′doun΄] n. [after SOUTH DOWNS] any of a breed of small, thickset sheep yielding a high quality short staple wool, but raised esp. for food …   English World dictionary

  • Southdown — /sowth down /, n. one of an English breed of sheep, yielding mutton of high quality. [1780 90; named after SOUTH DOWNS, where the breed was developed] * * * ▪ breed of sheep  breed of medium wool, dark faced, hornless sheep originating in the… …   Universalium

  • Southdown — noun One of a particular English breed of small sheep. I saw a Southdown or two among the others in the flock …   Wiktionary

  • sheep — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) n. ram, ewe, lamb; bighorn, karakul; mutton; congregation, parish; follower. See animal, laity, modesty. II (Roget s IV) n. Syn. lamb, ewe, ram, tup, mutton. Types and breeds of sheep include: Leicester …   English dictionary for students

  • sheep breeds — Charollais, Cheviot, Columbia, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, Lincoln, Merino (There are 10 distinct breeds of Merino type sheep), Rambouillet, Southdown, Shropshire Suffolk …   Combined glossary of agriculture

  • Southdown — noun Etymology: South Downs, England Date: 1787 any of a breed of small medium wooled hornless sheep of English origin …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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