1. Southdowns: meat the breed Secretary: Gail Sprake (All Saints flock),Meens Farm, Capps Lane, All Saints, Halesworth, Suffolk IP19 0PD. Tel: 01986 782251 Mobile: 07885 777921 E-mail: secretary@southdownsheepsociety.co.uk Web: www.southdownsheepsociety.co.uksecretary@southdownsheepsociety.co.ukwww.southdownsheepsociety.co.uk Photographs & drawings: Copyright Southdown Sheep Society (Gareth Lloyd Hughes Photography, Goldsworthy Associates Limited, Jake Tebbit)

2. Contents History Populations trends Why Southdowns A split personality? Flock health and management

3. Breed History 18th century > 200,000 John Ellman (Glynde) 1753-1832 Jonas Webb (Babraham) 1796 – 1862 Thomas Coke (Holkham)1754 –1842 A down and heathland breed with fine wool, bred for meat production Breed Society - 1892

4. National Foundation Stock with the Norfolk Horn, the Suffolk. with existing stock, the Hampshire Down via the Hampshire Down, the Oxford Down

5. International Foundation Stock Southdowns exported worldwide New Zealand Australia USA Europe

6. UK Imports New Zealand France

7. Population trends The rise, fall and recovery

8. Southdown trends – registered national flock (estimates)

9. Southdown trends – registered breeders

10. Breed Recovery

11. Docile and easy to handle Why Southdowns

12. Tight stocking, thrive on very little Why Southdowns

13. Easy lambing Why Southdowns

14. Early finishing Why Southdowns Catches premium prices Eases grazing pressure

15. Outstanding conformation Why Southdowns

16. Great taste Why Southdowns

17. Great looks Why Southdowns

18. A split personality or a breed for all seasons Commercial Larger and heavier – faster finish and larger final carcase Rams 90-100kg Lambs 38-40kg lwt Leaner Smallholder Traditional small and compact – easy to handle Rams 80-90kg Lambs 35-38kg lwt Flocks are of many different shapes and sizes; its horses for courses. The only bad sheep is a dead sheep!

19. Flock health and management Only 1 flock still scrapie testing c. 8 flocks MV accredited c.7 flocks in Signet recording scheme –weight recording and fat scanning

20. Scheme participants Scrapie All Saints MV accredited Brompton Chaileybroo k Golden Valley etc Signet Recorded All Saints Birch Hoe Chaileybroo k East Dean Gunton Webbellis Woolbeding

21. Why Southdowns Docile and easy to handle Easy lambing Tight stocking/ folded Early finishing Early relief of grazing pressure Outstanding conformation Best tasting lamb Looks!