The Southdown sheep has roamed the Sussex Downlands from time immemorial. Around 200 years ago, John Ellman of Glynde, near Lewes, in Sussex commenced a radical improvement of the breed by selection within the breed - no outcrossing. His work was continued by Jonas Webb of Babraham in Cambridgeshire, who developed a somewhat larger animal which was used in the creation of the other Down breeds.
The Southdown bred pure will produce a fast growing prime lamb in record time. Crossed on any breed of ewe the resulting lamb will have a carcass of fine conformation and high grade if marketed correctly. Southdowns excel if mated to ewe lambs of any breed in a slightly smaller active lamb demanding less from its dam. |