Complete the Special Offer form at the bottom of this page for your FREE Guide to Buying a Wool Duvet and a £10 welcome voucher. Small sheep with woolly faces and legs, the Old English Babydoll Southdown sheep are naturally poled (no horns). The ewes are generally maintained as purebreds. Southdown Sheep Characteristics. Les brebis sont généralement gardées en race pure. 1-866-458-4800 See more ideas about sheep, babydoll sheep, sheep and lamb. As well as being woollen spun, all our yarn is two fold/ply. Southdown sheep might be a breed steeped in history — it is the oldest of the terminal sire breeds in the UK — but a group of breeders in New Zealand is firmly focused on positioning it for the future, as Sally Rae reports. Southdown, breed of medium-wool, dark-faced, hornless sheep originating in the Sussex hills … The breed declined drastically in the 1960's as a result of its very small stature and lambing difficulties. Known as The Olde English “babydoll” Southdown, these little sheep (much smaller than the modern day larger, leggier Southdowns) make wonderful companions, pets, lawnmowers, and fleece producers. Historically, due to the Southdown's relatively short staple, it was woollen spun rather than worsted. Their wool was integral to what may have been the first ever recorded sheep-to-sweater type of exhibition. I didn’t know what breed to start with, so I stuck my hand in the bag of wool and decided to go with the one I grabbed first. Gilbert White, a naturalist from Selbourne writing in 1773 also gives us some clear details about Sussex sheep in the mid C18th. I wanted to carry on this tradition so all our yarn is woollen spun. The Southdown was developed in southeastern England, specifically in the Chalk Hills or “South Downs” of Sussex. Untitled. It has a short staple, usually between 4 and 10cm (1.5 and 5 inches). According to M L Ryder author of 'Sheep & Man', the polled, dusky faced Southdown as we know them have been on the chalk hills of the South Downs since medieval times. We only work with registered, pedigree flocks, We develop a relationship with each and every shepherd and flock, We pay above the market value for the fleeces we select, Our wool is 100% single flock, Southdown wool grown, shorn and dyed in Sussex, It is scoured, carded, and spun in England, There are no air miles in our product before sale. Wisconsin is home to an active and passionate group of Southdown breeders and enthusiasts. Skeletal remains also show us that body proportions and horns were also quite different than in today’s sheep. Consequently, not all wool bedding is the same and it’s easy to make a costly mistake. He tells us that the river Adur at Shoreham provided a natural boundary between white-faced polled sheep to the west and black-faced polls to the east. Livestock Supplies Similar items on Etsy (Results include Ads Learn more Sellers looking to grow their business and reach more interested buyers can use Etsy’s advertising platform to promote their items. I particularly like this quality and find it works well with the shades we achieve through natural dyeing, giving it a depth of colour that isn't flat. Jessica uses a combination of fleeces from her own flock of Southdown sheep as well as fleeces from members of the Southdown sheep society, sourcing the highest quality wool for her luxury bedding products. Note the size (the bandanna will give you scale). Originally developed in England as a meat sheep, their wool is not prized for spinning. White and off-white are terms that are often used interchangeably – some people refer to these sheep as “white” while others refer to them as “off-white.” The color of the muzzle and legs of an off-white sheep should be some shade from very light tan to brown to cinnamon to mousy gray. They are small, and very gentle-natured. The beginning of these changes is credited to one remarkable man from Glynde in East Sussex, namely John Ellman. American Southdown Breeders' Association Distribution: Worldwide. Southdown Sheep Advantages Southdown sheep are easy to handle and their small size contributes to it. They are one of the oldest breeds of “down” sheep from the United Kingdom and are prized for their meat but also produce a decent quality and quantity of wool. La race a décliné drastiquement au cours des années 1960 à cause de sa très petite stature et de ses difficultés à l'agnelage. As a result, Southdown was a very popular wool for clothing. In Canada it became known as the “Aberdeen Angus” of the sheep industry due to its ability to flesh out a small carcass. Historically they were a dual-purpose sheep, and their wool was highly prized in both Europe and America until the Merino breed was imported and took over the market. Browse our site for information on these events as well as our membership opportunities. They are mainly raised for meat and wool production. Southdown Sheep breeders listing & info The Southdown was developed in Sussex, England in the late 1700's and early 1800's and exported to the US shortly thereafter. I have to admit I didn’t know much about Southdown sheep up to this point. Their gentle nature makes them a joy to own, and their diminutive size makes them an excellent choice for 4-H projects. Not to be confused with the Olde English 'Babydoll' Southdown sheep.. Southdown wool is one of the finest of the Down wools (in terms of microns between 24-29). 613-257-2714 ext 6, Kitchener/Waterloo, ON Babydoll Southdown is wonderfully versatile, surprisingly different. When they are carded (rather than combed) the fibres go in many different directions. 1-800-488-2714 We scour, card and turn the wool into a soft, snug duvet which will keep you warm in winter and cool enough in summer to guarantee a great night's sleep. Le Southdown est docile et s'adapte très bien à l'élevage en bâtiment. En conséquence, la race est de nouveau utilisée pour la production de carcasses pour les marchés d'agneaux moyens et légers. Woodsmoke and Wool is a registered breeder of Olde English Babydoll Southdown Sheep in Ontario, Canada. 613-257-2714 ext 5, Cookstown, ON  Le Southdown a la capacité d'être élevé au pâturage jusqu'au poids du marché. Patience, knowledge, hard work, a mixture of my stock and well known Forsee genetics has enabled me to produce quality strong characteristic lambs. 'Ve used our yarn is woollen spun, plant dyed in Sussex, John... ( AJSA ) allows JUNIORS to share a vital role in the 19 to 22 …! 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