FROM THE PAST, FOR THE FUTURE… FROM THE PAST, FOR THE FUTURE… FROM THE PAST, FOR THE FUTURE… SHROPSHIRE SHEEP SHROPSHIRE SHEEP The Shropshire is a traditional Downland, terminal sire breed, with a A great British tradition distinguished heritage. It has many desirable qualities that appeal to flock- owners in the 21st Century. f the transport systems we have today sound principle: Stock brought from had been available in the 18th and harsher northern climes to more The modern Shropshire: I19th centuries, we would probably not temperate conditions perform better than Thrives in a wide range of conditions; have a “Shropshire sheep”. Nor for that stock moving in the opposite direction. matter, would we have any other native Finishes consistently off grass alone; In the 1960s and 1970s, it became British breed. Instead we’d have a Produces top quality carcasses and tasty, succulent meat; fashionable to go south for your stock - a “Standard British Sheep” – no doubt with long way south in fact: to the Continent. Lambs easily with a high lambing percentage; a kite mark stamped on it somewhere! Large numbers of European breeds were Is highly resistant to Scrapie; When the Shropshire breed first emerged, brought across the English Channel, miles Possesses great longevity and resistance to many ailments; there was very little movement of breeding from the local conditions for which they Grazes in conifer plantations without damaging trees; stock within the country. Drovers walked had been bred. their fat-stock many miles from rural areas Produces high quality wool, suitable for hand-knitting. But fashions come and go. Today, thanks to the cities, but the breeding stock to renewed interest in traditional British remained - and developed - within each food and pride in our great livestock region. And the way each breed heritage, some or our native breeds are developed was important. making a comeback. Many farmers now All native British breeds evolved to suit the realise that for British conditions, a native local conditions in the areas where they British breed is best. In the forefront of For more information about Shropshire sheep and details of pedigree breeders with stock for sale, originated. The Shropshire was the most this revival is the Shropshire. The breed contact The Shropshire Sheep Breeders’ Association and Flock Book Society northerly of all the British lowland breeds. has never lost its ability to thrive in a It proved suitable for a wide range of range of British conditions. conditions and the So, if you are looking for a wife, go south breed’s popularity if you wish. But, if you are searching for a continued to A traditional British breed breed of sheep with excellent grow for characteristics, and one that’s bred for that excels in a wide range of many years. British conditions, look no further - it has The expression: farming systems to be Shropshires! “Go north for your www.shropshire-sheep.co.uk stock, but go south for your wife” was commonly repeated. Reasons for going south for a wife are unknown! Going north for stock is, however, based on a very FROM THE PAST, FOR THE FUTURE… FROM THE PAST, FOR THE FUTURE…

Flexibility For Flock-Owners commercial sales records: Typically around one third of Shropshire sheep thrive in diverse Shropshire lambs will be graded geographical regions and climatic “U” and two thirds as “R” for conditions. In Britain, the breed is to be carcass conformation at fat class found from the English lowlands to the 2 or 3L. So, Shropshire lambs are highlands and islands of Scotland. eligible for premium prices from Shropshires also flourish in the high many meat buyers. rainfall areas of Ireland and at altitudes of more than 300 metres (1,000 feet) in A trial at Walford College, mountainous areas of Wales. Shropshire in the 1990s, investigated the use of Shropshire Shropshire rams are renowned as Christmas Tree Bonus Valuable Shropshire Wool rams as terminal sires on terminal sires. Crossed with commercial commercial North Country Shropshire sheep have a proven track The Shropshire has a more complete The Shropshire has a remarkable heritage and possesses ewes or purebreds, they produce high Mules. The trial demonstrated record of being the most consistently covering of wool than any other attributes that are particularly relevant in the modern era of quality lambs that match the exacting that 95% of the resultant lambs reliable breed for grazing in conifer Downland breed and grows a heavy, commercial, yet sustainable, farming. standards of today’s meat buyers. The graded in fat classes 2 or 3L – a plantations, without damaging the trees. dense fleece, typically weighing 2 to 3kg. breed also has a well-proven ability to staggering 28% improvement on the Christmas tree growers in the UK and The wool is of high quality and suitable finish successfully from grass alone. This History of the Breed pedigree animals were exported MLC all-lamb average of 67%. other northern European countries now for a wide range of uses. The Shropshire around the world. They were recommends Shropshires to all lamb use Shropshires as a cost-effective and Sheep Breeders’ Association produces its he Shropshire Sheep Breeders’ especially popular in North producers wishing to maximise use of environmentally friendly method of weed own range of Shropshire yarn, hand- Association was established in America, Australia and New Zealand, low cost, home-grown feed. The control. The owners are reaping the benefit knitted garments and woven items, such T1882 and has the distinction of where Shropshire flocks remain to this Shropshire is equally suited to organic of two crops from every acre of trees. as travel rugs, throws and scarves. being the oldest sheep breed society in day. and extensive farming systems, such as the UK. The breed itself was developed Countryside Stewardship schemes. in the early 1800s from sheep that The fortunes of the breed declined, roamed areas of upland heath and however, with the prevention of exports Great Prolificacy and Longevity common land in the West Midlands: The – a result of two world wars and sporadic Shropshire ewes have the ability to lamb Long Mynd in Shropshire; Cannock outbreaks of foot and mouth in Britain. early, and regularly achieve lambing Chase in Staffordshire; and Morfe Committed British breeders have percentages of 160%. As dams, Shropshires Common on the borders of Shropshire, continued to develop the Shropshire, are docile, milky and rear twin lambs with Staffordshire and Worcestershire. maintaining the breed’s great strengths ease. They are extremely hardy and have a of high quality meat and wool, as well as The steady development of these native long, productive flock-life. its excellent commercial performance sheep into a uniform Shropshire breed and adaptability. Top Quality Shropshire Lamb Excellent Scrapie Resistance resulted in vastly superior animals with dual attributes of good meat production Developed primarily as a supreme meat Since the launch of the National Scrapie and high quality wool. breed, today’s Shropshires retain the Plan, over 1,000 Shropshires have been ability to produce finished lambs of the Scrapie genotyped. The breed is Favourable reports of the Shropshire highest quality. The breed combines fast completely free from the “V” allele, spread quickly and soon farmers were growth with excellent carcass which is linked to Scrapie susceptibility. using purebreds in Scotland, South West conformation and leanness. Shropshire Indeed, a substantial number of animals England and throughout the Midlands. breeders have frequently celebrated have been identified with the ARR/ARR The Shropshire became highly esteemed successes in lamb carcass competitions, genotype, which confers the highest th worldwide and in the early 20 century and these awards are backed by level of Scrapie resistance.