The wool industry has a long history in Shropshire dating back to the 1300-1400s the area was famous for it wool production. It was developed during the 1840s. The Shropshire sheep breed originated on the Shropshire Downs of England. They sheep have been said to have been in this region since as early as 1341. And the breed was awarded a place on the prize sheet of the Royal Agricultural Society in 1859 as a recognized and distinct breed. By the 1930s the Shropshire had been dubbed "the farm flock favorite"[citation needed] in the United States; but in the 1940s, US breeders began producing Shropshires with more wool cover and decreased size. Its gentle nature and medium size make it very popular with 4-H exhibitors. This breed’s gentle nature and medium size makes them a good 4-H sheep for kids. For more information about Shropshire Sheep or about joining Shropshire Sheep Breeders' Association as a Member, then please contact The Secretary, Simon Mackay (Email: secretary@shropshire-sheep.co.uk) or Tel: +44(0)1925 765304 Legs strong, short, straight, well wooled and well set apart; colour of hair on legs dark chocolate brown, and colour of wool on legs white; feet sound, short in the hoof, and set squarely under the sheep. Privacy Policy To join the Shropshire Sheep Breeders’ Association as a Full or Associate Member, please contact The Secretary, secretary@shropshire-sheep.co.uk, +44 (0)1925 765304 or send us a … To breed, sell, and show championship caliber Shropshire sheep throughout North America with an emphasis on productivity, style, and correctness, along with breed character, size, and muscle. But the breeders in this area used the local black-faced sheep and crossed them with a few sheep breeds of white-faced sheep, especially the Cotswold, Leicester and Southdown sheep. Active with a free action. Their head is short and broad between the ears and eyes. The fleece is medium fine, free from black fiber and well crimped. It’s body is covered with fine and dense wool. Trends come and go, but we believe that productivity, structural correctness and Shropshire … The breed is a member of the Downs family of sheep and one of the few black-faced sheep on the Conservation Priority List. General Appearance: They are actually a productive and useful dual-purpose animal. Goat The Clun Forest is a breed of domestic sheep originating from the area surrounding the Clun Forest in Shropshire, England. In 1859 the breed was officially recognized by the Royal Agricultural Society as being a distinct breed. Their skin is of a light cherry color, clear and free from dark spots. Their shoulder is strong, smooth and blending well into body. The Shropshire is of medium size … Sitemap The breed's adaptability to most environments and their dual-purpose nature led to them quickly becoming a popular breed. Proven results year after year! Job Circular Shoulders blending smoothly into the ribs. A full heart girth, strong and straight back with adequate body capacity. However, read some more information about this breed below. History of Shropshire Sheep. Ears of the Shropshire sheep are short, alert and well set. It was originated from the hills of Shropshire, and North Staffordshire, England. Duck Die Mutterschafe setzen einmal jährlich Lämmer. In the 1990s, Shropshires were found to be the only breed that would not nibble on conifers or bite off the bark of fruit trees, making them especially popular with Christmas tree farmers. Photo and info from Wikipedia. Shropshires are a good, middle-of-the-road sheep, medium to large in size, with dark faces and wool on the legs. Wool of the Shropshire sheep is of good quality, and the wool has a fiber diameter of 24.5 to 33 microns and a staple length from 2.5 to 4 inches. Head, short, broad between the ears and eyes, bold and masculine in rams, without horns; straight or slightly dished face, broad muzzle, masculine on rams, feminine on ewes; white dense wool well covering the whole poll and cheeks and jaw; eyes bright and alert; colour of face and ears dark brown, grey nose hairs permissible. The Shropshire breed of domestic sheep originated from the hills of Shropshire, and North Staffordshire, England, during the 1840s. Learn how your comment data is processed. As a result, the Shropshire slowly began to lose much of its size, and it became more and more necessary to trim around the eyes to prevent "wool-blindness." The same year the Society published the first Flock Book, a record of sheep bred and their breeders. Fleece of these animals is of good length, dense and elastic to touch. The long-legged, long-necked modern American Shropshire bears little resemblance to the breed type and character of the heritage-type Shropshire sheep. And lastly, today at national sheep meetings are the genetics stakeholders and National Sheep Improvement Program meetings. Like its name suggests the origin of Shropshire Sheep takes us back to the hills of Shropshire in England in 1840. Of good length, dense, elastic to touch, medium fine, free from black fibre, well crimped, with evenness of texture throughout; scrotum of rams well covered with wool. The Shropshire sheep was imported into the United States, in 1855. Body of the Shropshire sheep is well fleshed, long, deep and symmetrical. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. American breeders followed a show trend to make a more compact, fatter, and woolier sheep … Alert, attractive, indicating breeding and quality, with stylish carriage and a symmetrical form, showing the true characteristics of the Shropshire, covered with fine, dense wool. That cross produced a medium-sized sheep breed that produced good wool and meat. 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