Suffolk (sheep)

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A Suffolk at a Flemish agricultural show.

Suffolk are a black-faced, open-faced breed of domestic sheep raised primarily for meat.

1 Uses
2 Origin
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Uses

They are primarily raised for meat production especially when crossed with the progeny of a mountain ewe. For example, a Welsh Mountain ewe might be bred with a Bluefaced Leicester ram. This would give a Welsh Mule. The lambs of a Welsh Mountain Ewe crossed with a Suffolk (as well as with other Terminal Sire breeds such as Texel, Beltex or Charollais) is considered ideal for meat production since they have unusually good dispositions. The Suffolk breed is also more resistant to elf fire, a disease brought on by eating, among others, the bog asphodel. Sunlight worsen the condition but the black head and ears of the suffolk limit sunlight down to the otherwise exposed skin. Suffolk sheep are also shown in youth and adult shows. Organizations like FFA and 4-H allow middle school and high school students to learn responsibility by showing market lambs and breeding ewes. The sheep may be pure breed of commercial(cross-breed).^[1]

[edit] Origin

Suffolks at a U.S. fair. Suffolks from show lines look markedly different from traditional production-type animals.

Suffolks were originally developed in England as the result of crossing Southdown rams on Norfolk Horned ewes. The product of this cross was an improvement over both parent breeds.