Dorset Down Sheep Breed – Everything You Need to Know

The Dorset Down breed of sheep that has a thickset, solid build and can cope with and or withstand most conditions except the uplands.

They are a calm breed that are easily handled and quite quick to train. They have a lambing average of around 150% and can breed throughout the year. They rams are also very popular terminal sire in their native areas.

DORSET DOWN SHEEP QUICK PROFILE OVERVIEW
The Dorset Down is a thickset, solid, robust, friendly and docile breed that originated in England.
Country of Origin:	United Kingdom
Other Names:	None
Breed Size:	Large
Main Purpose:	Meat
Can be used for	Breed Meat, Wool **LSC (Landscape Management)
Temperament:	Docile, calm, friendly and easy to handle and train
Ideal Climate:	Most climates
Conservation Status:	Not Listed by the *ALC Status/ Rarity: Rare and are listed as a Heritage breed with the Rare Breed Survival Trust
Health Issues?	No known health issues
Good Starter Sheep?	Novice to intermediate level sheep farmer/keeper
Sheep Associations:	Dorset Down Sheep Breeders Association and the Rare Breed Survival Trust
Sheep Clubs:	Dorset Down Sheep Breeders Association and the Rare Breed Survival Trust
Note: ALC stands for American Livestock Conservancy * LSC stands for Landscape Management – the animal is used for controlling various vegetation growth

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The rams have a more bold and masculine appearance and larger head, longer body and a robust character. Whilst the ewes have a bit more feminine appearance including the bulk and a slight difference in body length as they are a bit smaller than the rams. They have short necks and full, deep well forward chest./td>

Color(s):

White

SHEEP ⇒	EWE	RAM
Breed Weight:	70 kgs	110 kgs
Breed Height:	Unclear – Medium to large breed	Unclear – Medium to large breed
Hair:	They have a fine dense down type wool that is firm to the touch and free of color and kemp. It is of a good stable and quality.	They have a fine dense down type wool that is firm to the touch and free of color and kemp. It is of a good stable and quality.
Ears:	White firm medium sized and covered with hair. They stand erect to the sides of their head and look a bit like pixie ears	White firm medium sized and covered with hair. They stand erect to the sides of their head and look a bit like pixie ears
Horns:	Can be polled but if horned then they are much smaller and more delicate than that of the rams	If they are horned the horns are strong, they grow from the head and are long, well apart on the crown and grow in a straight line with each other. They grow downwards and forwards in a graceful curve(s) that is close to the face
Matures at age:	10 weeks/15 months or 15 years	10 weeks to 15 months
Puberty Age:	5 to 12 months	5 to 7 months
Breeding Age:	18 months	1 year
Breeding Traits:	See Ewe Breeding & Milking Info.	Cover 5 to 10 Ewes in 1 season

EWE BREEDING & MILKING INFORMATION
The ewes have a prolonged breeding cycle throughout the year and can produce up to three/four (if twins) in two years. They are good milkers for their lambs with less lamb deaths and they make very good mother with their excellent maternal instincts. The lambs produced by the Dorset Down breed are very hardy and vigorous at birth and are ready to suckle almost right away.
Breeding Period/cycle:	Usually lasts 16 to 59 hours
Estrous cycle:	Ave. 17 days/15 to 20 days
Gestation Period:	Usually, around 149 to 155 days but most gestation is 152 days
No. Lambs/Litter:	1 and on the rare occasion 2 (twins)
Lactation Period:	Usually, around 150 to 240 day but most are milked for 180 days
Milking From:	4 to 6 weeks after lambing
Milk Quality:	Good, Quantity: Enough to wean lambs , Per: Lactation period
Milk Ideal for:	Lambs
You may Also Like:	10 Best Sheep Breeds for Milk

SHEEP MEAT PRODUCTION INFORMATION

They produce and excellent premium quality of Mutton and lamb. Their lambs are virile and fast growing reaching 18 kg’s of weight within 12 weeks of birth. With the correct feeding and management, the sheep are capable of achieving E or U grades with the right fat classes. The lambs have a fine bone and shoulders with the loin covered with a full eye of meat as are the shoulders. The meat has a very good flavor

Meat Production:

Yes, Quality: E.U.R. 2-3L – A good quality meat

SHEEP ⇒	LAMB	HOGGET/MUTTON
Approx. Maturity Weight:	58 kgs	79 kgs
Approx. Maturity Age:

SHEEP WOOL PRODUCTION INFORMATION

The Dorset Down’s “down” fleece is considered to be one of the best and most highly sought-after British fleece. Their wool is fine in texture, short and the tight wool is weather resistant in the bad weather. It is classed as that of the highest grade by The British Wool Marketing Board. It is a very fine and versatile wool which is why it is highly sough after for hand spinners. It has an even and distinct crimp with a medium luster, superb loft and elasticity. The fleece takes to dying very well and it is often blended with other fleeces to increase the yarns crispness and elasticity.

Wool Production?

Yes, Quality: Highest of quality wool.

Wool is used to Produce:

Hosiery and find tweed trade. Suitable for spinning, knitting, crocheting, needle felt and weaving.

SHEEP ⇒	EWE	RAM
Age they Produce from:	6 to 8 months	6 to 8 months
Approx. Length:	5 to 8 cm	5 to 8 cm
Microns:	25 to 30	25 to 30
Approx. Quantity:	From 2.25 to 3 Kgs per year	From 2.25 to 3 Kgs per year

GOOD TO KNOW ABOUT THE DORSET DOWN SHEEP
A few more interesting facts to know about the breed
Child-Friendly?	No livestock should be left unattended around an unsupervised child
Landscape Management?	They are good grazers and foragers they make good landscape management sheep.
Where to buy them?	Please refer to the Dorset Down Sheep Breeders Association and the Rare Breed Survival Trust for breeders/members in your area that sell the breed.
General Information:	The Dorset Down sheep is closely related to that of the Dorset Horned or Dorset sheep breed. The Dorset Down breed is listed as a minority breed by the Rare Breed Survival Trust.

HISTORY

The Dorset Down breed was developed by the crossing of the Wiltshire, Hampshire, Berkshire ewes to Southdown sheep breed rams. The development of the Dorset Down Sheep breed was started in the early 1800’s in England and was developed to be well suited to the local area where the rams became popular terminal sires.

In 1904 a society for the breed was formed and the Dorset Down became a very popular sought-after breed throughout the first half of the 20th century. But the introduction of other foreign breeds to England such as the Texel and very popular Suffolk breed of sheep saw the Dorset Down breeds popularity start to diminish somewhat.

Although other Down breeds are slowly making a fighting come back due to sustainable farming and survival trust unfortunately the beautiful Dorset Down sheep breed remain quite a rarity these days.