Suffolk Sheep Breed – Everything You Need to Know

The Suffolk sheep breed have been around for a while now and they are a large, sturdy breed with a long body, black faces and legs.
They are quiet docile breed that can be used as a dual-purpose sheep breed for both their meat and wool. Their pelts have been known to be of quite high standard and can be used for producing some leather goods.

SUFFOLK SHEEP QUICK PROFILE OVERVIEW
The Suffolk sheep breed is a large, strong, sturdy breed with a long body and pretty black faces.
Country of Origin:	United Kingdom
Other Names:	None
Breed Size:	Large
Main Purpose:	Meat but can be used for their wool
Can be used for	Breed, **LSC, Meat, Skin, Wool
Temperament:	Quiet, docile and easy to handle
Ideal Climate:	Heat, Cold, Most climates
Conservation Status:	Not listed by the *ALC Status/Rarity: Common
Health Issues?	No known health issues
Good Starter Sheep?	Novice to intermediate sheep farmer/keeper
Sheep Associations:	United Suffolk Sheep Association and Suffolk Sheep Society
Sheep Clubs:	Please refer to the United Suffolk Sheep Association and Suffolk Sheep Society members/breeders directories
Note: ALC stands for American Livestock Conservancy * LSC stands for Landscape Management – the animal is used for controlling various vegetation growth

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The Suffolk sheep breed have a strong sturdy frame, are heavily muscled and a long compact body. Their faces, heads and legs from the knee down are clean of wool. Their wool forms a collar around their necks making them look like they have a woolen bomber jacket on.

Color(s):

White

SHEEP ⇒	EWE	RAM
Breed Weight:	80 to 160 kgs	110 to 160 kgs
Breed Height:	Unclear they are a large breed	Unclear they are a large breed
Hair:	Fine, moderately short and dense	Fine, moderately short and dense
Ears:	Long, bell shape that point down and are black in color	Long, bell shape that point down and are black in color
Horns:	Polled	Polled
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:	1 Breeding cycle per year	Cover 40 Ewes to a mature ram & 30 ewes to a young ram in 1 season

EWE BREEDING & MILKING INFORMATION
The ewes breed once a year and mostly produce enough milk to wean their lambs. They have a high percentage lambing rate of around 180% and the ewes are excellent mothers with good maternal instincts protecting their lambs at all costs. The lambs are usually weaned at around 90 to 100 days after birth.
Breeding Period/cycle:	Usually lasts 24 to 36 hours
Estrous cycle:	Ave. 17 days/13 to 19 days
Gestation Period:	Usually, around 150 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
Milk Ideal for:	Lambs
You may Also Like:	10 Best Sheep Breeds for Milk

SHEEP MEAT PRODUCTION INFORMATION

They have an excellent meat quality with lambs maturing early and market ready by 9 to 12 weeks. The lambs average weights at 42 days old is around 15 kgs and about 53 kgs at 100 days old. The meat has a superb flavor with one of the highest proportion of lean meat to fat. Making the meat lean and it has a fine grain and good color.

Meat Production:

Yes, Quality: Excellent quality with a high meat grade.

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

SHEEP WOOL PRODUCTION INFORMATION

The Suffolk sheep do produce a medium quality wool type. Once clean expect around a 50 to 60% yield from the full weight of the fleece.

Wool Production?

Yes, Medium quality with a spinning count of 48s to 58s

Wool is used to Produce:

Hand spinning, knitted garments, clothes, blankets, scarves, etc.

SHEEP ⇒	EWE	RAM
Age they Produce from:	6 to 8 months	6 to 8 months
Approx. Length:	5 to 7.62 cm	5 to 7.62 cm
Microns:	25 to 33	25 to 33
Approx. Quantity:	2.3 to 3.6 kgs of wool per year	2.3 to 3.6 kgs of wool per year

SHEEP SKIN PRODUCTION INFORMATION

The Suffolk Sheep generally produces a Grade 1 leather product that is used for good quality sheep skin products. Their leather can endure a lot of wear and tear as it is very durable and retains its shape extremely well. Their leather tends to be a lot thicker.

Skin Production?

Yes, Quality:Excellent quality sheep skin

Skin is used to Produce:

Hats, pelts, slippers, shoes and superior auto accessories.

SHEEP ⇒	EWE	RAM
Age they Produce from:	3 to 10 months for Kid skin 1 to 2 years old for Normal leather	3 to 10 months for Kid skin 1 to 2 years old for Normal leather

GOOD TO KNOW ABOUT THE ROMNEY SHEEP
A few more interesting facts to know about the breed
Child-Friendly?	Unattended children should never be left around livestock no matter what the animals temperament may be.
Landscape Management?	They are good grazers and foragers that are able to maintain the landscape
Where to buy them?	Please refer to the United Suffolk Sheep Association and Suffolk Sheep Society members/breeders directories
General Information:	The Suffolk sheep breed were originally called Southdown Norfolks or just Black Faces. They are a very energetic breed with a highly muscled frame that shows their great stamina and durability. They have a pink skin that is soft to the touch and produces a top quality high grade sheep skin.

HISTORY

The Suffolk Sheep breed originated in the United Kingdom off the rugged coast southeastern coast. They are the result of the crossing of Norfolk Horn ewes to the Southdown sheep breed rams. They were developed over 200 years ago and are the leading terminal sire in the British Isles.

The Suffolk sheep breed was said to be a great improvement on its parental breeds and was recognized as a breed in 1810 although its flock book was not closed until much later.

The Suffolk Sheep breed are found all over the world in present times including, The United States where they are by far one of the most popular breeds of sheep in the country. The registry for the Suffolk sheep breed in America show that the breed account for more than fifty percent of pure-bred sheep registrations in the US.

The Suffolk sheep breed was first brought to the US in 1888 by a Mr. G.G.B. Streeter who resided in Chazy, New York. But the Suffolk sheep breed did not make an appearance in the western states until 1919 when two rams and three ewes were donated to the University of Idaho by the English Suffolk Sheep Society.

One of the rams that were donated was sold on an auction at the National Ram Sale in Salt Lake City, Utah. Several sheep breeders took and interest in the sheep which provoked a bidding war where the ram was finally won and sold to Laidlaw and Brockie who were the developers of the Panama sheep breed. These sheep breeders were from Muldoon in Idaho and the ram sold for $500.

They were so impressed by the off-spring of their ram that became consistent buyers of the Suffolk breed at the National Ram sale.