Southdown sheep

Southdown
At the Great Yorkshire Show in 2011
Conservation status
  • FAO (2007): not at risk
  • DAD-IS (2021): at risk
  • RBST (2021): not at risk
Other namesSouth Down
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Distributioninternational
StandardSouthdown Sheep Society
Traits
Weight
  • Male:
    78–90 kg
  • Female:
    59–68 kg
Height
  • Male:
    67 cm
  • Female:
    60 cm
Wool colourwhite
Face colourformerly mouse-grey, now white
Horn statuspolled

The Southdown is a British breed of small domestic sheep. It is a shortwool breed, and the basis of the whole Down group of breeds. It was originally bred by John Ellman of Glynde, near Lewes in East Sussex, in about 1800. It has been exported to many countries; it has been of particular importance in New Zealand, where it was used in the production of Canterbury lamb. In the twenty-first century it is kept principally as a terminal sire.

It is listed by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust among the UK native breeds; it was formerly listed as "priority" or "at risk".

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