Southdown Premier Sale at Worcester

Having previously been staged in the South East of England this is the first time the Society’s Premier Sale has been held at Worcester in August, explains Society chairman Adam Brown.

“The Society is delighted to be working with McCartneys auctioneers to provide breeders and commercial buyers with a wide selection of Southdown genetics in a central location.

“Sales in the south east had been successful, but with the breed’s footprint rapidly expanding across the UK the Society felt it was the right time to focus its sale activity at a more easily accessible location and Worcester fits the bill perfectly.”

Mr Brown says the breed is quickly gaining a new following among commercial farmers for use on ewe lambs and first time lambers. “It has become evident to many sheep farmers over the last five years that to maximise efficiency and fertility in their flocks that lambing their ewe lambs makes sense.

“Naturally with young sheep you want an easy lambing experience and the Southdown fits the bill perfectly. Southdown cross lambs are easily born, have great vigour and the ability to finish off minimal inputs. Additionally, modern Southdowns are a quick finishing breed with high quality carcasses, meeting the needs of both farmers and prime lamb buyers.”

Sussex-based shepherd Nick Page of Goodwood Estates uses Southdown rams exclusively on the Estate’s North of England Mule ewe lambs and says he simply wouldn’t consider another breed. “Southdown cross lambs are great converters of milk and forage and have moderate birth weights and neat heads and legs, making them easily born.

“The quick growth and early finishing of the Southdown lambs means they don’t pull the ewe hoggs down and allows the lambs to be sold earlier.”

"Southdowns make an ideal starter flock for those with limited sheep experience as well as being suited to more experienced shepherds. The Southdown is a highly versatile breed and one which fits well in the modern forage-based sheep industry.”