What is RamCompare? RamCompare is the national progeny test for terminal sire breeds and is a joint-levy funded project (AHDB and HCC) with Signet Breeding Services providing data collation and analysis services. The project is supported by Quality Meat Scotland and Agrisearch in Northern Ireland. The project works with partners across the food chain to drive faster rates of genetic improvement in the UK sheep industry. RamCompare supports this goal through the provision of data from commercial farms and abattoir records which are incorporated into the genetic evaluations delivered by Signet ..read more

The 2024 National Southdown Show will take place at the Royal Bath & West Show on Thursday May 30th. The judge for the 2024 National Show is Mr Nick Page. The Royal Bath & West Show offers a memorable day out for all: “Over three days there are action-packed events for all the family and a haven for all enthusiasts of rural life”. We encourage all members to consider giving their support to the National Show, whether as exhibitors or spectators. Please note that the three day show runs from May 30th – June 1st, and the Southdown National Show takes pale on the first day of the Show, Th ..read more

A trio of new centre record were established at the Southdown Sheep Society’s Premier Sale, Worcester, in early August, with new marks set for shearling rams, ram lambs and shearling ewes, with a number of relatively new and young breeders making their mark. The sale saw strong demand, with clearance rates of 89% in the shearling ewes, 79% in the shearling rams and 66% and 60% in the ram lambs and ewe lambs, respectively. Averages rose in all sections too, with increased numbers of shearling ewes and shearling rams finding new homes. Sale topper Preen Bank 22/03965 made 2800gns. Leading the s ..read more

As breeders we all have our red lines when it comes to selecting replacement stock or placing animals in classes at shows. I’m not afraid to say mine is pee staining in females. By that I mean urine staining the fleece on the gigot of an animal. Over the years I’ve heard a plethora of reasons as to why it happens and had many breeders trying to excuse it away as nothing to be concerned with and of no consequence. For me it is one of the biggest faults a female sheep can have. It is unsightly, devalues the fleece and causes management issues which you just don’t need. I can, without fail, guara ..read more

Our President Graham Ryves-Webb recommends the writings of Barclay Wills to all Southdown enthusiasts. ‘Shepherds of Sussex’ is a most interesting read, possibly long out-of-print, but worth pursuing from the local library. The excerpt below is taken from the flysheet of a very old and precious copy: “This is undoubtedly a most fascinating subject, and I have nothing but admiration for Mr. Wills’s amazing industry. A clear portrait emerges of the old shepherd, brusque in manner, but kindly at heart, who deplores the advent of the new age with its machines and speed and pines for the ‘good old ..read more

Over the 2022-23 season, young breeders travelled across the country to display their stock to the highest of standards. Looking back on late 2022, young breeder Freddy Bethley, High Green flock, took the win in the Novice Class of the Flock Competition before going on to clinch the overall championship, judged by Antony Glaves. The 2023 National Show at Lincolnshire Show, saw a strong turnout and Harry Wood of the Windrush flock, produced some strong males, taking first in the aged rams, with this ram going on to win the male and overall championships. The newly introduced ‘Young Breeders Cha ..read more

by Lindsay Dane (with thanks to Gail Sprake for help with the research). I have attended quite a few Southdown AGMs over the years, and seen a lot of trophies presented. The Miller Hallett trophy is presented for the best ewe lambs in the Flock Competition, and there is a second Miller Hallett trophy (the Perpetual Challenge Cup) originally given for the best group of four sheep at the Royal Show and nowadays awarded at the National Show. The name of the donor must have stuck in my mind as it rang a bell when I came across it in entirely different circumstances. I was born and brought up in O ..read more

The Southdown Young Breeds Group is organising an autumn event for anyone with an interest in the breed aged 10-28. The event which will take place on Saturday 28th October will focus on show and sale preparation and stock judging, with workshops led by Nick Page of the Goodwood flock and Jonathan Long of the Chaileybrook flock. Places are limited to 20 participants and those under 16 should be accompanied by a responsible adult. Tea, coffee and cold drinks will be provided but participants should bring their own lunch. Hosting the event is the Blackfriar flock of Will Morton at The Laurels, B ..read more

  Saturday’s (9th September) second Southdown Society sale of the season at Melton Mowbray saw Dave and Chris Rhead sell their champion from the pre-sale show at 1000gns. The Rheads’ sale topper and show leader was shearling ewe Light Oaks Tess, a Whitegate Borage daughter out of a dam by the homebred Light Oaks Bertram. She sold locally to Lorraine Levell, Normanton-On-Wolds. Second best at 620gns was another shearling ewe from the same home, Light Oaks Tiffany. This one is a twin sister to the sale leader and headed away to Kent with Emma Merricks, Nonnington, for the Copperfield flock ..read more

Southdown breeder Harry Wood, Usk, is celebrating having set a new £4000 breed record when selling his two-shear ram Windrush Lancelot in a private deal to Goodwood Estate, Chichester, for the Goodwood flock. Champion at this year’s Southdown National Show, held at Lincolnshire Show, Lancelot had also been first prize shearling and reserve male champion at the 2022 National Show. AI-bred, he is by imported sire Percheron, with semen having been purchased from the Long family’s Chaileybrook flock following Percheron’s own National Show championship win in 2018.  Lancelot is out of an East ..read more