Shropshire sheep

Shropshire sheep, mutton breed developed from the native sheep of Shropshire and Staffordshire, England. As early as 1340 there was a grade of wool known as Shropshire, but the breed was not officially recognized until about the middle of the 19th cent. The Shropshire is of medium size, has a dark face, is prolific and fast growing, and produces a good grade of mutton and wool. Because of its adaptability, it has spread widely over the world. It is the most popular breed of English origin in the United States, to which its importation began c.1855.

The Shropshire breed of domestic sheep originated from the hills of Shropshire, and North Staffordshire, England, during the 1840's. The breeders in the area used the local horned black-faced sheep and crossed them with a few breeds of white-faced sheep (Southdown, Cotswold, and Leicester). This produced a medium-sized polled (hornless) sheep that produced good wool and meat. In 1855 the first Shropshires were imported into the United States (Virginia).

1800s

In 1859 the breed was officially recognized by the Royal Agricultural Society as being a distinct breed. The popularity of the Shropshire breed grew rapidly in England, and in 1882 Shropshire breeders founded the Shropshire Sheep Breeders' Association and Flock Book Society, the world's first such society for sheep. The Society still survives.

By 1884 more Shropshires were exhibited at the local shows than all other breeds combined. The first documented flock in the United States (one ram and twenty ewes) was brought to Maryland in 1860 by Samuel Sutton. Thousands of Shropshires were exported to the United States after that, as well as to other parts of the English speaking world, notably Australia and New Zealand, and to South America. The breed's adaptability to most environments and their dual-purpose nature led to them quickly becoming a popular breed.

In 1884 the American Shropshire Registry was formed and by the turn of the century the Shropshire was the most numerous breed of sheep in the United States.

1900s

By the 1930s the Shropshire had been dubbed "the farm flock favorite". But in the 1940s the breeders began producing Shropshires with more wool cover and decreased size. This led to the breed having increased wool cover around the eyes, and thus needing to be trimmed around the eyes for better sight. This hindrance and overall loss of size led to the numbers of the breed decreasing among American farmers. They were no longer the most popular breed of sheep, and became increasingly rare around the world, even in its homeland.

In the 1950s some progressive Shropshire breeders began going back to the original traits that made the breed so popular. The imported some select open faced Shropshire rams from England with larger size. They helped to once again produce a breed of sheep with medium size and good wool and meat production. The Shropshire again became an increasing popular breed among farmers with their ability to adapt to varying environments.

Today's modern Shropshire is once again one of the most numerous breeds of sheep (especially in the mid-west). Its gentle nature and medium size makes it very popular with 4H exhibitors. The mature weights for Shropshire rams is between 225 to 250 pounds and between 150 to 180 pounds for the females.

Sources

• The American Shropshire Registry Association, Dale E. Blackburn - Executive Secretary, PO Box 635 Harvard, IL 60033
• Breeds of Livestock, Oklahoma State University web site