Farmer’s Weekly – 02 August 2019

The Suffolk breed, the result

of crossing Southdown rams

and Norfolk Horn ewes,

originated almost 200 years

ago on the rugged south-

east coast of England. Major

Kitty Apthorp, who lived

in the Free State, imported

the first Suffolk sheep to

South Africa around 1896.

In the years between 1900

and 1959, the breed suffered

various ups and downs. Initially,

registrations were handled by

the SA Stud Book Association,

which was launched in 1905.

In 1928, the first Suffolk

breeders’ society was formed,

but this did not survive, and

registrations were again taken

over by SA Stud Book.

The inaugural meeting

of the present society was

held in Bloemfontein on

5 September 1959. In October

1960, the society was properly

constituted and the certificate

of incorporation was issued

by SA Stud Book.

ABOVE:

Suffolk sheep are

easily identified by

their black faces

and black, woolless

legs. Lambs grow

rapidly and yield

heavy carcasses.

PIXABAY

This breed matures early,

producing meat with a

high ratio of lean meat

to fat. This makes it an

attractive proposition to

the modern consumer.

SHEEP

The basics of the

Suffolk breed

DESCRIPTION

The Suffolk is a large, white,

medium wool meat breed

with a distinctive all-black

head and legs free of wool.

Both rams and ewes are

polled. Suffolk lambs grow

rapidly to yield heavy, high-

cutability carcasses of the type

demanded by today’s health-

conscience consumers.

PRODUCTION NORMS

Early maturity ensures a

slaughter lamb ready for

market at an early age.

The meat contains a high

proportion of lean meat to fat.

Optimal growth rate of the breed:

• Eight-week weight: 32kg;


• 21-week weight: 70kg;


• Adult ewes: 80kg to 100kg;


• Fleece weight of ewes:
  2,2kg to 3,6kg.
  The Suffolk is also used as
  a sire line for crossbreeding.
  Suffolk cross lambs, which are
  easily identified by their black
  heads and hoofs, can achieve a
  weight of 40kg, with the ideal
  3mm back fat, at 15 to 16 weeks.


• Source: Snyman, MA. 2014.
  ‘South African sheep breeds:
  Suffolk sheep’. Info-pack ref.
  2014/029, Grootfontein Agricultural
  Development Institute.
  ▪

FW

2 AUGUST 2019 farmer’sweekly 45

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