Suffolk

The Suffolk was made in England around 1800 by crossing Norfolk Horn ewes with Southdown rams, and it became the terminal sire breed of the English-speaking sheep world.

They are unmistakable: black head and legs, no wool on either, a large frame and fast growth. A Suffolk ram on almost any ewe produces a lamb that reaches market weight quickly with a lean, well-muscled carcass, which is the whole reason the breed is used.

They are also the dominant show breed in the United States, which has pulled parts of the population toward height and style rather than production.

The trade is hardiness and wool. Suffolks are less thrifty than the hill breeds, they want better feed, and the fleece is short and coarse enough that it is a by-product rather than income. Rams are large and can be aggressive in season.