Sheep : SHROPSHIRE

 

Origin: Counties of Shropshire and Staffordshire, England

Australian Status:

International Status:

Arrived in Australia: 1855

Australian Population: Ewes:452      Rams: 30 (2018)

Distribution:

History:  The Shropshire breed originated in the counties of Shropshire and Staffordshire in central, western England. Records as to how the breed developed are cloudy but it is believed to have come about by breeders using the local honed black-faced sheep, known as Longmynd, and crossing them with several breeds of white-faced sheep, namely Southdown, Leicester and Cotswold. Southdown rams were used to breed out the coarseness and the horns and the Leicester and Cotswold blood improved the length of the wool and gave the sheep some size. By around 1850, the Shropshire had become the biggest downs type sheep in England with the most wool. The breed was officially recognised as being a distinct breed, by the Royal Agricultural Society in 1859.

By now the fleece weight had increased from 2 pounds on the primitive sheep to 7 or 8 pounds and the carcase weight had doubled. It was declared "the best of the modern breeds" and attracted a huge following. The popularity of the breed grew quickly in England and in 1882 the Shropshire breeders founded the Shropshire Breeder's Association and Flock Book Society, the world's first such society for sheep. The Society continues to this day and still publishes an annual Flock Book.

Such was the popularity of the Shropshire that in 1884, more Shropshires were exhibited at local Shows, than all other breeds combined.

Shropshires arrived in Australia in around 1855 and 1856 when Charles Price imported some to South Australia and E.B Boulton exported some to his brothers in New South Wales. Unfortunately their arrival was a little premature as our meat export industry did not start until the 1880's when it became possible to ship frozen meat to Europe. Although there were several importations of Shropshires to Australia, they were not brought before the public until 1887, when Thomas Burbury exhibited them in Hobart.

Two Shropshire Associations were formed in Australia in the mid 1890's, one in South Australia and the other in Tasmania. They both published Flock Books, but in 1905, they amalgamated to form the Australian Shropshire Sheep breeders Association. These were the years of the Shropshire's greatest popularity in Australia. Such was the confidence in Tasmania as a base for breeding Shropshires that three well known breeders emigrated to the island state, with their flocks, saying there was nowhere in the world so like Shropshire. "The sheep thrives and grows as well here as he does in England" and "the cost of producing Shropshires here is much less than it is at home."

Only two Shropshires appeared at The Melbourne Show in 1890, but by 1904 their numbers had swelled to 250 entries. They won prizes for freezing carcases in four years out of five. The Shropshire was present during the greatest expansion Australia's meat industry has ever seen, as 70% of the several million lamb carcases exported from Australia in the early 1900's were Shropshires and they made a great contribution to Australia's economy during this time.

Unfortunately the bubble burst, possibly due to following the US trend for very heavy wool on the head and legs which was not conducive to Australian conditions with burrs and grass seed and it also brought with it the possibility of wool blindness. The slump in the economy after World War 1 also meant people were shopping for smaller more affordable cuts of meat, making the Southdown of the time a much better proposition.

According to Ivan Heazlewood,

"While it is true that Shropshire sheep are now only represented in Australia by a dozen flocks we must not discount their very real contribution to Australia's economy in the early 1900's. They were the first terminal breed to really flourish in the country and their dramatic advent focused the attention of graziers on the possibilities of the emerging prime lamb industry. They brought with them some expert stud masters and a rich heritage of skills and husbandry practices which have been employed in the prime lamb industry ever since."

A great contribution, indeed.

Breed traits: The fleece of the Shropshire is Downs type used for hosiery and hand knitting yarn. It is dense, of medium strength and staple, showing plenty of character, with no black hairs. Suggested wool count - 56s-68s.

Uses: Meat, Wool, Prime lamb sire

Breed Organisation:

Additional Notes:

Photo Courtesy of Marilyn Mangione Clarendon Stud

 

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