The Southdown is the oldest of the terminal sire breeds in the UK and as the name suggests originates from the native sheep which have roamed the South Downs in the South of England for many hundreds of years.

 

A good Southdown should first and foremost be a sound and correct sheep, its teeth should meet the top pad evenly, being neither over nor under shot. It should be up on its pasterns, move correctly and displaying the appropriate characteristics for its sex, with rams having two even sized testicles of good size and females having sound udders and teats. In all circumstances, sheep being shown or presented at sales should comply with legislation with regard to tail length.

 

Furthermore, a good Southdown should display the following characteristics:

 

General character and appearance

Catches the eye with its alertness and balanced appearance.

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HEAD: Wide, level between the ears with no sign of horn.

FACE: Not too long from eyes to nose, particularly rams. Hair of an even mouse colour. Nostrils dark, not pink.

EYES: large and bright and clear of wool.

EARS: of medium size, but appropriate to size of the animal and covered with short wool.

 

Topline and front end

TOPLINE: The topline should be level from the base of the neck to the top of the rump, with no dips or rises.

NECK: Neck wide at the base and well set on the shoulder.

SHOULDERS: Shoulders neither too wide nor too narrow and top level with the back.

CHEST: Deep over the heart, but not too wide.

BACK: Long, wide and level, evenly fleshed and firm to handle, with a good depth and width of loin.

RIBS: Ribs well sprung.

 

Rear end

RUMP: Rump square, broad and not pointed.

TAIL: Broad and well set up and level with the chine.

GIGOTS: Wide, deep and well filled.

 

Legs and locomotion

LEGS: A leg at each corner, straight and well up on the pasterns. Horn of hoof black.

LOCOMOTION: Moving cleanly with neither hooky nor straight back legs and placing each foot squarely and in a clean forward motion.

 

Wool

Wool fine and tight, covering the whole body down to the hocks and knees.