Author Topic: Sheep Breed ID (Read 5787 times)

Harebell · « **on:** January 18, 2015, 05:24:58 pm »

Hello, I've been looking through some old photos of the family farm - we've been in south Wiltshire for a few generations. I came across these sheep photos and wondered what the breed was. I was thinking Dorset Down, but not sure. I'm sorry the scan isn't very good! I think the photos are from 1940s.

Marches Farmer · « **Reply #1 on:** January 18, 2015, 06:02:04 pm »

Hampshire Down?

Fleecewife · « **Reply #2 on:** January 18, 2015, 11:54:56 pm »

Llanwenog?

modified: from second scan, yes definitely not a Llanwenog

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #3 on:** January 19, 2015, 12:55:57 am »

I can't quite make up my mind whether the ewe's face is white or dark. If white, then perhaps Southdown? If dark(er) then either Dorset or Hampshire Down, being geographically nearest. I don't know to what extent farms would have had the local breed back then...

The lambs look darker, maybe Suffolk X ?

Womble · « **Reply #4 on:** January 19, 2015, 08:50:48 am »

I love the pen they're in!

Backinwellies · « **Reply #5 on:** January 19, 2015, 10:04:43 am »

Quote from: Fleecewife on January 18, 2015, 11:54:56 pm

Llanwenog?

not Llanwenog I don't think ... Llanwenog lambs come out black and there seems to be too much wool under chin.

Harebell · « **Reply #6 on:** January 19, 2015, 06:15:08 pm »

Quote from: SallyintNorth on January 19, 2015, 12:55:57 am

I can't quite make up my mind whether the ewe's face is white or dark. If white, then perhaps Southdown? If dark(er) then either Dorset or Hampshire Down, being geographically nearest. I don't know to what extent farms would have had the local breed back then...

The lambs look darker, maybe Suffolk X ?

Yes, I'm thinking either Dorset or Hampshire Down, just can't decide which! I've attached another photo of the same ewe and her lambs which is a better scan I think.

Someone in the village gave us these photos a couple of years ago as his grandfather was the shepherd when my great-grandfather was in charge of the farm.

Harebell · « **Reply #7 on:** January 19, 2015, 06:26:16 pm »

And there's also this photo of a white faced sheep - which I have no idea about...lleyn? - taken in the same period, sometime in 1930s/40s we think.

shep53 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 19, 2015, 07:53:59 pm »

Looking at sheep breeds in the 40's/50's the dark sheep could be DORSET DOWN - HAMPSHIRE - SHROPSHIRE - OXFORD all looked pretty similar , with woolly heads /faces / legs brown faces , tight fleeces and horizontal medium brown ears . Probably which ever breed was nearest which from the map in my book is oxford ?? The white sheep is classic CHEVIOT

Harebell · « **Reply #9 on:** January 19, 2015, 09:08:36 pm »

Oh, yes the white faced sheep definitely looks like a Cheviot - perhaps they were popular in south Wiltshire back then!

I looked at a few old black and white photos of Down breeds and am erring on the side of the ewe being a Dorset Down, but difficult to tell

Photos from Museum of Rural Life:

Dorset Down ram 1961
https://www.reading.ac.uk/merl/research/countrysideimages/merl-PFSPH1_K86537.aspx

Hampshire Down ram lambs 1959
https://www.reading.ac.uk/merl/research/countrysideimages/merl-PFSPH1_K77601.aspx

Oxford Down and Suffolk rams 1957
https://www.reading.ac.uk/merl/research/countrysideimages/merl-PFSPH1_K69373.aspx

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #10 on:** January 20, 2015, 12:12:00 am »

Dorset would be the nearest geographically to South Wilts, I assume? And there seems to be no reason to think it's not a Dorset Down...

The white ewe doesn't look at all like a Cheviot to me, but I guess I am more used to the North Country type, which has much longer ears and a much more rounded (convex) nose. Looking at pics for the Border / South Country type, she could be...

langfauld easycare · « **Reply #11 on:** January 20, 2015, 12:20:25 am »

hampshire or shropshire be my guess for this one

Harebell · « **Reply #12 on:** January 20, 2015, 09:12:34 pm »

Quote from: SallyintNorth on January 20, 2015, 12:12:00 am

Dorset would be the nearest geographically to South Wilts, I assume? And there seems to be no reason to think it's not a Dorset Down...

The white ewe doesn't look at all like a Cheviot to me, but I guess I am more used to the North Country type, which has much longer ears and a much more rounded (convex) nose. Looking at pics for the Border / South Country type, she could be...

The Hampshire border is just a couple of miles to the east and the Dorset border is a few miles further away to the west, so geographically they are both quite close!