Please see our page which includes details of a booklet produced by the breed society to help prospective keepers of sheep in trees.Sheep follow a similar reproductive strategy to other herd animals. Apart from the advantage of reaping ”two crops from one acre”, in the modern world the reduction in the use of pesticides and herbicides and associated labour savings are a key benefit. Shropshire sheep are now used widely throughout the UK and Europe to control grass and herbage in conifer plantations, orchards and amongst other deciduous trees. Many Shropshire breeders have continued to scrapie genotype stock and the results continue to support the original analysis. The National Scrapie Plan figures showed that around 60% of animals are Type 1 or Type 2 – the most resistant genotypes.
#FLOCKS OF SHEEP FACTS FREE#
The breed was completely free from the “V” allele, which is linked to scrapie susceptibility. Excellent Scrapie Resistanceĭuring the period of the National Scrapie Plan, nearly 4,500 Shropshires were scrapie genotyped. This encourages breeders to measure performance traits of their sheep and lambs and so help to continually improve Shropshire ewes and rams characteristics as a meat producing and terminal sire breed.
The Shropshire Sheep Breeders Association run a Breed Improvement Scheme in conjunction with Signet.
For more details see our page Breed Improvement Scheme Modern Shropshires can be used pure for prime lamb production and the rams also make excellent terminal sires, when crossed with commercial ewes. The breed combines fast growth with excellent carcass traits. The Shropshire was originally developed as a supreme meat and wool breed, and today’s Shropshires retain the ability to produce finished lambs of the highest quality. The breed has a well-proven ability to finish successfully from grass alone. Shropshires are a relatively easy-care breed, being docile and easy to handle and requiring only minimal routine husbandry in most situations. Flocks are also kept successfully in the high rainfall areas of Ireland and at altitudes of more than 300 metres (1000 feet) in the mountainous areas of Wales. They flourish throughout the British Isles, from the English lowlands to the highlands and islands of Scotland. Shropshire sheep are hardy and versatile and thrive in a wide range of conditions, adapting to every soil and climate. Shropshires are the most northerly of all the British “Downland” breeds. They are used widely to control grass and herbage in conifer plantations, orchards and other deciduous trees. Shropshires are also now well-known for being the “tree-friendly” breed. The Lambs are vigorous, grow fast and produce a good meaty carcass. The Ewes are excellent mothers with long productive lives, also being able to naturally cycle early for lambs from December onwards. The Rams are robust, will work early in the season and make good crossing sires. The Shropshire Sheep Breeders’ Association was formed in 1882 and has the distinction of being the oldest breed society in the UK. Shropshire sheep are a Tri-purpose breed (meat, wool and tree-friendly) originally developed in the early 19th Century by farmers in Shropshire and the West Midlands.
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