White Suffolk

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White Suffolk
Conservation status
Country of originAustralia
Use meat
Traits
Wool colourwhite
Face colourwhite
Horn status polled

The White Suffolk is a modern Australian breed of domestic sheep. It was bred from 1977 to have the meat-producing qualities of the Suffolk, but without the typical black markings. [3]

History

The White Suffolk was bred by Ewan Roberts, of the University of New South Wales, from 1977. His intention was to create a sheep that had the large size, high ewe fecundity and rapid growth rate of the original British Suffolk, but without the black face and legs and without the occasional dark fibres in the wool which greatly reduced its value in the Australian market. [4] :949 [5] :24 He crossed the Suffolk with the Polled Dorset, and later with the Border Leicester. From the third generation he selectively bred for high growth rate and for the absence of black fibres on the points and in the fleece. [4] :949 A breed society, the Australian White Suffolk Society, was formed in 1985. [3] . It is now the biggest terminal sheep breed in Australia.

The 17 founding Australian White Suffolk Association studs as they appear in the original AWSA flock book:

1 - PS Heinrich & Sons, Ella Matta, Bute, SA

2 - BA&JE Lang, Langley Heights, Oberon, NSW

3 - IG&WM Turner, Renrut, via Kingscote, KI, SA

4 - E&R Siggers & Sons, Yaridni, Goorambat, Vic

5 - DS&CJ Ferguson & Sons, Anna Villa, Weetulta, SA

6 - Elouera Studs, Cowra, NSW

7 - GB&J Gale, Galaxy Park, Monarto South, SA

8 - R Thirkell-Johnston & Co, Saundridge, Cressy, Tas

9 - AE Day & Sons, Allendale, Bordertown, SA

10 - RN&BA Spiers, Raverly, Heywood, Vic

11 - RE&JA Sonogan, Genelinc, Sunbury, Vic

12 - RJ Searls, Hollyburton, Sunbury, Vic

13 - R Bingham, Kinmel, Davenport, Tas

14 - KB Moore, Penrise, Campania, Tas

15 - RV Piggott & Son, Illoura, Moorlands, SA

16 - MC&BJ Gale, Fingerpost, Monarto South, SA

17 - HJ&MJ Krieg & Son, Aylesbury Farm, Willaston, SA

References

  1. Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN   9789251057629. Archived 23 June 2020.
  2. Breed data sheet: White Suffolk / Australia (Sheep). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed March 2024.
  3. 1 2 White Suffolk sheep. Farm Diversification Information Service, Department of Primary Industries, State of Victoria. Archived 6 September 2006.
  4. 1 2 Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding (sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. ISBN   9781780647944.
  5. David Cottle (2010). International Sheep and Wool Handbook. Nottingham: Nottingham University Press. ISBN   9781904761860.