Dorset Down Sheep

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About the Breed
Dorset Down sheep were bred to thrive on the thin chalky soils of Southern England. They were employed to fertilise the land as the physical problems and cost of hauling vast quantities of manure from the farmyard to the distant fields was too great.
The sheep were not allowed to roam free but were kept tightly enclosed behind hurdles. Once the forage crop or grassland had been grazed, the hurdles and flock would be moved onto new pasture, leaving behind manure that would be ploughed in ready for a crop of wheat, barley or oats. Without this organic fertiliser, it would not have been possible to grow these crops in such light soils.
If you owned a downland farm in the 19th century, a well managed flock of sheep and a hard working shepherd were essential, so much so that your shepherd was the most important worker on your farm. It was hard, physical work with flocks having to be moved daily.
Today’s Dorset Down is an active, medium sized, short woolled sheep. Strong legs support a deep chested, long sheep with well fleshed hindquarters and fine wool. It makes an excellent terminal sire – our Down cross lambs born in April finish in 12-14 weeks off grass. The pure bred Dorset Down is famous as a “good doer” with one of its greatest attributes being the ability to live on “fresh air”. The finished lamb is of excellent flavour.

Meet the Flock

Bertie

Unfortunately due to other commitments, we are very reluctantly selling our Dorset Down breeding flock. They will still be coming to the shows in 2007, so if you are interested, please see our Stock For Sale page or visit us at one of the summer shows.