breed Suffolk The Suffolk sheep is a superior producer of lean meat due to rapid early growth, heavy muscling, and efficient conversion of forage and other feedstuffs. Suffolks are striking in breed character and unrivaled in beauty, having jet black, wool-free heads and legs that sharply contrast their clean white fleeces and pink skin. Suffolk genetics are highly-prized by commercial shepherds to improve the weights and carcass quality of their lamb crops, while the Suffolk head is designed to facilitate ease of lambing. All Suffolk sheep should be structurally and reproductively sound. Rams should be robust and masculine, with significant muscling, body volume, and mass as well as ample fertility and libido. Ewes should be feminine yet thickly-muscled, and demonstrate strong capacity for breeding, lambing ease, mothering instinct and milking ability. In both sexes, preference is given to naturally wide-based, deep bodied, easy fleshing animals free of coarseness or over-refinement. As a meat breed, Suffolk breeding rams and ewes should produce fast- growing lambs that yield carcasses with superior composition and conformation, regardless if purebred or commercial crossbreds. While the mature weights of Suffolk sheep may vary considerably, breed character and general proportionality of body should be simlar across the breed. Appropriate frame size and growth curve should be chosen to match the specific commercial production environment and target carcass weight. THE SUFFOLK SHEEP Head Hindquarter The Suffolk head is free of wool both at the poll and cheeks, is covered in fine black hair and is moderately long in shape. The otherwise wide skull, broad muzzle and deep jaw denote strength and ability to thrive and forage. The mouth is sound with the incisors meeting flush with the dental pad. A particularly defining breed characteristic is the long, bell-shaped ears that hang below perpendicular and tip slightly forward. Discriminate against short, perpendicular, erect or wool-covered ears or any tendency to colors other than black in the head and ear. Be critical of overly refined or coarse headed sheep lacking in breed and/or sex character.
A Suffolk market lamb should exhibit the same distinguishing physical characteristics as described in the Breed Standard for the Suffolk ram and ewe. Today, the most industry important lambs in the US are crossbreds sired by Suffolk rams that pass along highly heritable carcass and growth traits and contribute valuable hybrid vigor for performance and fitness. The Suffolk market lamb, purebred or crossbred, should be capable of producing a quality, lean, appealing carcass. Suffolk genetics MARKET LAMB Preference is given to long bodied, strong topped sheep, showing exceptional muscle shape and volume. The Suffolk loin is deep, long and wide. It blends smoothly and strongly into a level top and rump. The body itself should become progressively wider from front to rear. The widest portion of the sheep should be through the center of the stifle when viewed from behind. Natural width should accompany a leg that excels in both depth of twist and volume in both the inner and outer leg. The prominent stifle should be thick, long and deep. The rear flank should be reasonably level with the fore flank. All body parts should blend smoothly and display the characteristics of an animal capable of producing progeny that hang a superior carcass. Discriminate against short, steep, narrow rumps, weak tops, shallow loins, flat muscle, high flanks and lack of overall excellent muscle development.
The USSA exists to define, register, promote, and improve the Suffolk breed for the entire U.S. sheep industry. The commercial industry is diverse in its geography, production systems, products, and markets. Suffolk sheep are useful in a wide variety of commercial applications, from terminal range rams to farm flock ewes, as part of composite breeds, and as market lambs. Suffolks are also exhibited in various show classes, from fitted and slick sheared breeding sheep to club lambs and wether sires and dams. Nonetheless, the breed standard provides a common identity for all Suffolks and breeders. The breed standard serves as the ideal relative to which Suffolk sheep are to be evaluated and improved, in terms of their own phenotype as well as the genetic potential they offer to the industry.
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