suffolk facts
HOW TO IDENTIFY: • Medium to large framed • Black slick hair on head, slick ears and legs - free of wool • White body wool • Pink skin color • Polled (No scurs or horns) US SHEEP INDUSTRY IMPACT: • By far the terminal breed ram of choice in the United States, with up to 80%+ of federally inspected slaughter carrying Suffolk genetics • Known for fast growing lambs with muscular carcasses • Diversity of genetics allows for end point flexibility BREEDING SYSTEMS: • Terminal sire choice for crossbreeding systems • Hybrid vigor/Heterosis • Offspring are more productive than the average of their parents • More vigorous at birth • Higher rate of survivability • Improved growth performance • Excellent complement for maternal ewe genetics • Diverse genetics meet the needs of various production systems REPRODUCTIVE TRAITS • Short day breeders (breed in the fall, lamb in late winter/early spring) • Gestation period (average 147 days) (Range 142-152 days) • Sexual maturity (Rams 4-6 months) (Ewes 5-12 months) • Estrus or heat cycle - (Approximately every 17 days, lasts approximately 30 hours) • A mature ram should be able to breed 3-5 ewes per day • With natural breeding scenarios the recommended ratio for mature rams to ewes is approximately 1:35 to 1:50. For ram lambs, the recommended ratio is 1:15 to 1:30 • Ewes that are 2 to 3 years old typically have higher conception rates than ewe lambs • Commonly give birth to twins (triplets and quadruplets occasionally)
Origination:
KNOWN FOR: • Terminal sire value in lamb market production • Excellent carcasses • Fast growing • Prolific ENGLAND - SUFFOLK COUNTY (1800 TO 1850). RESULTED FROM MATING OF NORFOLK HORNED EWE WITH SOUTHDOWN RAMS. IMPORTED INTO THE UNITED STATES IN 1881.
• Ease of lambing • Mothering ability • High milk output • Multiple births
MATURE WEIGHT:
• Ewe (175-300+ lbs.) • Ram (250-400+ lbs.) • Average birth weight of lambs (12-14 pounds) WOOL: • Fiber Diameter (25.5-33.0 microns) • Spinning count (48-58) • Staple length (2-3.5 inches) • Wool color (white) • Has a lot of loft and spring to it which makes it good for quilt batts
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