Southdown sheep originate from the Sussex Downlands in the United Kingdom where around 200 years ago John Ellman of Glynde, Sussex commenced improvement of the breed by selection within the breed, with no outcrossing. Traditionally the smallest of the Down breeds (e.g. Hampshire Down, Dorset Down and Oxford Down) its size can be deceptive.
Well proportioned with a comfortably chunky body supported squarely on quite short straight legs, it has a broad level back and famously meaty rump and thighs. Its light mousy grey-brown colour is a trademark of the breed and its amenable nature makes it easy to control. Since 1987 the Southdown has been supported by the UK Rare Breeds Survival Trust when the number of pure breeding ewes in the UK fell to fewer than 1500.
The Southdown arrived in New Zealand in the 1860's and in the 1950's particularly, were one of the main breeds used to cross over Romney ewes to get early lamb for the british market. Today the New Zealand Society has 76 members administered by a council of ten with an office based in Feilding.
Local breeder Colin Gibbs of Lone Oak Southdown near Wakefield founded his stud in the 1946 in partnership with his father, and from 1998 has continued in partnership with his son. Currently running 40 ewes on their 213 hectare property up the Gibbs Valley they are the only breeder left in the Nelson region, and though they haven't had big sales in the last year they do appear to be coming back into vogue particularly for hoggot mating. With good hind quarters and muscling up the leg providing premium lambs that meat companies are looking for, the generally smaller lambs produced when born also means easier lambing. And Southdowns have good drought tolerance when compared with some straight wool breeds Colin believes.
"With this drought weather we have been having the last few years they can withstand a drought, and you still have a meaty animal when the rains do come, which you can put something onto and your away."
And Colin explained that a fair percentage of his stock over the last few years have gone to buyers on Banks Peninsula and French Pass in the Marlborough Sounds, well known for their often extreme dry conditions.
