Pedigree Suffolk Sheep

Documentary profiling the Suffolk breed of sheep.

Produced for the Suffolk Sheep Society, this documentary introduces the history and highlights the value of the pedigree Suffolk breed. Sporting a distinctive black head and legs and renowned for their cross-breeding potential and lean meat, Suffolks were recognised as a pure breed in 1859. Since then they have been exported around the world and can be found all over Great Britain and Ireland. All forms of the Suffolk breed are shown, from ewes and lambs to shearlings and rams, and feature at the 1947 Royal Show and the Suffolk Sheep Society's Annual Special Sale at Chantry Park, Ipswich. The key attributes of the Suffolk breed are explained, from its general 'noble' appearance to features showing key meat cuts and fleece quality. Suffolk sheep are also featured at Ram Sales in the Scottish Borders town of Kelso and during the 1948 Essex Agricultural Society Show, where the King and Queen inspect prizewinners with Suffolk Sheep Society president Mr G.A. Goodchild. A visit to a Suffolk farm shows the breed in flocks and demonstrates the Leicester cross-bred variety. Dressed meat and wool is also shown before the film concludes with portraits of the oldest member of the Society Mr S.R. Sherwood, and the oldest Suffolk shepherd, Mr Harry Sams, both of whom are 93 years old.

Featured Events

Essex Agricultural Society Show, 1948; Kelso Ram Sales; Royal Show, 1947; Suffolk Sheep Society’s Annual Special Sale, 1947

Keywords

Agriculture; Lamb; Livestock; Meat; Mutton; Royalty; Shearing; Sheep;

Intertitles

-SUFFOLK SHEEP. Recognised as a pure breed in 1859 and exhibited that year at the Suffolk County Show. -First volume of the flock book published in 1887. -This breed is recognized as pre-eminent for crossing owing to its fecundity, hardiness and early maturity – famous for its carcase of lean meat with no waste fat. -Exported to practically every country in the world, being particularly favoured in Canada and U.S.A., where there are 2 Suffolk Sheep societies and the breed is rapidly increasing. -Suffolks have many times won both the live and carcase championship at the great smithyfield fat stock show against all breeds and crosses. -There are over 400 registered flocks in Gt. Britain and Ireland. -Distribution of registered Suffolk flocks in Great Britain and Ireland. -England, Wales and Isle of Man: 225 flocks in 40 counties. -Scotland: 87 flocks in 20 counties. -Ireland: 96 flocks in 23 counties. -Ewes and lambs in the lambing pens. -Champion shearling ewes at Royal Show 1947. -Ist. Prize ewe lambs -Suffolk Sheep Society’s Annual Special Sale at Chantry Park, Ipswich -Judging shearling ewe competition. -Ist. Prize pen. -Winners of John Keeble Memorial Trophy. -Judging Gippeswyk plate for best 3 ram lambs. -Winners of plate. -2nd prize pen. -Judging venning cup for single ram lamb. -Venning cup winner bred in Yorkshire. -2nd prize winner. -Points of Suffolk sheep. 1. General – active and noble appearance, showing masculine character with absence of coarseness, standing on legs of medium length and flat bone. Straight top line. 2. Head. Hornless; face long, with muzzle moderately fine; ears of medium length and fine texture; eyes bright and full. 3. Chest. Full, wide and deep; front legs wide apart at each corner and straight; throat clean cut. 4. Neck. Strongly set on broad shoulders; and of good length. 5. Loin. Long, level and well-fleshed; ribs long and well-sprung. 6. Hindquarters. Long, wide and filled with flesh; flank deep and full. 7. Tail. Broad and set well up. 8. Hind legs. Wide and straight; each showing a long and full leg of mutton down to the hock. 9. Body. Broad and level throughout the whole length, with plenty of heart room. 10. Fleece. Moderately short, of close clean fibre, on a fine, supple, pink skin covering the belly. -KELSO (Roxburghshire) RAM SALES -The largest in Great Britain. -Suffolk Rams at this sale, the majority bred in the north, are largely bought for crossing for which the breed is renowned. -Suffolk rams arriving at sale. -Suffolk rams in ring. -Suffolk rams leaving pens for the sale ring. -Essex Agricultural Society’s show. 1948 Judging shearling ewes. -Their majesties, the king and queen, accompanied by the Suffolk Sheep Society’s president, Mr G.A. Goodchild, inspecting the champions and other prizewinners. -300 shearling ewes on a Suffolk farm. -A typical flock of Suffolk ewes. -Leicester Cross Suffolk lambs. -500 suffolk wether hoggets fattening on savoy cabbages. -Small draft of wethers before slaughter. -Some of the carcases on the hooks. -Average dressed carcase weight 80 lbs. -Carcase cut through showing amount of lean meat in the chops. -A first class hosiery wool. -Mr S.R. Sherwood, aged 93., the oldest member of the society. -The oldest Suffolk shepherd, Mr Harry Sams, aged 93 years. -THE END

Other Places

Ipswich, Suffolk; Kelso, Scottish Borders