Shropshire sheep earnt their name from the location of their origin; Shropshire, England. It is believed they were developed there in the 1840s when breeders crossed local black-faced sheep known as Longmynd, with Southdown, Cotswold and Leicester animals. The outcome was a medium-framed, polled dual-purpose breed. The breed enjoyed immediate popularity and by the late 1880s, they were being exported to Australia, New Zealand and South America. By this stage, stringent pedigree recording systems were being implemented to ensure consistency and improvement in breeding.
Shropshires are widely recognised for their adaptability to land and climate, longevity, oily wool and prolificacy. Ewes are particularly well known for their mothering and milking qualities. Lambing percentages average between 175 percent and 200 percent, and ewes exhibit an ability to lamb early and remain productive for a long time. They have medium-sized bodies and produce meaty, quality carcases. They are classified as a medium-wool breed, yet produce the heaviest fleece in this category. Their fleece qualities include density and elasticity. They are bred primarily for crossing as they exhibit good feed conversion and rapid growth rates.
Typically, mature rams weight between 100 and 113 kilograms, while mature ewes reach weights between 68 and 81 kilograms. Mature ewes can produce fleece to weights of 4.5 kilograms, yielding 50-75 percent. Their wool measures between 24.5 to 32.5 microns, with staple lengths between 6 and 10 centimetres. Their wool is suitable for woollen hosiery, knitting yarns and sometimes for filling futons and sofa beds.
Unfortunately, Shropshires are experiencing a decline in Australia, however they have had a major impact on the meat industry throughout the last century. It is thought that they first arrived in Australia in 1855 when they were brought to South Australia. Not long after, importations arrived in New South Wales and Victoria. By the mid 1890's, Shropshire breed societies had been established in South Australia and Tasmania. In the early 1900s, most export stock coming out of Australia had been sired by Shropshires. From 1920 however, the breed began to decline when it became apparent that smaller carcasses sired by Southdowns were more marketable.
