Breed Standards
Main Purpose of the Breed
The breed has been developed to provide terminal sires for commercial flocks. Hampshire Down sired lambs are early maturing quality butchers' lambs.
General Appearance
It is recognised that the appearance of a sheep is important, but only as it relates to maximum productivity and profits. Therefore, the Hampshire standards are made to include only those traits that research has found to make them more productive. Major emphasis then is put on such traits as multiple births, weight per age, refinement of the head and shoulders muscling and freedom from unsoundness. Even more emphasis is placed on production records and Hampshire people are encouraged to use these as most important in selection. Final selection among a group with similar production factors may be made on the basis of appearance.
Breed Characteristics
The Hampshire is a large, open faced and active sheep with a mild disposition. Mature rams should weigh 100 – 125 kg or more and mature ewes should weigh 70 – 100 kg or more in breeding condition. The ears should be long and of medium size, free of wool and dark in colour.
The face should be of good length, dark in colour and practically free of wool from the eyes down. An unbroken woolcap should extend from the neck to the forehead. The Hampshire should show quality without weakness and size without coarseness. Masculinity in the ram and femininity in the ewes should be notable.
The Hampshire ram is remarkably propotent, and transmits this early maturing quality to his off-spring when he is crossed with ewes of other breeds. For this reason Hampshire rams are supreme for crossing purposes. While the Hampshire is a black faced breed, but has no kemp, there is no danger of wool contamination when crossbreeding with pure woolled breeds. The objection against the black wool, which occurs on the face and legs does not really come into consideration as these fat lambs are sold for slaughter before being shorn. An advantage of the black-faced crossbred lamb is that they can be identified at a glance and not mixed with the pure wooled lambs.
Body
The body should be level and a strong top with a greater length of the last rib to the base of the dock. The back should be strong, well muscled and uniform throughout. It should be covered with muscle and not fat. Considerable depth and bulge should be displayed in the thigh muscles. Depth of the twist isn't as important as the muscling exhibited. Hampshires are noted for their rapid growth and efficient feed conversion.
The reproductive organs of both ram and ewe should be normal and well developed. The body should produce a carcass with a minimum of 0,15 kg carcass weight per day of age, should at least have 5 sq.cm. loin eye and have at least 50 % of this weight in the hind saddle (cut between the last two ribs).. Maximum fat cover should be 7 mm, regardless of carcass weight.
Feet & Legs
Both the front and rear legs should be well placed under the corners of the body with ample elevation off the ground to give it the height to balance with their body size. Short legs are associated with a small short body and early maturity. The legs should be of ample bone as noted by the circumference below the front knee. Hocks that are too straight (post legged) or too crooked (sickle hocked) are indicators of unsoundness. The angle of the hock should allow free movement. The pasterns should be short and strong with toes rather close together (i.e. have not split open too much).
Fleece and Skin
The fleece of the Hampshire should be white and moderate length, with close fine texture and well defined. Black fibres in fleece should be avoided and free of kemp. A pink and flexible skin is preferred. Hairy breeches should be avoided. A neck fold or loose skin under the neck is undesirable.
Desirable Traits
The breed has been developed to provide terminal sires for commercial flocks. Hampshire Down sired lambs are early maturing quality butchers' lambs.
General Appearance
It is recognised that the appearance of a sheep is important, but only as it relates to maximum productivity and profits. Therefore, the Hampshire standards are made to include only those traits that research has found to make them more productive. Major emphasis then is put on such traits as multiple births, weight per age, refinement of the head and shoulders muscling and freedom from unsoundness. Even more emphasis is placed on production records and Hampshire people are encouraged to use these as most important in selection. Final selection among a group with similar production factors may be made on the basis of appearance.
Breed Characteristics
The Hampshire is a large, open faced and active sheep with a mild disposition. Mature rams should weigh 100 – 125 kg or more and mature ewes should weigh 70 – 100 kg or more in breeding condition. The ears should be long and of medium size, free of wool and dark in colour.
The face should be of good length, dark in colour and practically free of wool from the eyes down. An unbroken woolcap should extend from the neck to the forehead. The Hampshire should show quality without weakness and size without coarseness. Masculinity in the ram and femininity in the ewes should be notable.
The Hampshire ram is remarkably propotent, and transmits this early maturing quality to his off-
Body
The body should be level and a strong top with a greater length of the last rib to the base of the dock. The back should be strong, well muscled and uniform throughout. It should be covered with muscle and not fat. Considerable depth and bulge should be displayed in the thigh muscles. Depth of the twist isn't as important as the muscling exhibited. Hampshires are noted for their rapid growth and efficient feed conversion.
The reproductive organs of both ram and ewe should be normal and well developed. The body should produce a carcass with a minimum of 0,15 kg carcass weight per day of age, should at least have 5 sq.cm. loin eye and have at least 50 % of this weight in the hind saddle (cut between the last two ribs).. Maximum fat cover should be 7 mm, regardless of carcass weight.
Feet & Legs
Both the front and rear legs should be well placed under the corners of the body with ample elevation off the ground to give it the height to balance with their body size. Short legs are associated with a small short body and early maturity. The legs should be of ample bone as noted by the circumference below the front knee. Hocks that are too straight (post legged) or too crooked (sickle hocked) are indicators of unsoundness. The angle of the hock should allow free movement. The pasterns should be short and strong with toes rather close together (i.e. have not split open too much).
Fleece and Skin
The fleece of the Hampshire should be white and moderate length, with close fine texture and well defined. Black fibres in fleece should be avoided and free of kemp. A pink and flexible skin is preferred. Hairy breeches should be avoided. A neck fold or loose skin under the neck is undesirable.
Desirable Traits
- High fertility and sex drive in rams. Regardless of season of year the rams should breed a large number of ewes which produce a high percentage of multiple births. The sire should transmit vigour to his offspring.
- Ewes should settle on first service. Replacement ewes and prospective sires should be selected from ewes that settle within 42 days after the introduction of the ram to the breeding flock.
- Easy laming, multiple births and mothering ability. Ewes in satisfactory physical condition should need no assistance when lambing. They should produce at least two strong and active lambs. They should also produce adequate milk supply to insure maximum growth. The ewe should exhibit a strong desire to protect her offspring. Ideally a ewe should produce 100% or more of her body weight in 120 days. It is not uncommon for a Hampshire ewe to produce 90 kg and more of lamb in 100 days.
- Only animals that exhibit resistance to disease of hoof and body should be retained.
- Environmental adaptability. The ability of an animal to adapt to immediate surroundings is reflected in the faster rate of growth and an increased reproduction capacity. Hampshires are quiet and not easily excited.
- Hardiness. The breed is capable of standing any climate from many degrees below to almost tropical heat. In Britain it thrives from the north of Scotland to the south coast of England. The ewes last well and every good flock contains ewes of from six to eight years old, with special ewes being retained to much greater ages.
Undesirable Traits
Avoid selection of animals that could increase any development of crooked legs and poor feet, inverted eyelids, abnormal sexual organs, black fibres, wool blindness, broken woolcap, horns and abnormal teeth or jaw development.