History of the Hampshire Down Sheep
The Hampshire or Hampshire Down is a breed which originated around 1829 in the rich agricultural country of Hampshire, in Southern England. A Hampshire farmer, John Twynam, crossed his then Hampshire flock with the Berkshire Knot and the Wiltshire Horn which produced the first recognised Hampshire Downs in the United Kingdom.
The Southdown breed had long sheep with dark brown or black legs, matured early, produced the best of mutton and a fine quality of medium wool. The original Hampshire was larger, coarser, but hardier, slower to mature, with inferior flesh, and a longer but coarser wool. The Southdown had always been remarkable for its power of transmitting its special characteristics to its progeny by other kinds of sheep, and hence it soon impressed its own characteristics on its progeny by the Hampshire. The horns of the original breed have disappeared; the face and legs have become dark, the frame has become more compact, the bones smaller, the back broader and straighter, the legs shorter, and the flesh and wool of better quality, while the superior hardiness and greater size, as well as the large head and Roman nose of the old breed, still remain. Hampshires of the 1890s matured early and fattened readily. They clipped from six to seven pounds of wool, suitable for combing, which was longer than Southdown wool, but less fine.
The resultant mutton had a desirable proportion of fat and lean, and was juicy and fine flavoured; the lambs were large and were usually dropped early and fed for market. Indeed, the Hampshire may be considered a larger and trifle coarser and hardier Southdown. The breed was occasionally crossed with Cotswolds, when it produced a wool more valuable for worsted manufacturers than the pure Cotswold. There is little doubt that in addition to Southdown, the Hampshire has a dash of Cotswold blood in its composition. Considerable importations of the breed were made to the US in the 18th century, but it did not become so popular as the Southdown and some other English breeds.
The first Hampshire’s were imported into South Africa in 1942 by Mr D Erasmus. In 1948 Mr A C Levey imported some and in 1960 Mr Arnolds. Since then further importations have been made from time to time from Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand. During 1979 and 1980 rams and ewes were also exported from the South Africa to breeders in Kenia.
Hampshire breeders have been direct members of the South African Stud Book since 1956. The Hampshire Down Club started in 1968 and at that stage Club Committee members started by selecting ewes suitable for an appendix system. South Africa Stud Book Association however, after a request from the Club, opened an Appendix system in conjunction with the present section.
The first National Championships were held in 1974 and was a great success, with an exhibit of 120 sheep. The National Championships have been every second year since. The Regional Championships are held every alternate year.
All Hampshire affairs are handled by the South African Stud Book association, which also include secretarial services, inspections and registrations.
The Hampshire is renowned for its early maturity and rapid growth. A good Hampshire lamb can gain weight at the rate of half a kilogram per day from birth. Prime lamb at 17 to 20kgs dead weight can be reached in under 3 months. The fact that Hampshire ram lambs born in June are fit to use as sires in January when they are often heavier than the ewes that they serve, is sufficient proof of their rapid growth. Hampshire breeders continually search for new technology to aid in selecting and promoting breeding stock, with participation of many breeders in the State Performance Testing Programme. To date increasing and wide spread demand for rams has never been filled as fat lamb sires in the intensive production areas of where their value is unsurpassed.
The Southdown breed had long sheep with dark brown or black legs, matured early, produced the best of mutton and a fine quality of medium wool. The original Hampshire was larger, coarser, but hardier, slower to mature, with inferior flesh, and a longer but coarser wool. The Southdown had always been remarkable for its power of transmitting its special characteristics to its progeny by other kinds of sheep, and hence it soon impressed its own characteristics on its progeny by the Hampshire. The horns of the original breed have disappeared; the face and legs have become dark, the frame has become more compact, the bones smaller, the back broader and straighter, the legs shorter, and the flesh and wool of better quality, while the superior hardiness and greater size, as well as the large head and Roman nose of the old breed, still remain. Hampshires of the 1890s matured early and fattened readily. They clipped from six to seven pounds of wool, suitable for combing, which was longer than Southdown wool, but less fine.
The resultant mutton had a desirable proportion of fat and lean, and was juicy and fine flavoured; the lambs were large and were usually dropped early and fed for market. Indeed, the Hampshire may be considered a larger and trifle coarser and hardier Southdown. The breed was occasionally crossed with Cotswolds, when it produced a wool more valuable for worsted manufacturers than the pure Cotswold. There is little doubt that in addition to Southdown, the Hampshire has a dash of Cotswold blood in its composition. Considerable importations of the breed were made to the US in the 18th century, but it did not become so popular as the Southdown and some other English breeds.
The first Hampshire’s were imported into South Africa in 1942 by Mr D Erasmus. In 1948 Mr A C Levey imported some and in 1960 Mr Arnolds. Since then further importations have been made from time to time from Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand. During 1979 and 1980 rams and ewes were also exported from the South Africa to breeders in Kenia.
Hampshire breeders have been direct members of the South African Stud Book since 1956. The Hampshire Down Club started in 1968 and at that stage Club Committee members started by selecting ewes suitable for an appendix system. South Africa Stud Book Association however, after a request from the Club, opened an Appendix system in conjunction with the present section.
The first National Championships were held in 1974 and was a great success, with an exhibit of 120 sheep. The National Championships have been every second year since. The Regional Championships are held every alternate year.
All Hampshire affairs are handled by the South African Stud Book association, which also include secretarial services, inspections and registrations.
The Hampshire is renowned for its early maturity and rapid growth. A good Hampshire lamb can gain weight at the rate of half a kilogram per day from birth. Prime lamb at 17 to 20kgs dead weight can be reached in under 3 months. The fact that Hampshire ram lambs born in June are fit to use as sires in January when they are often heavier than the ewes that they serve, is sufficient proof of their rapid growth. Hampshire breeders continually search for new technology to aid in selecting and promoting breeding stock, with participation of many breeders in the State Performance Testing Programme. To date increasing and wide spread demand for rams has never been filled as fat lamb sires in the intensive production areas of where their value is unsurpassed.