Standard of the Suffolk Breed

The Suffolk animal is an efficient converter of grass, forbs, and forage into quality meat and fiber. Therefore, efficiency is indicated by length and dimension of the body. This is the type of body that must be robust, complimenting healthy longevity, efficient feed conversion under various conditions, ease of care, and ease of lambing. Rams should be masculine, muscular, good-sized, and well-proportioned. Ewes should be feminine, but dimensional and smooth (with a softer look). Both rams and ewes should be structurally and reproductively sound, and aesthetically attractive.

SUFFOLK BREED TYPE STANDARDS - POINTS

The head should be black, hornless, free of wrinkles, and well-covered with a thick fine hair coat. The muzzle should be long, smooth, and Roman with a deep jaw that presents incisor teeth that meet the pad. Ears should be long and bell-shaped, angling down towards the corner of the mouth. Eyes should be bright, full, and well-set. A good Suffolk head is not only beautiful, but also sets the stage for the rest of the animal.

The neck should be of moderate length. Shoulders should show volume, but blending and sloping smoothly from neck into barrel. This smooth flow of contour helps facilitate ease of lambing.

The chest should be wide and deep. These dimensions should be carried back into the lower rib. Ewes should exhibit the capacity and rib to convert forages and carry multiple lambs. This adds to the constitution (health and longevity) of the animal.

The back should have a straight spine from the base of the neck to the tail head. The ribs should be wide and well sprung at top, carrying down deep. The loin should be wide, long and thick in depth. These points represent correctness, capacity and meat qualities.

The rump should be long, wide, and level from hooks to pins. Ideally, the width of the sheep across the hooks should be equal to one-third of its height at the withers. The tail head should be wide, level, and well-set, carrying width down through stifles. It should be enhanced with a broad, deep, full twist. This area is the heaviest meat-producing area of the carcass.

The legs should be straight and black with good heavy flat smooth bones in the shanks. Fore and rear legs set well apart. Front legs should be set under the animal and not out at sides. Pasterns should be short with toes pointing straight ahead. An animal should walk with a long, smooth gait and should track as wide or wider on the hind legs as the front legs. These points accommodate a heavy, fast-growing body with structural soundness and mobility and contribute to the attractiveness of the animal.

The fleece should be dense, free of dark fiber, and not shading into dark hair or wool. Belly should be well-covered with wool. Wool should not extend below the knees and hocks. Skin should be soft and pink. These points support the uniquely striking aesthetic qualities of a Suffolk with its contrasting black hair and white wool.

Yearling rams should display a minimum of 35 centimeters scrotal circumference. The testicles on rams should be of even, smooth symmetrical shape with the epididymis well defined. They are contained by a scrotum that is not split at the bottom. Ewes that are milking should have well-developed udders (like a very large half of cantaloupe melon) with teats of medium length and circumference that are well-placed. Vulvas on ewes should be of good shape and point down. Ewes should exhibit large capacity especially through the reproductive areas to facilitate and carry multiple lambs. Note that all the parts listed before reproduction (no matter how good) are moot unless the ram is of good fertility and the ewe is able to conceive and feed her offspring well.